As part of a new interview series, Matt Hyde, Director of Recruit121 and FinTech Awards Wales, talks to a whole host of professionals in and around Wales’ thriving fintech sector.
This week Matt caught up with Will Carroll, CEO of Monmouthshire Building Society.
What inspired Monmouthshire Building Society to sponsor the Company of the Year award at this year’s Fintech Awards Wales?
As a proud Welsh mutual, we’re committed to helping our customers, communities and colleagues thrive. Sponsoring this award allows us to champion the exceptional innovation happening across Wales and celebrate companies whose values reflect our own purpose-driven growth, community impact, and a forward-looking mindset. Supporting the wider Welsh fintech ecosystem aligns strongly with our strategy of modernisation and sustainable transformation.
From your perspective, what sets a true ‘Company of the Year’ apart in the fintech sector beyond strong financial performance?
Financial performance matters, but what truly differentiates a standout fintech is its ability to pair innovation with responsibility, balancing digital excellence, customer-centric design, ethical practices, and long-term value. Companies that embrace modern technology, demonstrate resilience, and contribute positively to their communities set the benchmark for the sector.
How is Monmouthshire Building Society supporting innovation within Wales’ financial ecosystem, especially as fintech becomes more central to customer expectations?
We’re investing significantly in modernising our Society, from developing enhanced digital capabilities to transforming our data, systems and customer experience. Our new mobile app, ongoing transformation partnerships, and leading role in programmes like the FinTech Wales Community Academy demonstrate our commitment to nurturing talent, accelerating innovation, and supporting the next generation of financial leaders in Wales.
The industry is evolving quickly. What major trends or shifts do you believe are defining standout fintech companies in 2025?
We’re seeing three major forces shaping the leaders:
- Human-centred digital experiences. Fintechs that blend high-tech with high-touch are gaining trust and loyalty.
- Data-driven personalisation: those who intelligently use data to improve decisionmaking and customer insight are pulling ahead.
- Purpose-led operations: customers increasingly favour organisations that combine innovation with strong values, transparency, and community impact.
As a long-standing organisation in Wales, how does Monmouthshire Building Society see its role in empowering the next generation of financial innovators?
As a long-standing Welsh mutual, we take pride in developing local talent and opening doors in financial services. Through partnerships like the FinTech Wales Community Academy and our own internal development programmes, we’re providing pathways for young people to gain real experience and skills. By modernising our organisation, we’re also creating an environment where future innovators can thrive.
Fun one to finish: If Monmouthshire Building Society could collaborate with a fintech on a dream innovation project – practical or futuristic – what would it be?
We would love to collaborate on a truly intelligent, data-driven customer experience, bringing together secure open-finance insights, smart mortgage and savings tools, and proactive financial wellbeing support. A partnership that blends cutting-edge technology with our mutual ethos would create something genuinely transformative for our customers and communities.
