Building strategic fintech and sponsor banking partnerships is the hidden engine driving the next generation of Canadian financial services and digital payment apps. While many legacy institutions view startups as a competitive threat, the most successful banks are pivoting toward a model where they provide the underlying infrastructure for card issuing and embedded finance. This session reveals how a collaborative approach allows banks to monetize their balance sheets and regulatory compliance while fintechs focus on delivering superior, high-velocity user experiences.

The technical complexity of maintaining strategic fintech and sponsor banking partnerships involves navigating a web of anti-money laundering requirements, real-time ledger management, and tiered risk frameworks. Industry experts in this panel discuss the shift toward Banking-as-a-Service models where the sponsor bank acts as the licensed entity while the fintech manages the front-end brand. For Canadian institutions, this represents a massive opportunity to capture volume in segments like gig economy payouts and niche corporate spending that were previously difficult to serve through traditional retail channels.

Furthermore, developing strategic fintech and sponsor banking partnerships requires a robust technological bridge that can handle the scale of modern digital transactions. The dialogue emphasizes that the most resilient partnerships are built on transparency and integrated compliance monitoring systems. As the Canadian market matures, the move toward strategic fintech and sponsor banking partnerships is becoming the standard for any bank looking to unlock high-growth revenue streams without the overhead of customer acquisition for every individual account.

This session provides critical insights into the following areas:

• The operational requirements for banks to support high-volume fintech card issuing.
• Managing regulatory risk and compliance within a shared banking infrastructure.
• Evaluating the long-term ROI of sponsor banking versus traditional retail competition.

Watch the full panel discussion to understand how to design and execute strategic fintech and sponsor banking partnerships that drive market growth.

Reshaping the Canadian banking landscape is no longer a distant goal for fintech challengers; it is a current reality as Questrade and Wealthsimple move into direct competition with the Big Five. This session explores the high-velocity era of finance where these former startups have secured direct access to national payment infrastructure and full banking licenses. By shifting the focus from simple fee extraction to intentional wealth creation, these platforms are forcing traditional institutions to justify their legacy models. Attendees will hear how Wealthsimple became a direct participant in the e-Transfer network and why Questrade’s acquisition of a banking license signals a massive expansion into the total addressable market of retail banking.

The technical discussion focuses on the transition from fragmented tools to integrated financial operating systems that automate the entire user journey. Reshaping the Canadian banking landscape requires more than just a sleek app; it demands regulatory grit and the ability to offer sophisticated services like direct indexing and private market access to the mass market. The panelists break down how “intent-driven finance” allows for real-time, automated wealth management where bills are paid and investments are topped up without manual intervention.

Strategic innovation is the primary driver for reshaping the Canadian banking landscape in 2026. The session highlights how these companies leverage brand equity to win customer trust, which remains the most critical factor for moving core financial relationships away from traditional banks. As barriers to entry fall and open banking protocols expand, the ability to deliver high-yield, no-fee accounts alongside real-time human support is setting a new industry standard.

The session covers these essential takeaways:

• The strategic path from being a securities dealer to securing a full banking license.
• How direct infrastructure access allows fintechs to bypass traditional gatekeepers.
• The evolution of “Intent-Driven Finance” and automated wealth creation tools.

Watch the full session to learn how these industry leaders are successfully reshaping the Canadian banking landscape and what it means for the future of your financial strategy.

Identifying high-impact AI use cases in finance is the critical next step for Canadian institutions moving beyond the initial hype of generative models. This panel session cuts through the buzzwords to examine where artificial intelligence is actually delivering measurable results in banking, payments, and wealth management. A standout insight from the discussion highlights the shift from basic process automation toward agentic AI—autonomous systems capable of making complex decisions in real-time. This evolution is particularly visible in liquidity management, where AI agents are now being tested to prioritize wholesale payments and optimize cash flow buffers with a level of precision that manual systems simply cannot match.

