NatWest Group’s innovation team has announced the launch of its new FinTech Growth Programme, designed to help FinTech start-ups scale through access to the bank’s resources, expertise, and networks.

The bank plans to select five FinTechs that are focused on tackling specific problems in the payments space to join the programme.

Each FinTech must be from a pre-Series A UK-based start-up.

Through ten weeks of workshops, mentoring and coaching, NatWest said it aims to work with these FinTech to co-create solutions to “lead the future of banking”.

NatWest says hopes the move will help drive the bank’s “innovation pipeline”.

“This programme lays a pathway to create better outcomes for our customers," said David Grunwald, director of NatWest Innovation. "Working this closely with FinTechs and UK entrepreneurs strengthens our ability to be future focused, while supporting the growth of the innovation economy."

Applications close for the programme on 10 January 2025, with the initiative beginning on 10 February.

Mark Brant, chief payments officer at NatWest, said: “Innovation and collaboration are fundamental to growth, especially in a challenging commercial environment. This programme champions NatWest’s innovation by working with fintechs to co-create solutions to lead the future of banking.”

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