Michael Cruz is the vice president for Usage and Strategic Businesses of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), reporting under the Digital Enterprise and Innovations Group. He previously served as special assistant to RCBC president Eugene Acevedo from 2019 to 2022.

In his role, Cruz works to advance and communicate the president’s agenda by spearheading new initiatives, organising cross functional projects, and enforcing plans and performance standards to advance the bank’s transformation. In 2022, he became one of the youngest vice presidents in RCBC’s history at 29.

Cruz started as a management trainee at the Union Bank of the Philippines in 2013. He served in a senior corporate planning role for UnionBank’s subsidiary City Savings Bank, executing merger and acquisitions (M&A) deals and performing business development aimed at diversifying the bank’s loan portfolio.

Frankie Wai is the business solution director for Asia Pacific in Temenos, one of the leading banking software companies globally. As a solution-oriented person with strategic thinking and strong interpersonal skills, he defines the region's solution strategy, advises the bank on technologically advanced solutions, and executes decisions to facilitate organisational growth.

Wai has been actively investigating emerging technologies and formulating software solutions that help banks deliver innovative banking services. He developed the brand-new digital banking architecture for first batch of the virtual bank in Hong Kong. He continues constructing the solution for subsequent digital bank licences across the Asia Pacific region.

Wai discusses in seminars how technology enables banks to transform, including virtual banking, open banking, cloud computing, and buy now, pay later (BNPL). He co-authored the articles Virtual Banks will Compel Hong Kong to Embrace the Mobile Banking Era and Open Banking in Taiwan.

Kaiwan heads the Payment Advisory function of HSBC’s Global Payments and Cash Management business in Asia Pacific. His key responsibilities include providing innovative solutions and addressing HSBC’s corporate and institutional customers’ cash management needs. Kaiwan is passionate about emerging technologies within the payments area and leveraging their capabilities to create unique customer journeys as well as aim to drive meaningful change in the industry to positively impact communities. Kaiwan has 18 years of international transaction banking experience having worked in India, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. He served in senior roles including sales and client management across wealth, cash, core trade, and supply chain businesses.

Neeti Aggarwal manages the financial technology and innovation research at The Asian Banker. With over 18 years’ experience, she specialises in banking, technology and fintech developments across APAC and MEA. She regularly engages the financial services community on critical transformational issues, speaking and moderating at various events. Previously she worked as research analyst with The Economic Times, India. She holds CFA from CFA Institute, USA and MBA (Finance) from India.