The technical deep dive explores how high-impact AI use cases in finance are transforming the risk landscape. Panelists discuss the integration of predictive analytics into underwriting and fraud detection, moving interdiction efforts to the top of the funnel to stop identity-based scams before they occur. The session also addresses the divide between large banks and smaller firms; while incumbents benefit from massive internal data sets and dedicated PhD teams, smaller agile players are utilizing cloud-native “point solutions” to deploy AI-driven services faster.

To successfully implement high-impact AI use cases in finance, organizations must prioritize data quality and ethical guardrails. The conversation emphasizes that AI does not need to be perfect to be valuable; it merely needs to outperform legacy manual processes while remaining transparent. From personalizing customer rewards to automating corporate accounts payable, these applications are reshaping the Canadian financial ecosystem by focusing on ROI and user adoption over theoretical potential. By grounding high-impact AI use cases in finance in practical business outcomes, leaders can ensure their technology strategy drives genuine transformation.

Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of:

• The distinction between overhyped generative tools and underappreciated agentic AI decisioning.
• How to balance institutional risk tolerance with the need for rapid AI implementation.
• Real-world applications of AI in automating liquidity management and fraud prevention.

Watch the full panel to discover how to identify and scale high-impact AI use cases in finance for your organization.

Integrating embedded creditor protection for Canadian borrowers has become a strategic necessity as financial institutions navigate rising consumer anxiety and shifting market dynamics. This workshop explores why embedded finance is currently having a moment, specifically focusing on how lenders and insurers are modernizing loan, income, and bill payment protection. By embedding these essential safeguards directly into the lending journey, Canadian companies can address financial strain while building long-term consumer resilience.

The session highlights that traditional insurance models are evolving into seamless digital experiences. Panelists from across the financial sector discuss how international innovations are being tailored to fit the unique regulatory and cultural landscape of Canada. A central theme of the discussion is the role of technology in fostering trust; when embedded creditor protection for Canadian borrowers is implemented effectively, it moves from a transactional product to a core component of a supportive financial ecosystem.

Strategic value lies in understanding the critical ingredients for program design. Successful initiatives prioritize accessibility and clarity, ensuring that embedded creditor protection for Canadian borrowers is available at the exact moment of need. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how to leverage data and emerging models to create protection programs that truly resonate in today’s economy.

The session covers these primary areas:

• Market dynamics driving the shift toward embedded insurance models in North America.
• Adaptation of international fintech innovations for the domestic Canadian market.
• Designing protection programs that enhance borrower trust and institutional resilience.

Watch the full session to learn how your organization can implement embedded creditor protection for Canadian borrowers to stay ahead of industry trends.

Implementing alternative lending strategies for underserved Canadians is at the heart of Fairstone Bank’s mission to provide credit to the one in four individuals often overlooked by the Big Five. In this session, CEO Scott Wood reveals a critical insight: the path to sustainable growth lies in transitioning from a traditional finance company to a Schedule I bank with over 20 billion dollars in stable deposits. This shift has allowed the institution to move beyond mere competition, instead focusing on “invisible primes”—borrowers with strong repayment intent who lack a traditional credit footprint. By leveraging a century of community-based relationship lending, Fairstone is proving that human-centric service remains a powerful differentiator in a digital-first world.

The technical backbone of alternative lending strategies for underserved Canadians involves a sophisticated blend of AI-driven underwriting and alternative data scoring. Wood discusses how the bank navigates recent regulatory shifts, such as the 35% APR cap, by doubling down on operational efficiency and precision-targeted credit products. Through its digital-native subsidiary FIG, Fairstone experiments with high-velocity lending models that feed back into the core bank’s infrastructure. This dual-track approach ensures that the bank can serve thin-file and new-to-Canada borrowers without compromising the risk standards required of a major national lender.

Executing successful alternative lending strategies for underserved Canadians also hinges on strategic M&A and product diversification. The discussion highlights the recent merger with Home Trust, which combined consumer credit expertise with alternative mortgage solutions to create a comprehensive financial ecosystem. By maintaining a fortress balance sheet and diversifying into retail and automotive finance, Fairstone is effectively rewriting the playbook for how mid-market banks can scale. This session serves as a masterclass for any financial leader looking to deploy alternative lending strategies for underserved Canadians while maintaining institutional resilience and mission-alignment.

