Welcome to 2025 and season 11 of Fintech Daydreaming! We’re back, well-caffeinated, and ready to dive into another year of fintech wonders. To kick things off, Pål, Ville, and Janne put on their trend-spotting hats and take a look at what’s buzzing in the Nordics and beyond. What’s hot? What’s not? And what might just surprise us all in 2025?

Of course, it wouldn’t be _Fintech Daydreaming_ without some juicy fintech news:

- Pål dives into how Enfuce and Alisa Bank are giving Finnish SMEs the plastic they deserve with a shiny new business credit card.
 

- Janne tackles Lunar Bank’s bold leap into mortgages in Sweden—because who doesn’t want a fintech twist on home loans?
 

- Ville brings us SEB Embedded’s latest play: a co-branded grocery card with Hemköp. Is this the future of shopping? We have questions.

Join us for a fun, insightful, and occasionally witty look at the trends and stories shaping the Nordic fintech scene. Season 11 is here—let’s get dreaming!

It’s that time of the year! In our Christmas special, Pål and Ville close out season ten of Fintech Daydreaming with a heartfelt reflection on five years and ten seasons of podcasting. What keeps the passion alive after all this time? Tune in to hear the co-hosts share their thoughts on the journey so far, what they’ve learned, and why the world of fintech podcasting continues to inspire us.

We also revisit the biggest fintech news and trends from the past season, offering fresh perspectives on the stories that shaped 2024. From standout themes to our favorite moments with guests, we highlight what made season ten truly special.

Grab a cup of your favorite holiday beverage, sit back, and join us as we wrap up the year with gratitude, reflections, and a bit of festive cheer (or beer). Here’s to ten seasons—and many more to come!

In this special episode of Fintech Daydreaming recorded live in Nordea headquarters in Helsinki, we sit down with Jyrki Katainen, Head of Public Relations at Nordea Bank and former Prime Minister of Finland, to explore his transition from politics to banking and what it means to lead public affairs for one of Europe’s largest financial institutions. Jyrki shares his reflections on moving from a career in politics to the private sector, detailing how his background shapes his approach to navigating policy and public relations in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

We dive into the dynamic relationship between government policy and the financial sector, examining how banks like Nordea contribute to shaping European financial policies and the critical role they play in society today. Jyrki offers his perspective on timely issues like financial literacy and inclusion—key priorities within the EU—and what banks can do to empower communities with knowledge and access to financial services. We also discuss the balance between regulatory compliance and private-sector innovation as the EU brings forward new regulations for the financial industry.

Tune in as Jyrki shares his leadership insights, lessons from his time as Prime Minister, and thoughts on the future of financial services in Europe. This episode offers a unique perspective on the evolving role of banks and the collaboration needed between the public and private sectors to drive meaningful change.

This week, Pål and Ville dive into the regulatory labyrinth with Eva-Lotta Hokkonen, an attorney and senior associate at Dittmar & Indrenius, and a go-to expert on fintech compliance. If you’ve ever wondered why compliance feels like scaling Mount Everest for fintechs, we’re about to break it all down.

We dig into why compliance presents unique hurdles for fintechs compared to traditional banks, what happens to compliance obligations when fintechs and banks team up, and why it’s not as simple as ticking off checkboxes. Eva-Lotta shares why understanding compliance is more than just staying on the regulator’s good side—it’s about making it a competitive advantage (yes, really).

Finally, we get Eva-Lotta’s insider take on emerging trends in compliance that every fintech should be bracing for. Think of this episode as a fintech survival guide for navigating the shifting landscape of regulation.

We’re back with another Nordic Fintech Highlights episode, where Pål, Ville, and our regular guest co-host Janne Salminen from Helsinki Fintech Farm unpack the latest from the Nordics—and this week, it’s all about tech innovations, top fintech picks, and payment upgrades!

First up, Pål takes us through Lunar’s big news: they’re launching GenAI, Europe’s first AI-native voice assistant for banking. Imagine a future where your bank not only listens but actually “gets” you—no more endless tapping or navigating through menus. But can AI really deliver that seamless experience, or are we still a few updates away from our banking chatbot dreams?

Next, Janne dives into the Helsinki Fintech Farm’s latest “Top 20 Nordic Fintechs” list. Who’s in, who’s out, and which trends are setting the pace this year? Janne also covers the recent news that Mastercard has acquired Minna Technologies, a game-changing move that could bring subscription management to the fingertips of millions globally.

Finally, Ville wraps things up with an update on tap-to-pay, with Adyen, SumUp, myPOS, and Viva rolling out this feature across European markets. From tap-to-pay iPhones to terminal-free transactions, the payment space just keeps getting easier and more digital. But are we inching closer to a cashless society, or will it all be canceled because people will start using their phones to steal contactless card information in crowded places?

Tune in for all the latest insights on how AI, acquisitions, and new payment solutions are shaping the future of Nordic fintech!