AFS started with offering travellers’ cheques followed by cards processing and evolved dynamically as a core payment processing, fintech, and merchant acquiring business. AFS has successfully laid the groundwork to drive its next chapter of growth with cutting-edge digital payment technologies. The shareholders are strongly committed to supporting this vision and are confident of the leadership’s capabilities to achieve it.

The Bahrain Supernova will see some of the financial institutions in Bahrain presenting real market challenges aimed at finding customer-centric solutions. Innovators and fintech startups will have access to an API sandbox with +330 APIs and simulated data sets from local and regional banks to enable rapid and seamless proof of concepts (PoCs).

With its partnerships already spanning across the region, Tarabut Gateway welcomed the recent news of the Saudi Central Bank’s (SAMA) directive to implement a Kingdom-wide policy on Open Banking, in line with the vision and strategic objectives of the Financial Sector Development Program. Bahrain was the first country in the region to outline an Open Banking Policy and Framework.

The Forum assembled on an interactive virtual platform, leading commentators including Dr. Gillian Tett, editor-at-large, Financial Times and BBC presenter Stephen Sackur, and Dr, ZiadDaoud of Bloomberg, with a diverse representation of industry leaders, pioneers, regulators and all those playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the banking industry.

With more than 2,000 participants including regulators, financial services and fintech leaders expected to attend; the event will explore financial services beyond digital and ways to navigate the current economic crisis, possible paths to recovery, and uncover new and exciting opportunities to drive positive change in the financial services sector.