Embedded finance is one of the hottest topics in the industry today, and with good reason. It can enable a bank to access new markets and customer segments far more easily, and at a lower cost, than through organic growth. However, delivering this at any kind of scale typically requires new capabilities and new technology. Standard Chartered saw an opportunity to build an embedded finance proposition based on a new, cloud-based, technology platform. The success of this approach has since led the bank to launch audax, which is a separate business line offering the technology stack to other financial institutions.

The Celent Model Bank Award for Embedded Finance recognises best practice in delivering new business models or approaches in this emerging area of the industry. Standard Chartered has demonstrated its capabilities in this area with the launch of SC nexus, a BaaS proposition that supports the bank’s embedded finance partnerships. It has also begun to leverage this investment to enter the value chain as a technology provider to other banks.

With one successful implementation delivered, and more in the pipeline, Standard Chartered is a worthy winner of the 2024 Model Bank Award for Embedded Finance.