Key takeaways from the Bankers Playbook session include:

• The strategic transition from a non-bank lender to a Schedule I bank with diversified funding.
• Utilizing alternative data and AI to responsibly expand credit access to thin-file borrowers.
• How the Fairstone-Home Trust merger creates a unique omnichannel model for alternative finance.

Watch the full session to learn how your organization can apply these alternative lending strategies for underserved Canadians to capture untapped market growth.

Balancing fintech growth and regulatory governance has become the defining challenge for Canadian financial leaders as the average cost of customer acquisition soars to 1,450 dollars. While marketing teams leverage agentic AI to automate up to 80% of prospecting tasks, the pressure to maintain compliance with FINTRAC and FCAC standards has never been higher. This session dives into the reality that 75% of venture-backed fintechs fail within their first year, often due to a misalignment between aggressive scaling and the rigorous legal vetting required in the Canadian market. By examining real-world friction points, the panel explores how firms can move from a growth-at-all-costs mindset to one of sustainable, compliant expansion.

The technical landscape of balancing fintech growth and regulatory governance is shifting toward AI-powered RegTech solutions. With 85% of compliance processes expected to incorporate AI by 2026, financial institutions are now using automated systems to recover up to 50 million dollars annually in fraud avoidance. However, this automation introduces new risks, including algorithmic bias in lending and the rise of “AI washing” in marketing materials. Panelists discuss the necessity of tiered oversight, where governance is proportional to risk, ensuring that innovation in real-time payments and open banking doesn’t outpace the guardrails designed to protect consumer data and market integrity.

Successfully balancing fintech growth and regulatory governance requires a cultural shift where compliance is viewed as a competitive differentiator rather than a bottleneck. As Canada prepares for the 2026 launch of the Real-Time Rail, the ability to integrate third-party tools while meeting OSFI’s resiliency requirements is paramount. This discussion highlights that the most resilient companies are those that embed transparency into their technological design, fostering trust with regulators and customers alike. Participants will gain a strategic framework for navigating these dual pressures, ensuring their growth strategies are built on a bedrock of institutional stability.

Key highlights from this session include:

• Strategies to reduce customer acquisition costs while maintaining strict AML and KYC compliance.
• The role of AI-powered RegTech in automating 85% of regulatory processes by 2026.
• Navigating the 35% public holding threshold and its impact on digital bank ownership structures.

Watch the full panel to learn the exact steps your team can take for balancing fintech growth and regulatory governance in today’s shifting economy.

Building a resilient Ontario economic and trade strategy has become the province’s primary defense against the daily twists and turns of global tariff volatility. In this high-stakes keynote, Minister Victor Fedeli highlights a critical shift: while U.S. federal courts have at times blocked sweeping global trade tariffs, the persistent threat of executive overreach under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act creates a climate of uncertainty that Canadian firms must navigate. Fedeli reveals that Ontario is responding not just with advocacy, but with a billion-dollar provincial relief plan designed to lower the cost of doing business and protect nearly one million new jobs.

The technical core of the current Ontario economic and trade strategy is a aggressive move toward interprovincial free trade and global market diversification. By removing domestic trade barriers through the Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act, the province is unlocking internal growth to offset cross-border friction. Minister Fedeli explains how Ontario is positioning itself as a stable beachhead for international investors in life sciences, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals—sectors that the U.S. defense industry relies upon heavily. This strategic positioning ensures that even amidst a trade war, Ontario’s bread-and-butter industries remain indispensable to the North American supply chain.

Ultimately, the Ontario economic and trade strategy focuses on maintaining a predictable, rule-of-law environment that contrasts with the instability south of the border. From significant WSIB premium rebates to interest-free tax deferrals for local manufacturers, the government is using every available tool to bolster institutional resilience. This session provides an insider’s look at how the province is leveraging its $500 million critical minerals fund and new trade MOUs to ensure that the Ontario economic and trade strategy continues to deliver prosperity, regardless of the political climate in Washington.

