NatWest Seeks AI Fintechs for 2026 Innovation Programme
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UK-focused banking and financial services holding company, the NatWest Group, announced yesterday, December 15, that it has opened applications for the 2026 Fintech Program. According to the statement, the theme for this year will focus on how AI is shaping the future of customer experience.
Details of The Program
NatWest Group said that it has opened applications for the second year of its Fintech Program, targeting fintechs across the UK that are using AI to help redefine the future of customer experience in financial services.
Those interested in joining should note that the program will last for 12 weeks, and successful applicants will gain support from the NatWest Innovation team to explore collaboration opportunities with the bank. They will also get the chance to access mentorship from senior decision makers and connect with the bank’s wider innovation system via in-person events and workshops. Some of it will take place in NatWest’s Accelerator Hubs, including the new London Hub.
Commenting further, NatWest Group’s statement said: “Building on last year’s success, the 2026 programme encourages more fintechs from across UK regional hubs and will address rapid technological change and evolving customer expectations, including agentic AI and the emergence of smart devices. It targets pre-series A and series A fintechs with proven product-market-fit and traction, delivering solutions for the customer of the future – whether that’s improving engagement and customer relationships in an agentic AI landscape, creating immersive banking experiences beyond apps, or supporting vulnerable customers.”
Meanwhile, its Director of Innovation, David Grunwald, noted that the pace at which advancements in AI and technology are coming is fundamentally changing the way users interact with financial services. He highlighted that innovation and collaborations are non-negotiables for anyone who wishes to stay ahead, whether through new channels, emerging technologies, or smarter engagement.
“Fintechs play a vital role in meeting these challenges, so it’s essential we support them to thrive as we come together to shape the future of banking,” Grunwald explained.
New Collaboration Opportunities Await
It is also worth noting that program participants can explore collaboration opportunities with NatWest, as several of last year’s start-ups are already doing. They are in extended discussions with both the bank and its partners.
One example is Tunic Pay, a real-time payment intelligence platform dedicated to preventing fraud and scams. The platform teamed up with NatWest following the access and support that the program provided.
Tunic Pay’s co-founder, Nicky Goulimis, said that joining the program provided the firm with a unique opportunity to connect directly with the bank’s teams and learn from their experience.
“The access and support we received helped us understand how our platform could make a real difference for NatWest’s business and its customers. Working together, we’re now able to pilot new ways to protect people from fraud and scams, using technology to make banking safer for everyone,” Goulimis concluded.
