One of fintech’s greatest powers is the potential to open up financial services to huge swathes of consumers passed over by the existing financial system.
Consumers previously ineligible for bank loans are finding financing from peer-to-peer lenders thanks to the rise of fintech platforms, while small businesses are gaining access to digital payments and accounting services that once only major brands could afford.
There are also entire communities that will gain access to banking services for the first time through fintech solutions such as M-Pesa, which now provides more than 25m people across developing and developed countries with mobile financial services.
One industry that could see the most profound change from this digital liberation of services is investment and wealth management, thanks to innovations such as equity crowdfunding and robo-advisors opening up opportunities to consumers that were previously the perks of an informed few.
MeDirect Bank is a Belgium-based challenger bank focused on enabling its customers to invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds and model portfolios for a fraction of the cost of traditional wealth managers – often without any entry, exit or transaction fees.
Stripping away costs such as retail locations allowed the company to reach profitability within months of its launch in September 2013.
MeDirect’s co-founder and CEO Xavier De Pauw is the latest industry leader to join the FinTech Investor Forum.
Also a board member of fintech community FinTech Belgium Xavier will share his insights as part of the Wealth Manager & Bank Perspective panel joining the likes of Tandem Bank founder Ricky Knox, CheBanca! general manager Roberto Ferrari and MoneyFarm CEO Giovanni Dapra.
Before setting up MeDirect in 2013, Xavier was a founding partner and executive at Mediterranean Bank, a specialist institution focused on wealth management and investment. Started from scratch, that business also broke even within months.
He has also held the roles of director of fixed income structured finance and investments, and assistant vice president at Merril Lynch.
Xavier has a BSc and MSc in economics and finance from Ghent University, as well as an MSc in investment management from Cass Business School.
Taking place on November 24th in London this exclusive event is limited to just 300 tickets. If you want to gain insights and connect with industry though-leaders and deal makers please contact Aaron Sohdi at asohdi@altassets.net.