Key takeaways from Minister Fedeli’s keynote:

• The impact of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act on Canadian financial stability.
• Strategic diversification into European and Asian markets for critical minerals and defense.
• Leveraging interprovincial free trade to build a self-sustaining internal Canadian market.

Watch the full address to learn how your organization can align with the latest Ontario economic and trade strategy to mitigate cross-border risk.

The shift toward evolving loyalty programs through embedded finance is fundamentally altering how brands maintain long-term customer engagement in a competitive digital economy. While traditional points-based systems once dominated the landscape, this session highlights a critical move toward integrating seamless financial services directly into the user experience. By evolving loyalty programs through embedded finance, organizations can move past transactional interactions and toward holistic ecosystems that provide real value at every touchpoint.

The panel discussion emphasizes that personalization is no longer optional but a core requirement for success. When businesses focus on evolving loyalty programs through embedded finance, they unlock the ability to offer instant rewards, customized credit solutions, and gamified incentives that resonate with modern consumer behaviors. This technical deep dive explores the infrastructure required to support these advanced features, ensuring that security and user trust remain paramount during the transition.

Strategic implementation requires a balance between data analytics and emotional connectivity. Leaders in the space are evolving loyalty programs through embedded finance to reduce friction in the checkout process while simultaneously gathering deeper insights into spending habits. This session serves as a roadmap for finance professionals and digital strategists looking to modernize their retention strategies and drive sustainable growth through innovative fintech integration.

• Strategies for integrating real-time financial benefits into existing mobile applications and customer journeys.
• The role of artificial intelligence in predicting consumer preferences to deliver hyper-personalized reward structures.
• Methods for leveraging gamification to increase daily active usage and brand advocacy among younger demographics.

Watch the full session video above to learn more about the technical requirements for these systems and how your organization can begin implementing these changes today.

The process of integrating embedded lending into consumer journeys is currently revolutionizing how high-value purchases are financed in sectors like automotive, travel, and real estate. No longer a secondary consideration after the sale, point-of-purchase financing has moved from a paper-based and painful experience to a seamless digital interaction. By successfully integrating embedded lending into consumer journeys, lenders and merchants are removing the traditional friction that often leads to cart abandonment or lost sales opportunities at the final stage of the transaction.

This session explores the technical and strategic shifts required for integrating embedded lending into consumer journeys across various digital platforms. The panel discusses how modern APIs and real-time data verification allow for instantaneous credit decisions, effectively moving the industry closer to a perfect ten on the efficiency scale. Beyond simple convenience, integrating embedded lending into consumer journeys provides a critical competitive advantage by offering tailored financial products exactly when the consumer’s intent is at its highest point.

Industry leaders in this session share insights on the infrastructure needed to support these complex financial layers without compromising the user experience. As we look toward the future, integrating embedded lending into consumer journeys will likely expand into more niche markets, requiring a deeper understanding of regulatory compliance and cross-industry collaboration between fintech firms and traditional retail brands.

• Analysis of the transition from legacy paper-based lending models to real-time, integrated digital credit solutions.
• Case studies on how the auto and travel industries have successfully reduced friction during the checkout process.
• Future predictions for embedded finance and the role of data in personalizing the lending experience for the modern buyer.

Explore the full video to discover how your organization can start optimizing the purchase funnel by following these expert insights on digital transformation.

The impact of Carney federal election financial policy represents a significant shift for the Canadian economy, signaling a transition toward more active intervention and strategic fiscal management. In this session hosted by Navigator and Blakes, experts dive deep into the immediate aftermath of the election to interpret what a Carney-led government means for the long-term stability of our markets. The discussion moves beyond surface-level political analysis to address the technical nuances of how a more hands-on approach to the financial sector will alter the landscape for lenders and institutional investors. By examining the proposed agenda, the panel provides a roadmap for navigating the complexities of new fiscal priorities and potential regulatory changes.

