NatWest Group has opened applications for the second year of its Fintech program, targeting UK-based fintechs using artificial intelligence to reshape the future of customer experience in financial services.
The 2026 program has a duration of 12 weeks and is aimed at pre-Series A and Series A fintechs with proven product-market fit and commercial traction. Successful applicants will receive practical support from NatWest’s innovation team, as well as access to senior decision makers, mentoring and opportunities to explore potential collaboration with the bank.
Participants will also be able to access NatWest’s wider innovation ecosystem through a program of in-person events and workshops, some of which will take place at the bank’s accelerator hubs across the UK, including its new London hub.
This year’s theme, “How AI is shaping the future of customer experience,” reflects the rapid pace of technological change in financial services and changing consumer expectations. NatWest says the program will focus on emerging trends such as agent AI, the rise of smart devices and the development of new customer touchpoints beyond traditional banking apps.
The bank is particularly interested in hearing from fintechs that are developing solutions that improve customer engagement and relationships in an AI-driven landscape, create immersive and intuitive banking experiences, or provide better support to vulnerable customers.
Building on the success of the inaugural program, NatWest is encouraging applications from fintechs in regional centers across the UK, reinforcing its commitment to supporting innovation beyond London and strengthening the country’s fintech ecosystem.
David Grunwald, director of innovation at NatWest Group, said the program was designed to help the bank stay ahead of profound changes in the way customers interact with financial services.
“The pace of advances in AI and technology is fundamentally changing the way customers interact with financial services,” he said. “To stay at the forefront, whether through new channels, new technologies or smarter engagement, innovation and collaboration are non-negotiable. Fintechs play a critical role in addressing these challenges, so it is important that we support them to succeed as we shape the future of banking together.”
NatWest says the program has already shown tangible results. Several start-ups from last year’s cohort then held extensive discussions with the bank and its partners to explore longer-term business opportunities.
One such company is Tunic Pay, a real-time payment intelligence platform focused on preventing fraud and scams. Following its participation in the program, Tunic Pay partnered with NatWest and is now testing fraud prevention technology for the bank’s retail customers. The pilot uses transaction authentication in NatWest’s mobile app to protect customers from fraud in real time.
Nicky Goulimis, co-founder of Tunic Pay, said the program provides invaluable access and insight into how a major bank operates at scale.
“Joining NatWest’s Fintech program gave us the unique opportunity to engage directly with the bank’s teams and learn from their experiences serving millions of customers,” she said. “The access and support we have received has helped us understand how our platform can make a real difference to NatWest’s business and its customers. By working together, we are now able to find new ways to protect people from fraud and scams, using technology to make banking safer for everyone.”
Applications for the 2026 Fintech program are now open. Further details, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, can be found on the NatWest Group website.
