First of all, can you tell our readers a little about your background and what brought you to Monument Technology?
I’ve spent more than 14 years working across banking technology and financial services, helping banks and building societies modernise the systems that sit at the heart of their businesses. During that time, I’ve worked with lenders at very different stages of growth, from newer entrants building their proposition through to more established institutions looking to modernise.
Before joining Monument Technology, I spent several years working across the UK and Europe, which gave me a good perspective on how different institutions approach technology. Every organisation’s approach is different, but they all face the same challenge of balancing innovation with the realities of running a regulated business.
I joined Monument Technology because it was fundamentally different. It wasn’t talking about the banking technology it was building for the future; the platform was already proven in a UK bank. Since I joined, we’ve completed the migration of Ecology Building Society and we are well advanced in our project with Castle Trust Bank. For me, lenders want to see delivery, not just ambition.
What are lenders asking for from core banking technology in 2026?
The biggest change is that lenders are asking much better questions. Five years ago, conversations often centred on functionality and feature lists, whereas today they’re much more focused on outcomes.
Most modern platforms should already be functionally rich. What lenders really want to know is how quickly they can launch products, improve operational efficiency, reduce manual processes and create a platform that will support the business over the next decade.
We’ve also seen much more focus on resilience, migration and flexibility. Technology decisions are no longer simply about replacing one system with another; they’re about giving the business the ability to grow without continually revisiting its core infrastructure.
Cloud-native continues to dominate technology discussions. What should lenders really be looking for?
Cloud-native has probably become one of the most overused phrases in financial services. Not every platform that talks about cloud is genuinely cloud-native, and lenders are becoming much better at spotting that.
There’s a huge difference between technology that was designed for the cloud from day one and legacy software that’s simply been moved into a cloud environment. Those differences may not always be obvious during procurement, but they become very obvious once a bank starts scaling.
Buyers want to understand how the platform has been built, how easily it can develop and whether it will still support their ambitions five or ten years from now.
API-first architecture has also become a major consideration. Why is that?
Most lenders aren’t looking for a complete technology overhaul anymore. They’ve invested heavily over the years, so they want new technology that complements the systems they already have rather than forcing them to start again.
That’s where API-first architecture comes into its own, as it allows institutions to modernise progressively, introducing new capabilities where they add the most value without taking on unnecessary risk.
We’ve deliberately built our servicing platform so it can work alongside whichever origination platform a lender chooses. Every lender has its own priorities, and we think technology should give customers flexibility rather than dictating how they operate.
You recently completed the migration of Ecology Building Society onto the Monument Technology platform. What did that project demonstrate?
For us, it demonstrated that large-scale transformation doesn’t have to be a five-year programme with uncertain outcomes. Ecology successfully migrated its savings and mortgage business onto our platform in 18 months, and that gave us a live example of what’s possible when the technology and delivery approach are right.
What’s important is that it wasn’t simply a technology project. It was about helping a building society modernise the way it operates while creating a platform that supports future growth, product development and operational efficiency.
I think the wider market takes confidence from seeing projects like that completed successfully. There are plenty of businesses talking about transformation, but lenders ultimately want proof that it can be delivered in a live, regulated environment.
Servicing doesn’t always receive the same attention as origination. Why do you think it deserves more focus?
Origination naturally receives a lot of attention because that’s where customer relationships begin. In reality, though, servicing is where lenders spend years managing those relationships and carrying out the day-to-day running of the business.
If servicing relies on fragmented systems or unnecessary manual work, those inefficiencies stay with the organisation for years. Improving that part of the platform can have just as much impact as improving the customer experience at the application stage.
That’s why we’ve always put so much emphasis on rich servicing functionality, as the aim isn’t simply to digitise existing processes but to make the whole organisation operate more efficiently.
Migration has traditionally been viewed as one of the biggest risks in any transformation programme. Has that become more important?
Absolutely. A few years ago, migration often felt like something people discussed towards the end of the procurement process, whereas today it’s usually one of the first conversations.
Banks have seen enough transformation programmes over the years to know that functionality alone isn’t enough. They want evidence that a supplier has delivered before, understands the realities of migration and can move customers safely with minimal disruption.
That’s where experience really counts. People aren’t simply buying software anymore; they’re investing in a partner that can help them get live successfully.
AI dominates almost every technology discussion today. Where do you think the market really is?
There’s a huge amount of interest in AI, and rightly so, but I think the market is becoming much more pragmatic about it. Lenders aren’t looking for AI because it’s fashionable; they’re looking for practical ways it can improve the way they operate.
That might mean reducing manual work, helping colleagues make quicker decisions or making better use of operational data. If AI delivers genuine value in those areas, adoption will continue to grow naturally.
The technology is exciting, but banks still need strong governance and clear business cases. That’s probably a healthier place for the industry than implementing AI simply because everyone else is talking about it.
Finally, what should the market expect from Monument Technology during the rest of 2026?
Our focus now is on growing our client base and building on our momentum. We are in numerous well-advanced discussions, and not just in the UK, so stay tuned.
We’ll continue investing in the platform, particularly around automation, data and AI where it creates genuine value, while helping more lenders modernise in a way that reflects their own ambitions rather than forcing them into a standard approach.
Ultimately, lenders don’t need another supplier making promises about the future. They want a partner that understands the realities of running a bank, delivers what it says it will and gives them technology that’s ready for whatever comes next.