Understanding the impact of Carney federal election financial policy is essential for professionals who need to anticipate shifts in credit markets and capital requirements. The session highlights how the new administration plans to integrate industrial strategy with monetary oversight, potentially creating both challenges and opportunities for private equity and domestic banks. As the government begins to implement its vision, the impact of Carney federal election financial policy will likely be felt through increased scrutiny of systemic risks and a push for more sustainable investment frameworks. This detailed briefing ensures that financial leaders are not caught off guard by the rapid pace of legislative developments.

Key insights from the session include:

• Analysis of the proposed shift toward a more interventionist fiscal framework and its effect on market liquidity.
• Strategic overview of the regulatory changes expected for Canadian lenders and international investors.
• Evaluation of how the new prime minister’s agenda seeks to balance economic growth with aggressive deficit management.

Watch the full video to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of Carney federal election financial policy and prepare your organization for the upcoming fiscal year.

The evolving role of stablecoins in global payments serves as the definitive bridge between the volatility of decentralized assets and the stability required for institutional finance. While early iterations were primarily used for trading collateral, the current discourse has shifted toward how these digital assets can solve the long-standing inefficiencies of cross-border settlements. By examining the role of stablecoins in global payments, this panel investigates whether the technology has moved beyond the theoretical stage to become a viable, daily utility for treasury management and retail commerce.

The technical complexity of maintaining a peg while ensuring regulatory compliance is a central theme in this discussion. Experts highlight that the role of stablecoins in global payments depends heavily on the underlying reserve assets and the transparency of the issuing entities. As central banks explore digital currencies, the private sector is simultaneously refining the role of stablecoins in global payments to offer faster, 24/7 liquidity that traditional banking rails currently lack. This session provides a deep dive into the infrastructure requirements, such as smart contract security and interoperability protocols, that will define the next decade of digital value transfer.

Furthermore, the session addresses the friction between innovation and oversight. Understanding the role of stablecoins in global payments requires a nuanced look at how different jurisdictions are crafting frameworks to protect consumers without stifling the speed of blockchain adoption.

• Evaluation of fiat-backed versus algorithmic models and their respective impact on market stability and trust.
• Practical hurdles for corporate adoption, including accounting standards and integration with legacy ERP systems.
• A comparison of settlement speeds and transaction costs between stablecoins and traditional SWIFT networks.

Watch the complete panel discussion to gain expert perspectives on the regulatory and technical milestones necessary for wide-scale adoption.

Determining who is truly winning the small business banking race requires a deep dive into how fintech challengers like Float and Keep are disrupting traditional financial models in Canada. While the big five banks still control over 85% of the total market share, agile fintechs are capturing high-growth segments by addressing the specific pain points of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). This session highlights a critical shift: fintechs are no longer just service providers but are becoming end-to-end financial operating systems that automate workflows, expense management, and real-time payments.

The technical landscape of winning the small business banking race has evolved toward a symbiotic relationship between incumbents and disruptors. Traditional banks often struggle with legacy infrastructure and a cultural risk aversion that slows down innovation, yet they remain essential partners for underwriting and regulatory compliance. Meanwhile, fintechs leverage agentic AI and open banking protocols to offer speed-to-funding that traditional institutions cannot yet match, with some platforms approving corporate credit cards in minutes rather than days.

Data from recent market audits suggest that winning the small business banking race depends on the ability to provide a seamless, integrated user experience. With nearly 98% of Canadian companies classified as small or mid-sized, the opportunity for modernization is massive. This workshop explores how the race is being run through superior customer loyalty scores, where fintechs frequently outshine traditional banks by margins of 40 points or more in Net Promoter Scores.

Attendees will explore these key themes from the session:

• The shift from fragmented banking tools to integrated financial operating systems.
• How corporate spend cards act as a gateway for broader fintech adoption.
• The impact of Canada’s regulatory landscape and open banking on market competition.

Join this forward-looking discussion to see how your organization can adapt to the changing dynamics of winning the small business banking race.

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