How is fintech shaping banking careers

• Digital banking platforms allow customers to manage accounts, apply for products and access support without visiting a branch. 
• Payments and open banking systems enable faster transfers and greater connectivity across financial services. 
• Artificial intelligence (AI) supports credit assessment, risk modelling and transaction monitoring. 
• Fraud detection and compliance technologies help banks meet regulatory requirements and protect both customers and institutions. 

Banks rely on fintech to remain competitive in a fast-moving market, respond to regulatory expectations and manage growing volumes of data and transactions. As these systems become more central to financial services, they continue to reshape the nature of the work finance professionals do and the skills graduates are expected to bring with them. 

Why fintech is reshaping banking careers in the UK 

The UK is not adapting to fintech from the sidelines. It remains one of the most active fintech markets globally, with banking, regulation and innovation closely connected. Even during periods of economic uncertainty, the sector has continued to attract investment, evolve through policy support and create demand for skilled finance professionals. 

What makes the UK landscape particularly relevant for future banking careers is the combination of market growth, regulatory direction and long-term government backing. Here is what is shaping banking careers in the UK right now: 

• Sustained fintech investment and resilience: In the first half of 2025, UK fintech investment hit $7.2 billion. British fintech firms received more funding than those in Europe, the Middle East and Africa combined. This shows ongoing demand for finance graduates in digital banking, payments, risk and compliance. 
• Government-backed growth and regulatory support: The UK government has made fintech a key part of its financial services strategy. It has introduced fast-track licensing, letting startups operate while they finish full regulatory approval. This speeds up innovation and keeps regulations in place. 
• Policy frameworks enabling digital finance at scale: New regulations, such as the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, help build secure digital finance by supporting safe digital verification and trusted data access. These frameworks are expected to add billions of pounds to the UK economy by the mid-2030s, with financial services benefiting the most. 
• Growth areas driving new banking roles: Continued advances in AI, digital payments and data-driven financial services are reshaping how banks manage credit, detect fraud and deliver services. This has expanded career opportunities beyond traditional roles into risk analysis, compliance, digital operations and product support. 

Together, these shifts explain why banking careers in the UK are changing. Growth creates jobs, but not all finance roles now look the same. Banks increasingly need graduates who understand how financial decision-making, regulation and technology work together in practice. 

Fintech career paths within banking and financial services 

As fintech becomes part of daily banking, many jobs now combine financial knowledge, regulation and digital systems. This means you have several ways to enter the sector, even if you do not have a technical background. Instead of one type of fintech job, banking careers in this area cover a few main fields. 

1. Analytical and risk-focused roles 

Banks increasingly rely on data to assess risk, monitor transactions and meet regulatory expectations. Graduates entering these roles support decision-making by analysing patterns, identifying anomalies and interpreting financial data within regulated frameworks. Common roles in this area include: 

• Risk and fraud analyst roles 
• Credit and data analysts 
• Regulatory reporting analysts 

These positions are often accessible at entry level and provide strong exposure to how fintech systems support real banking decisions. 

2. Compliance and governance roles 

As digital banking expands, oversight becomes more important. Compliance and governance roles make sure financial services follow legal, ethical and regulatory rules, especially as technology automates more tasks. Graduates in this area may take on roles such as: 

• Fintech compliance officer 
• AML and financial crime analyst 
• Regulatory operations support 

These careers are a good fit for students interested in regulation, risk management and using financial technology responsibly. 

3. Product and operations roles 

Fintech has also led to jobs that focus on the daily running of banking products and services. These roles work closely with customers and internal teams, helping with platforms, payments and onboarding. Typical jobs include: 

• Digital banking product support 
• Payments operations analyst 
• Client onboarding and platform support 

These roles combine accounting and finance skills employers are looking for in 2026 with system awareness, making them a common starting point for graduates entering digital banking environments. 

In all these areas, one thing is clear: most fintech-related banking jobs are not tech-only positions. They are finance roles shaped by tech. To succeed, you need to know how financial knowledge connects with digital systems, regulations and business decisions. 

Skills needed for fintech-influenced banking careers 

Employers are looking for graduates who can understand financial principles, work confidently with digital systems and make sound decisions within regulated environments. This means you need to be a finance professional who knows how technology affects modern banking. The most valued skills in fintech-influenced banking careers in the UK fall into two main areas. 

Technical awareness 

In banking today, technology is part of nearly every process. You are not expected to build systems or write complex code, but must understand how these systems influence outcomes. This technical awareness typically includes: 

• An understanding of digital banking platforms and how customers interact with them. 
• Data literacy, including reading dashboards, reports and performance metrics. 
• Awareness of how AI supports credit assessment, fraud detection and forecasting. 
• Familiarity with regulatory technology (RegTech) used to monitor compliance and manage risk. 

Business skills 

Even though technology has changed banking, core business skills are still important. Employers value graduates who can understand financial information, communicate well and exercise sound judgement. Key business skills include: 

• Financial analysis, reporting and an understanding of how numbers support decision-making. 
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of how banks create value in competitive markets. 
• Ethical judgement and risk awareness, particularly in regulated digital environments. 
• Clear communication across technical and non-technical teams. 

The best graduates are those who link financial knowledge with digital systems. They know what the data means and how it is created, regulated and used in real banking situations. 

How a finance degree prepares you for fintech-shaped banking careers 

The skills employers look for in fintech-influenced banking roles are not developed in isolation. They are built through structured learning that combines financial knowledge, practical application and an understanding of how modern banking operates. The Global Banking School's (GBS) finance degree aligns with the direction of modern banking careers in the UK.  

Our course helps you build strong financial skills and the broader awareness employers want in regulated, tech-driven financial services. With both theory and practical learning, you will develop: 

• Strong financial and accounting foundations that support analytical and decision-making roles. 
• An understanding of how financial data is used in real organisational contexts. 
• Awareness of risk, compliance and ethical judgement within regulated environments. 
• Transferable skills that apply across traditional banking, digital banking and fintech-enabled roles. 

Alongside academic learning, GBS focuses on employability and career readiness. You will learn what employers expect, apply your knowledge to real situations and build confidence for interviews and early jobs. This preparation helps graduates start banking careers shaped by fintech, not as technology experts, but as finance professionals who know how financial insight, regulation and digital systems work together. 

Advance your future with BSc (Hons) Accounting & Financial Management. Build the financial foundations, applied understanding and confidence needed for banking careers in the UK.