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Alpha Bank Elevates Transaction Banking Through Strategic Corporate Workshops

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

August 22, 2025

Alpha Bank has successfully concluded a series of high-caliber corporate workshops across Athens, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion, Crete. This initiative, attended by over 100 senior executives from nearly 70 companies, underscores the bank’s commitment to delivering innovative Transaction Banking solutions.

Empowering Business Leaders With Advanced Financial Tools

The workshops provided an immersive environment where participants explored the latest Transaction Banking tools, focusing primarily on Trade Finance and Treasury. With the promise of expanding the series to additional regions in Greece starting in September, the sessions enabled corporate leaders to gain hands-on insights and engage with senior Alpha Bank executives on best business practices and market challenges.

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Customized Content for Evolving Market Needs

Each event was carefully tailored to address specific business imperatives. In Heraklion, the spotlight was on the advantages of digital transaction banking services, fostering enhanced operational efficiency. Thessaloniki’s sessions emphasized opportunities for international expansion through specialized Trade Finance and Treasury instruments. Meanwhile, the Athens workshop not only showcased Alpha Bank’s flagship Transaction Banking products but also delivered a thorough analysis of market dynamics, including the implications of US tariff policies.

Industry Experts Driving Strategic Insights

Alpha Bank’s panel featured prominent figures such as Vangelis Patrinos, Chief of Wholesale Trade Lending and Transaction Banking, Panagiotis Kapopoulos, Chief Economist, and other seasoned professionals including Kiki Karagianni, Giorgos Markouizos, and Ioanna Apostolidi. Their expert insights on products like Import LC Discounting and innovative energy risk hedging solutions—such as Energy Swaps—highlighted the bank’s proactive approach in addressing current financial market challenges.

Strengthening Competitive Edge Through Innovation

“The success of our initial series of corporate events in Heraklion, Thessaloniki, and Athens reaffirms our commitment to empowering Greek businesses with tailored financial solutions,” stated Alexandros Manatos, Transaction Banking Solutions Director at Alpha Bank. “Our events have not only provided detailed insights into advanced Trade Finance and Treasury tools but also demonstrated how these innovations can drive competitiveness and effective management of market challenges.”

Through these strategic workshops, Alpha Bank solidifies its leadership in Transaction Banking by continuously adapting to the evolving economic landscape and strengthening business resilience across Greece.

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FinTech’s Dominance In MENA: Three Strategic Drivers Behind Unyielding VC Success

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 11, 2025

Despite facing tightening global liquidity and macroeconomic headwinds, the FinTech sector continues to assert its leadership in the MENA region. In the first half of 2025, FinTech emerged as the most resilient and appealing arena for venture capital investments, proving its worth as a catalyst for financial innovation and inclusion.

Addressing Structural Financial Gaps

In many parts of MENA, a significant proportion of the population remains underbanked and underserved by traditional financial institutions. FinTech companies are uniquely positioned to address these persistent challenges by bridging critical access gaps and driving financial inclusion. With the proliferation of payment apps, digital wallets, and micro-lending platforms, investors have witnessed firsthand how these solutions pave the way for scalable growth and eventual exits. Early-stage momentum in the region is underscored by a doubling of pre-seed deals year-over-year, reinforcing the sector’s capacity for rapid innovation and sustainable expansion.

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Highly Scalable and Replicable Business Models

One of the key factors behind FinTech’s dominance is the inherent scalability of its business models. Once the necessary infrastructure and regulatory approvals are in place, these models have demonstrated robust performance across borders. The first half of 2025 saw a marked acceleration in deal activity, with payment solutions leading the charge with 28 deals in MENA—a significant increase over the previous year. Lending platforms, in particular, experienced a meteoric 500% year-over-year increase in funding, emerging as the fastest-growing subindustry. Such replicability makes FinTech an attractive proposition for investors seeking high-growth opportunities in diverse markets.

Supportive Regulatory And Government Backing

The strategic support offered by key government initiatives in the UAE and Saudi Arabia has been instrumental in propelling the FinTech sector forward. Progressive frameworks, such as the UAE’s open finance and digital asset directives, coupled with Saudi Arabia’s live-testing sandboxes, have materially lowered entry barriers for startups. These measures not only foster innovation but also streamline the path to commercialization. Consequently, the combined efforts of these regulatory bodies have enabled the UAE and Saudi Arabia to account for 86% of MENA’s total FinTech funding in H1 2025.

The resilience of FinTech in MENA is not merely a reflection of contemporary market trends—it signals a fundamental shift in the region’s economic fabric. With an unwavering commitment to addressing real financial challenges, scalable and replicable business practices, and robust regulatory support, FinTech is setting the benchmark for sustainable innovation. As capital markets become increasingly discerning, this sector stands out as a beacon of long-term growth and transformative impact.