The Summer Fintech Slowdown | Nordic Fintech Highlights May 2025

In this laid-back wrap-up to the season, Ville and Pål ditch the guests and go full retrospective—sharing their favorite episodes, personal fintech frustrations, and just how close we are to needing a crank-powered POS terminal.🎙️ Highlights include:🏆 Top guest moments: from Brett King to Sampsa from Alisa Bank (finally!)💸 Is Revolut the fintech iceberg about to sink the Nordic cruise ships?📦 Embedded finance, offline payments, and the unstoppable spread of… digital receipts🔮 Predictions for the rest of 2025: stablecoins, CBDCs, and geopolitical “fun”🧠 AI hype vs. actual progress: spoiler alert—ChatGPT still can’t unpack your groceriesPlus: summer vacation plans, a banking advisor who had to Google Revolut (seriously), and perhaps the worst fintech joke in podcast history.☀️ Pack your bags, charge your devices, stash some emergency cash, and join us as we sign off for summer.Episode hosted by Pål Krogdahl & Ville SointuEpisode produced and edited by Femi Apanishile- Email us on [email protected] Fintech Daydreaming home page - https://www.FintechDaydreaming.com- Fintech Daydreaming on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FintechDaydream- Fintech Daydreaming on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-daydreaming- Pål Krogdahl - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krogdahl/- Ville Sointu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ville-sointu-54682b/- Femi Apanishile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-apanishile-935a74a1/

Sun’s out, fines out! In this sizzling episode of Fintech Daydreaming and Helsinki Fintech Farm Nordic Fintech Highlights, Ville, Janne, and Pål serve up a refreshing mix of Nordic fintech news—with a splash of sarcasm and a shot of hydration advice.💳 Enfuce declares war on fraud with its bold Fortitude Pledge to eliminate financial crime. The gang debates whether 100% fraud prevention is ambitious, admirable—or just asking for trouble.📊 S-Bank + Swiss robo-advisors = potential wealth tech magic? Or just more “index funds for your loyalty points”? We’ll let you decide.🔌 Offline payments make a comeback, not with retro card swipers (yet), but with serious moves from Nordic central banks to boost resilience before the digital euro shows up… eventually.Also featuring: marathon-induced dehydration, questionable fintech jokes, and the reminder that yes—cash is still a thing but perhaps not a king anymore.Like, share, hydrate, and subscribe. This is Fintech Daydreaming.Episode hosted by Pål Krogdahl & Ville SointuEpisode produced and edited by Femi Apanishile- Email us on [email protected] Fintech Daydreaming home page - https://www.FintechDaydreaming.com- Fintech Daydreaming on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FintechDaydream- Fintech Daydreaming on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-daydreaming- Pål Krogdahl - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krogdahl/- Ville Sointu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ville-sointu-54682b/- Femi Apanishile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-apanishile-935a74a1/

This week, Fintech Daydreaming goes live from the heart of Helsinki for a special episode recorded at the 2025 Nordic Fintech Summit! With espresso (and later some beers) in hand and mics at the ready, Pål and Ville roamed the event to capture the freshest insights, boldest predictions, and too many slightly questionable karaoke references.We caught up with:• Janne Salminen, CEO of Helsinki Fintech Farm and event mastermind, on what makes this year’s summit bigger, better, and even more Nordic.• Christie H. Kristensen from Danske Bank, on whether open banking is finally living up to the hype.• Taru Möller from Nordea, who explains how strategy and reality sometimes even get along.• David Cunningham from Citi, dropping hard truths (and soft predictions) on the future of digital assets.• Lars Markull, founder of Embedded Finance Review, decoding what “embedded finance” actually means in 2025.• Kristian Sørensen from IN Groupe, holding up the Mobey Forum banner high and making digital identity sound both exciting and at the same time making us slightly worried that many of our predictions from over ten years ago are becoming reality.It’s fintech in the field: unfiltered, slightly chaotic, and packed with sharp takes from some of the smartest minds in the industry. Tune in and get a front-row seat—minus the lanyard.Episode hosted by Pål Krogdahl & Ville SointuEpisode produced and edited by Femi Apanishile- Email us on [email protected] Fintech Daydreaming home page - https://www.FintechDaydreaming.com- Fintech Daydreaming on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FintechDaydream- Fintech Daydreaming on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-daydreaming- Pål Krogdahl - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krogdahl/- Ville Sointu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ville-sointu-54682b/- Femi Apanishile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-apanishile-935a74a1/

