Banking is changing.

Hazem and Mack sit down with Banpay Group’s Fernando Ibarra to explore how a Mexico‑born digital bank serves global small and mid‑sized businesses, why Banpay treats payments as seriously as lending, and how focus, culture, and 24/7 access help it compete with the world’s largest financial institutions.

Learn more about Banpay here.

To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank.

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Key Takeaways

1. Banpay began as a money transmitter in Mexico and evolved into a regulated digital bank focused on serving small and medium enterprises rather than traditional consumer banking.

2. Digital banks can specialize in payments, collections, and connectivity instead of trying to replicate every service offered by large commercial banks.

3. Trying to offer too many products becomes “kryptonite” for banks; sustainable success comes from focusing on a few services and delivering them with exceptional quality.

4. Lowering transaction costs, speeding up processes, and improving customer attention are critical differentiators in the future of banking.

5. Hiring local teams and respecting regional cultures—from accents to business customs—helps global organizations build trust and significantly grow revenue in each market.

Timestamped Overview

00:44 Introducing banker and founder Fernando Ibarra
01:51 Career building banks in Mexico and looking global
03:25 Origins of Banpay as a money transmitter
04:10 Choosing to serve small and medium enterprises, not retail
05:32 Treating payments and collections as equal to lending
07:10 Banpay’s mission: reliable, disruptive service and strong returns
09:07 Multi‑currency accounts and real‑time global payments
11:32 Technology, global data centers, and 24/7 uptime
14:52 Cybersecurity strategy, liquidity, and layered protection
19:39 “Kryptonite for banks” and the danger of doing everything
21:56 Hiring local teams and honoring culture in each region
25:27 Early push into real‑time payments across Mexico
27:29 Vision to lead real‑time cross‑border trade flows
30:22 Strict compliance and saying no to the wrong business
31:05 Partnership and shared perspective with Integrity Bank

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