6FEBRUARY - MARCH 2026Editor's NoteRedefining Trust in Modern PaymentsAcross Europe, financial innovation is being evaluated not by novelty, but by operational certainty and regulatory resilience. Europe's financial sector is recalibrating digital payments and risk frameworks to deliver predictability, governance, and measurable control in increasingly complex markets.A central highlight of this issue is Miracle Pay, recognised as Top Cryptocurrencies Payment Service in Europe 2026. Miracle Pay approaches crypto adoption as an infrastructure design challenge rather than a technology experiment. By separating checkout experience, transaction orchestration, and regulated settlement rails, the platform enables merchants to accept digital assets with rate certainty, controlled settlement paths, and clean reconciliation. Dynamic rate locks, confirmation monitoring, and compliance aligned conversion partners allow crypto payments to function with the operational discipline expected of traditional payment rails, positioning digital assets as a dependable commerce mechanism rather than a speculative overlay.The broader financial landscape reflected here underscores a parallel shift in risk and credit management. Institutions are integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into lending journeys while balancing explainability and regulatory oversight. Predictive modelling, open banking data, and automation are reshaping underwriting, but governance and transparency remain central to sustainable adoption.Leadership insights further sharpen this focus. Hugo Assagra, Group Head of Credit Risk Strategy at OSB Group [LSE: OSB], outlines how AI and machine learning enhance affordability assessment, propensity modelling, and customer journey personalisation while emphasising the importance of explainability and regulatory alignment. Sotiris Papakonstantinou, Head of Risk Management at Optima bank [ATH: OPTIMA], explores how risk functions must evolve through data analytics, remote collaboration, and structured governance frameworks to remain effective in a technology driven era.These perspectives point toward a clear trajectory. Financial innovation in Europe will endure through systems that combine digital capability with disciplined oversight. Readers are invited to examine how payments, credit, and risk management are being recalibrated for durable growth.Let us know your thoughts!Copyright © 2026 ValleyMedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustrations without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the magazine and accordingly, no liability is assumed by the publisher thereof.Managing EditorJeff RodriguezEditorial StaffAaron Pierce Ava Garcia Joshua ParkerPearl JohnsonVisualizersRobert Gray SmithKevin Parker *Some of the Insights are based on the interviews with respective CIOs and CXOs to our editorial staffEmail:sales@financialservicesreview.comeditor@financialservicesreview.commarketing@financialservicesreview.com FEBRUARY - MARCH 2026, Vol 07 - 05 (ISSN 2835-9771) Published by ValleyMedia, Inc. To subscribe to Financial Services ReviewVisit www.financialservicesreview.com Jeff RodriguezManaging Editoreditor@financialservicesreview.com
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