NatWest Group has opened recruitment for the second year of its FinTech program, open to FinTech companies across the UK who are leveraging AI to redefine the future of customer experience in financial services.
Successful applicants will participate in a 12-week program where they will explore collaboration opportunities with the bank with support from the NatWest Innovation team, receive mentorship from senior decision makers, and connect with NatWest's broader innovation ecosystem through in-person events and workshops. Some of this will take place at NatWest's accelerator hubs, including the new London hub.
Building on last year’s success, the 2026 program will encourage the entry of more fintechs from across the UK’s regional hubs, responding to rapid technological change and evolving customer expectations, such as the emergence of agent AI and smart devices. It targets pre-Series A and Series A fintechs with proven product-market fit and traction to deliver solutions to future customers, whether it's increasing engagement and customer relationships in an agent-based AI environment, creating immersive banking experiences beyond apps, or supporting vulnerable customers.
David Grunwald, Director of Innovation at NatWest Group, said: “The pace of advancement in AI and technology is fundamentally changing the way customers interact with financial services. Whether through new channels, emerging technologies or smarter engagement, innovation and collaboration are non-negotiables to stay ahead. Fintech has a critical role to play in addressing these challenges, so it is essential that we help them thrive as we work together to shape the future of banking.”
Program participants can explore collaboration opportunities with NatWest. Several of last year's startups have been involved in long-term discussions with banks and their partners. This includes Tunic Pay, an award-winning real-time payment intelligence platform dedicated to fraud and fraud prevention. The platform has entered into a partnership with NatWest with access and support provided by the program. NatWest Group and Tunic Pay are currently jointly piloting fraud prevention for NatWest's retail customers through transaction authentication on a mobile app.
Nicky Goulimis, co-founder of Tunic Pay, said: “Joining NatWest's Fintech program has given us a unique opportunity to connect directly with the bank's team and learn from their experience serving millions of customers. Together, we can now pilot new ways to protect people from fraud and scams, using technology to make banking safer for everyone.”
