Sehrish Alikhan - Community Author: Finextra Research

5 sustainable-focused fintechs you should know about

In a follow-up to my previous long read on sustainability-linked bank accounts available to users, now I am looking at sustainability and green-focused fintech platforms for the everyday consumer for those seeking a climate-conscious banking experience. Looking at the biggest banks in the world, the likes of HSBC, Barclays, and JPMorgan Chase have...

23 July 2025 /sustainable

Can reducing fossil fuel subsidies advance global climate goals?

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

Can reducing fossil fuel subsidies advance global climate goals?

Research from ZEW Manheim found that worldwide climate targets can be met by reducing subsidies for fossil fuels. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to below 2°C to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Targets range from achieving net zero by 2035 to 2070 depending on the country, with most settling in the middle at 2050. The UK is aim...

16 July 2025 /sustainable

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

Solving modern KYC challenges

In today’s digital age, banking is expected to be seamless, frictionless, and to make it plain and simple: easy. However, with a constantly shifting regulatory landscape, increased demand for hyper-personalisation and desire to be digital – financial institutions have obstacles to overcome to keep up with consumer demand. A pain point in the digit...

15 July 2025 /retail

What sustainability-linked bank accounts are out there?

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

What sustainability-linked bank accounts are out there?

Due to the increasing pressure on big banks to meet net zero goals and fulfill environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements, a wave of sustainability-focused banking services have been released, seeking to help integrate green initiatives into consumers’ everyday lives. As Scott Hamilton detailed in an earlier Finextra long read on ES...

11 July 2025 /sustainable

Payments modernisation: How banks can leverage partnerships to scale up

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

Payments modernisation: How banks can leverage partnerships to scale up

As digital-first banks and neobanks take the lead in the global payments space, traditional financial institutions are looking to evolve. To keep up with the rapid pace of the industry, banks need to be in a constant stage of evolution. How can legacy banks modernise, and what tools are available to support them in their digital transformation jou...

16 June 2025 /payments

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

What is the future of money in Europe?

The following article is an excerpt from The Future of European Fintech 2025: A Money20/20 Europe Special Edition. In the European payments space, emerging technologies are taking the lead to define what the next big thing will be in banking. Where is the future of payments leading, and how will it benefit the consumer and propel the industry forw...

09 June 2025 /devops

A crisis of trust: European and global verification brings safety to payments

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

A crisis of trust: European and global verification brings safety to payments

Verification of Payee (VoP) has rapidly become an essential aspect of banking and payments, ensuring security and safety in payments transactions. By October 2025, all European Payments Service Providers (PSPs) using SEPA instant and non-instant transfers will need to verify payee account details before processing payments. As the EPC’s deadline is...

29 May 2025 /security

What UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s US cryptoasset collaboration means

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

What UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s US cryptoasset collaboration means

At the Innovate Finance Global Summit (IFGS) 2025, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves took the stage to speak on the Government’s commitment to supporting and advancing the fintech sector. Reeves discussed UK-US collaboration on fostering an environment primed for digital asset development, new additions to the Pensions Schemes Bill, and ...

30 April 2025 /crypto

How collaborative efforts will advance regtech and AI use in financial regulation

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

How collaborative efforts will advance regtech and AI use in financial regulation

The Innovate Finance Global Summit (IFGS) 2025 held in the historic Guildhall in London, kicked off with opening remarks from Tim Levene, Alderman, City of London Corporation and CEO, Augentum Fintech and Janine Hirt, CEO of Innovate Finance. Levene and Hirt both highlighted the UK’s leadership in fintech, and how amid global political and economic...

29 April 2025 /startups

What is the state of the global carbon market?

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

What is the state of the global carbon market?

Last week, the UK Government published a report outlining a consultation titled Voluntary Carbon and Nature Markets: Raising Integrity, which outlined principles for carbon credit integrity. The move marks the UK’s broader ambition in becoming a climate finance hub, and raises questions around what is being done globally to address carbon credits ...

23 April 2025 /sustainable

How are sustainable finance products being incorporated into UK pension schemes?

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

How are sustainable finance products being incorporated into UK pension schemes?

In partnership with the University of Glasgow and University of Strathclyde, Fintech Scotland released a report on sustainable financial products and UK pension schemes last month. This article covers the findings of the report and their significance to the UK economy and sustainable finance initiatives. How is ESG being integrated into current pe...

16 April 2025 /sustainable

What is Digital Company ID? CFIT’s blueprint for fraud prevention

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

What is Digital Company ID? CFIT’s blueprint for fraud prevention

The Centre for Finance, Innovation, and Technology (CFIT) has published a Digital Company ID plan to crack down on fraud and support UK businesses. CFIT led a coalition of over 70 organisations including financial institutions, government agencies, tech firms, policymakers, and academics, to develop and analyse Digital Company ID. According to the ...

19 March 2025 /identity

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