From Automation to Autonomy: AI's Next Chapter in Financial Services
We're bringing the full ecosystem to the table - card networks, acquirers, and merchants for a true 360° view you won't find in any single conversation.
Together, we'll explore how AI is shifting collections and payouts from reactive to proactive: reducing involuntary churn, improving recovery rates, and creating a customer experience built on retention rather than pursuit.
Expect candid discussion, open Q&A, and breakfast with peers navigating the same challenges.
Why it matters:
Built for lenders, debt collectors, and insurers facing rising cost-to-collect, involuntary churn, and the pressure to automate without losing the human touch or compromising on compliance.
What you will hear:
Cut involuntary churn before it happens: how predictive modelling and dynamic retry strategies catch payment issues before they become hard declines, protecting recovery rates and the customer relationship.
Automate without losing the human touch: how autonomous AI agents can handle collections conversationally, negotiating payment plans and updating payment methods in a way that keeps customers on board instead of pushing them away.
Automate with confidence, not risk: where the line sits between AI autonomy and human oversight, and the guardrails that keep sensitive payment data compliant and brand-safe.
Your next customer might be an AI agent: when AI starts shopping for credit, insurance, or services on someone's behalf, discoverability and trust matter as much as price — and merchants need to rethink how they show up.
Timings:
08:30 – 09:00: Arrival & breakfast
09:00 – 10:00: Panel discussion
10:00 – 11:00: Networking
Panel:
Lee Clifton - Chief Operating Officer - Acquired
Lee is the Chief Operating Officer at Acquired, where he leads operational strategy and client relationship growth. Bringing extensive global fintech and banking leadership experience to the team, Lee previously served as Global Head of Payments Performance and Strategy at Stripe and held executive leadership roles at JPMorgan, including Global Head of Product. He also serves as Chair of the Global Board at the Merchant Risk Council (MRC).
Tjaart van Wijck - Chief Technology Officer - Abound
Tjaart is the Chief Technology Officer at Abound, leading the development of AI-driven financial and open-banking lending solutions. With extensive engineering and architecture experience across HSBC, Barclays, and the Bank of England, he brings deep expertise in building scalable, real-time financial infrastructure.
Kate Cleavely - Managing Director - Credit Technologies
Kate is the Managing Director at Credit Technologies, leading the development of technology and platforms that improve access to credit and drive financial inclusion. With extensive leadership experience across the Quint Group ecosystem, she specialises in scaling fintech solutions that connect credit technology with modern payment infrastructure.
John Rutter - VP UK&I Digital Solutions - Mastercard
Jon Rutter leads Core Product for Mastercard UK & Ireland, driving the adoption of payment innovations spanning tokenisation, digital enablement and new consumer propositions. He plays a leading role in Mastercard's agentic commerce initiatives, working with customers and partners to bring AI-powered commerce experiences to market. With more than two decades of experience in payments, Jon has held a range of product and innovation leadership roles across Mastercard and First Data (now Fiserv), helping shape and commercialise new payment solutions for customers globally.
Trust Payments will also be joining the panel. Further details to follow shortly.