Rob Young, Managing Director for the UK at InDebted chats about the latest fintech innovations redefining open banking and embedded finance in this fintech interview:
_________
What’s a typical day like working in an evolving fintech ecosystem?
There’s no such thing as ‘typical,’ and that’s the appeal. My day usually starts with a dive into the overnight data, looking at how our machine learning models are adjusting to consumer behavior across different time zones. In a fast-moving ecosystem, I spend a lot of time bridging the gap between high-level strategy and day-to-day execution.
I might spend my morning discussing regulatory alignment with latest FCA guidance, my lunch brainstorming with our product teams on AI-driven personalisation, and my afternoon talking to enterprise clients about how they can modernise their collections infrastructure. It’s a constant balancing act between being a tech-first innovator and a responsible, regulated financial leader.
Read More on Fintech : Global Fintech Interview with Baran Ozkan, co-founder & CEO of Flagright
What are you most looking forward to as InDebted’s new UK Managing Director?
I’ve been part of the InDebted journey as Chairman for years, but stepping into the MD role now is incredibly energising because the UK market is at a tipping point. I’m most looking forward to closing the ‘legacy gap.’ There is a massive disconnect between how people use modern banking apps and the outdated, stressful way they experience debt collection. My mission is to make InDebted the default partner for UK lenders who want to treat their customers like humans, using technology to offer flexibility and dignity rather than just automated phone calls. We’re not just recovering debt – we’re preserving the customer relationship for the long term.
Take us through some of the fintech highlights that are shaping the UK fintech scape?
The UK remains a global gold standard for fintech for a few reasons. First, the move toward Agentic AI, where AI doesn’t just answer questions but actually executes complex financial workflows,is huge. Second, the maturation of Open Banking towards Open Finance is finally giving consumers true ownership of their data.
Lastly, we’re seeing a shift from ‘disruption’ to ‘orchestration.’ In 2026, we’re seeing how invisible infrastructure, like APIs and smart platforms, are allowing traditional banks and nimble fintechs to work together seamlessly to solve real-world problems like financial inclusion.
How are you seeing the global fintech market evolve with AI innovations taking customer expectations to new heights?
We’ve moved past the ‘chatbot’ era. Today, customers expect hyperpersonalisation. AI now allows us to understand the ‘why’ behind a customer’s behavior. If a customer is falling behind on payments, rather than simply sending a generic reminder; our AI analyses the best time to contact them, picking the right channel (SMS vs. email vs phone), and the tone that will most likely lead to a positive resolution.
Globally, the bar has been raised and if your financial service doesn’t feel ‘intuitive’ and ‘anticipatory,’ it’s already obsolete. AI has turned finance from a reactive industry into a proactive one.
Can you talk about some of the most common fintech myths that need to be busted?
The biggest one is that ‘Fintech is here to kill the banks.’ That’s a 2015 narrative. In 2026, it’s all about the ‘Power Couple’—banks provide the scale and trust, while fintechs provide the agility and tech stack.
Another myth is that ‘AI removes the human touch.’ In debt collection, it’s actually the opposite. By using AI to handle the routine, data-heavy tasks, we free up our human teams to handle the complex, sensitive cases that require genuine empathy. For us, embedding AI into our processes enables us to deliver better, more hands-on human-led experiences.
What is your perspective on the shift towards open banking and embedded finance?
It’s the ‘invisibilisation’ of finance, and it’s brilliant. Embedded Finance means you don’t ‘go’ to the bank anymore; the bank comes to you, right when you’re buying a car or managing your business accounting.
The increased acceptance of Open Banking is a game-changer for affordability. Instead of asking a customer to fill out a 20-page financial statement, they can securely share their data, and we can instantly suggest a repayment plan that we know is sustainable for them. It replaces guesswork with ground truth.
How do you see the balance between traditional banking and fintech innovation shifting today?
We’re seeing a ‘Great Convergence.’ Traditional banks have realised they can’t build everything in-house, so they’re becoming platforms that host fintech ‘modules.’ Meanwhile, fintechs are realising that ‘moving fast and breaking things’ doesn’t work in a highly regulated environment.
The balance has shifted from competition to ecosystem intelligence. The winners today aren’t those with the biggest balance sheet or the trendiest app, but those who can orchestrate the best partnerships to deliver a frictionless end-to-end journey.
A few fintech innovators and innovations you’d like to highlight?
I’m keeping a close eye on the ‘Do-it-for-me’ (DIFM) finance movement—startups building autonomous agents that manage your subscriptions or switch your energy providers automatically.
In terms of names, I’ve always admired the work being done in the RegTech space from companies making compliance ‘code-based’ rather than ‘paper-based.’ And honestly, what we’re doing at InDebted with our ‘Collect’ and ‘Release’ platforms is genuinely moving the needle on how the world views debt. We’re proving that you can be a high-growth fintech while being the most ethical player in the room.
Catch more Fintech Insights : Real-Time Payments and the Redefinition Of Global Liquidity
[To share your insights with us, please write to psen@itechseries.com ]
InDebted, is changing the world of consumer debt for good by making the process better for everyone involved.
Rob Young, is Managing Director – UK at InDebted