Nordic Fintech Highlights is back with Pål, Ville & JanneHold onto your wallets — it’s another round of Fintech Daydreaming’s Nordic Fintech Highlights! This month, the crew dives into:💸 Froda’s fresh funding round – Pål kicks things off with Froda’s impressive new investment and what it means for the embedded finance scene in the Nordics. Is Froda quietly becoming the Stripe of SME lending? Or are we just slapping “embedded” on everything now?🛍️ Klarna x Clover – Janne breaks down Klarna’s latest move to bring BNPL into U.S. brick-and-mortar stores via Clover’s POS system. Will Americans now split their taco payments into four easy installments? The gang debates Klarna’s global stretch and whether in-store BNPL is genius or just fintech déjà vu.🎟️ Coachella + BNPL – Ville brings some festival flair with a quirky story: 60% of Coachella 2025 tickets were bought using BNPL — but not through Klarna or Affirm. What’s going on here? Is “Buy Now, Cry Later” the new concert norm?As always, expect banter, bold takes, and the occasional accidental startup pitch. Warning: contains strong fintech opinions and light Coachella FOMO.Episode hosted by Pål Krogdahl & Ville SointuEpisode produced and edited by Femi Apanishile- Email us on [email protected] Fintech Daydreaming home page - https://www.FintechDaydreaming.com- Fintech Daydreaming on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FintechDaydream- Fintech Daydreaming on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-daydreaming- Pål Krogdahl - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krogdahl/- Ville Sointu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ville-sointu-54682b/- Femi Apanishile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-apanishile-935a74a1/

In this highly anticipated episode of Fintech Daydreaming, Ville and Pål sit down with Sampsa Laine, CEO of Alisa Bank, to uncover the story behind one of Finland’s most interesting digital banks. From its fintech roots to securing a full banking license, Alisa Bank has been on quite the journey—and Sampsa takes us behind the scenes.We dig into:🏦 How Alisa Bank came to be and how it balances fintech agility with full banking capabilities📈 The bank’s sharp focus on SME banking, embedded finance, and banking-as-a-service🤖 Why going fully digital (without branches!) is a winning strategy in today’s market🌍 Alisa’s expansion plans—could new markets be on the horizon?Sampsa also shares insights on navigating regulation, the challenges of running a publicly listed bank, and what’s next for Alisa. Plus, we managed to squeeze in a fintech joke (because traditions matter).If you’re curious about the future of digital banking and how challenger banks are shaking up the industry, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!Episode hosted by Pål Krogdahl & Ville SointuEpisode produced and edited by Femi Apanishile- Email us on [email protected] Fintech Daydreaming home page - https://www.FintechDaydreaming.com- Fintech Daydreaming on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FintechDaydream- Fintech Daydreaming on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-daydreaming- Pål Krogdahl - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krogdahl/- Ville Sointu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ville-sointu-54682b/- Femi Apanishile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-apanishile-935a74a1/

April's here, the snow is (mostly) gone, and the fintech news is blooming — sort of. In this episode, your favourite fintech trio Ville, Pål, and Janne return with a fresh batch of Nordic headlines, greetings from the Baltic Fintech Days, hot takes, and at least one minor existential crisis.Here’s what went down:Ville got us started with some light apocalyptic vibes, as we unpacked Sweden’s Riksbank prepping for war — seriously. The central bank is testing offline payments and backup systems in case of internet outages or full-on conflict. Political aspects aside, the landscape of offline payments is definitely a fascinating technical and governance dilemma.Janne brought some much-needed positivity with the news that Raisin has landed in Finland. The savings platform promises better deposit rates and a bit of healthy competition in the local market. But is the Finnish public ready to move their money for a few more basis points? Or will it take free buckets?Pål closed things out with a look at ReceiptHero’s new B2B partnership with Fennoa. It’s a big step for digital receipts and accounting automation — and a small victory in Pål’s long-standing war on paper. Spoiler: he’s still very much winning.As always, things went slightly off the rails (looking at you, Janne), but we somehow brought it all back. Tune in for fintech insights, occasional wisdom, and the only podcast where Nordic monetary policy and mushroom hunting might share airtime.Episode hosted by Pål Krogdahl & Ville SointuEpisode produced and edited by Femi Apanishile- Email us on [email protected] Fintech Daydreaming home page - https://www.FintechDaydreaming.com- Fintech Daydreaming on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FintechDaydream- Fintech Daydreaming on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-daydreaming- Pål Krogdahl - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krogdahl/- Ville Sointu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ville-sointu-54682b/- Femi Apanishile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-apanishile-935a74a1/

