Digital, Innovation, Payments
[Bank FinTech Dialogues] From dialogue to execution: Banque Raiffeisen and Finshape
Published on 25 January 2026
This interview is part of Bank FinTech Dialogues, ABBL’s interview series recorded during the Bank CEOs and FinTechs Speed Meeting 2026. Three interview videos will be published, each featuring two perspectives from the event and highlighting concrete approaches to bank and FinTech cooperation.
Summary
This interview is part of Bank FinTech Dialogues, ABBL’s interview series recorded during the Bank CEOs and FinTechs Speed Meeting 2026. Three interview videos will be published, each featuring two perspectives from the event and highlighting concrete approaches to bank and FinTech cooperation.
From structured dialogue to concrete cooperation
On Thursday 15 January 2026, ABBL hosted its Bank CEOs and FinTechs Speed Meeting at Banque Raiffeisen, bringing together around 100 decision makers from Luxembourg’s financial ecosystem. Designed to foster pragmatic, business oriented exchanges, the event combined short one to one meetings with testimonials and networking opportunities, creating the conditions for focused and efficient discussions.
For an overview of the event and key moments from the evening, including the aftermovie, read:
Connecting banks and FinTechs: highlights from the ABBL speed meeting 2026
A dialogue that has reached maturity
Reflecting on the 2026 edition, Laurent Zahles, CEO of Banque Raiffeisen, highlighted the evolution of exchanges between banks and FinTechs. Discussions are no longer centred on intentions or concepts, but increasingly on real use cases and operational partnerships. He also underlined the value of the speed meeting format, which brings decision makers together in a pragmatic and time efficient way.
According to him, the next step is clear. The momentum created during the event now needs to be translated into execution, by prioritising the most relevant contacts and moving towards pilot projects that can deliver tangible value for customers.
The convergence between banks and FinTechs is no longer an option. It is already happening.
Laurent Zahles
CEO, Banque Raiffeisen
From access to partnership
From a FinTech perspective, Alain Vansnick, Chief Sales Officer at Finshape, emphasised how the event offers direct access to banks within a single ecosystem. For FinTechs that are new to the Luxembourg market, such access would otherwise require weeks or even months of outreach.
Beyond efficiency, he also pointed to a shift in mindset. Rather than a traditional vendor buyer relationship, discussions increasingly reflect a partnership driven approach, with banks and FinTechs working together towards shared objectives.
The speed meeting format, he noted, provides a strong starting point for deeper follow up discussions, including demos and more in depth exchanges aimed at building long term relationships.
It is no longer about vendor and buyer. It is about working in partnership towards the same goal.
Alain Vansnick
Chief Sales Officer, Finshape
Turning momentum into action
Both perspectives converge on a key takeaway. Structured dialogue is only valuable if it leads to concrete follow up. The ABBL Speed Meeting continues to play a key role in accelerating this transition, by enabling banks and FinTechs to quickly identify potential fits and move towards implementation.
What comes next
This interview video is the first of three published as part of Bank FinTech Dialogues. Each video features two participants from the event, offering complementary perspectives from banks and FinTechs. Further interviews with bank executives and FinTech leaders will be published in the coming weeks.
Andrey Martovoy
Senior Adviser - Innovation & Digital, ABBL
Published on 25 January 2026