S5 E5 Fintech Files - Leapfrogging Into the Future

Discover how Central Asia is skipping over traditional banking as TBC Uzbekistan CEO Nika Kurdiani unpacks the region’s journey from a cash-based past to a young, mobile-first digital economy.
Podcast cover for Fintech Files Episode 5 with Nika Kurdiani on Central Asia going digital-first.
Podcast cover for Fintech Files Episode 5 with Nika Kurdiani on Central Asia going digital-first.
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/1fey85V5524?si=jDfjqZBhqo0KH8Zk
Podcast
December 17, 2025
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How does a region skip the traditional path of banking entirely and jump straight into a digital future? Central Asia has become one of the fastest-moving digital banking regions in the world. In this episode, Nika Kurdiani, CEO of TBC Uzbekistan, reflects on the forces behind this rapid shift, from a post-Soviet cash-based legacy to a generation that expects mobile-first financial services.

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We discuss TBC’s approach to entering Uzbekistan, the evolving needs of a young and digital-first population, and the strategic choices required to build trust in a transforming market. Kurdiani also shares how AI, UX design, and digital onboarding are speeding up adoption and redefining what customers now consider a modern banking experience.

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From leapfrogging traditional infrastructure to shaping the next wave of fintech innovation in the region, this episode reveals how Central Asia is rewriting the rules of digital banking and what this means for the future of financial services. Listen here.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QAg48XnoIX8
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Featured

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Phil Gerrard

Manager Director
London, United Kingdom

Tom is an Engineering Lead based in the London office. He has vast experience delivering products and services with a human centered approach – including artificial intelligence solutions at scale and new startup ventures across a wide range of industries. Covering topics ranging from privacy enhancing AI to digital consortium design, he brings expertise in open innovation’s evolving role in solving high impact issues such as climate action, healthcare and online privacy.

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Annika Melchert

Riyadh
,
Saudi Arabia

Annika Melchert is a Principal in the Riyadh Office and the podcast co-host of Fintech Files Podcast.

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As an expert in modern banking, she guides fintechs and incumbent banks on their technology build, integration strategies, and digital transformations.

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Nora Hocke

Sydney
,
Australia

Nora is a member of the BCG Platinion Agile chapter and the Neobank and FinTech initiative and Co-Host of the Fintech Files Podcast.

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Nora is an expert in IT strategy and agile ways of working. By combining her expertise in banking and emerging technologies, she has delivered IT strategies, next-gen target architectures, and agile operating models for fintech and incumbent banks across the globe.

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Bianca Lopes

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Originally from Brazil and currently based in Denmark, Bianca is an entrepreneur and economist with a remarkable background in digital identity and biometrics.

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Throughout her career, Bianca has supported over 40 financial institutions and 8 governments, reshaping their approach to technology, reimagining identity, and driving innovation agendas.