This one’s special! We joined forces with none other than Breaking Banks for a crossover episode featuring the legendary Brett King alongside Pål and Ville. In true fireside chat style, we dove deep into the biggest shifts shaping fintech today and what’s coming next.Topics? Oh, we covered it all, including but definitely not limited to:🔥 The Nordic fintech scene — what are the big names from the Nordic scene after all?🧑‍💻 Q-Day and the rise of quantum banking (yes, really!) and what it could mean for financial services🤖 Machine-to-machine payments and future industrial economy —because why should humans have all the fun?📖 A sneak peek into Brett’s upcoming book and the ideas that are keeping him up at nightPacked with insights, bold predictions, and a good dose of banter, this is one episode you don’t want to miss. Tune in as Fintech Daydreaming meets Breaking Banks for a fintech deep dive like no other!Episode hosted by Brett King, Pål Krogdahl & Ville SointuEpisode produced and edited by Provoke.fm- Email us on [email protected] Fintech Daydreaming home page - https://www.FintechDaydreaming.com- Fintech Daydreaming on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FintechDaydream- Fintech Daydreaming on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-daydreaming- Pål Krogdahl - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krogdahl/- Ville Sointu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ville-sointu-54682b/- Femi Apanishile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-apanishile-935a74a1/

We can pay for everything digitally, so why are we still walking away with crumpled paper receipts? In this episode of Fintech Daydreaming, Pål and Ville sit down with Chris Moore, Director of International Business at ReceiptHero, to discuss the journey of bringing receipts into the digital age.Chris walks us through the challenges of transforming an underserved market, the practicalities of making digital receipts happen, and the business models that could drive adoption. From sustainability benefits to seamless integrations, we explore why digital receipts are more than just a convenience—they’re a fintech opportunity waiting to be unlocked.Tune in for a deep dive into a space that’s long overdue for disruption—because the only paper we should be dealing with is money, not receipts! And while you’re at it - don’t forget to listen all the way to the end for the most on-topic (and horribly bad) joke so far in this season!Episode hosted by Pål Krogdahl & Ville SointuEpisode produced and edited by Femi Apanishile- Email us on [email protected] Fintech Daydreaming home page - https://www.FintechDaydreaming.com- Fintech Daydreaming on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FintechDaydream- Fintech Daydreaming on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-daydreaming- Pål Krogdahl - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krogdahl/- Ville Sointu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ville-sointu-54682b/- Femi Apanishile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-apanishile-935a74a1/

February may be short, but Nordic fintech didn’t hold back! In this Fintech Daydreaming episode, Pål, Ville, and Janne sit down for another round of Nordic Fintech Highlights. As always, we covered the biggest fintech news—but not before Janne cracked a joke so bad it nearly derailed the entire recording. (We survived… barely.)Here’s what we tackled this time:🚀 Lunar’s big BaaS bet – Pål took a deep dive into Lunar’s spin-off Moonrise, a Banking-as-a-Service platform set to shake up the Nordic embedded finance space.💰 Lunar’s lending expansion – Janne continued the Lunar talk with their new SME lending partnership with Froda, unlocking more financing options for businesses.🚗 Klarna goes automotive – Ville explored Klarna’s partnership with FINN, bringing flexible payments to the car subscription market. Because who wouldn’t want a BNPL option for their next ride?With plenty of fintech insights, strong opinions, and a few moments of near-total chaos, this episode is packed with everything you love about Fintech Daydreaming. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!Episode hosted by Pål Krogdahl & Ville SointuEpisode produced and edited by Femi Apanishile- Email us on [email protected] Fintech Daydreaming home page - https://www.FintechDaydreaming.com- Fintech Daydreaming on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FintechDaydream- Fintech Daydreaming on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-daydreaming- Pål Krogdahl - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krogdahl/- Ville Sointu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ville-sointu-54682b/- Femi Apanishile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-apanishile-935a74a1/

Hot Takes, Cool Guests & The Best Kind of Fintech MayhemFor this special episode, we packed our mics, grabbed some strong coffee, and took Fintech Daydreaming on the road to Stockholm Fintech Week! 🎤🚀 Amidst the fintech frenzy, Pål and Ville caught up with some of the sharpest minds in the industry for rapid-fire chats, bold predictions, and a few fintech hot takes.Our all-star lineup included:Christie H. Kristensen (Danske Bank) – On whether banks and fintechs are actually friends or just frenemies, and what happens with customer experience in all of this?Chris Skinner (Author, Speaker) – Dropping fintech wisdom like only he canBaard Slaattelid (VippsMobilePay) – Making the case for why regional digital wallets are more important than everSofi Håkanson (Centiglobe) – Solving cross-border payments so we can perhaps all finally ditch some of those outrageous feesChris Crespo (Nordic Fintech Magazine) – Breaking down the Nordic fintech scene like a true insiderFrom insightful discussions to behind-the-scenes laughs, we had a blast recording this one—now it’s your turn to tune in and enjoy the ride!Episode hosted by Pål Krogdahl & Ville SointuEpisode produced and edited by Femi Apanishile- Email us on [email protected] Fintech Daydreaming home page - https://www.FintechDaydreaming.com- Fintech Daydreaming on Twitter - https://twitter.com/FintechDaydream- Fintech Daydreaming on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintech-daydreaming- Pål Krogdahl - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krogdahl/- Ville Sointu - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ville-sointu-54682b/- Femi Apanishile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/femi-apanishile-935a74a1/