With 2026 around the corner, many technology-oriented businesses are shifting their focus from this year’s goals to what can be achieved using technologies like fintech in 2026.
The South African financial services landscape is changing rapidly. As more and more fintech businesses seek to offer better and faster niche payment solutions to their consumers, fintechs require solid and trusted partners to navigate this new, rapidly growing era of digital payments.
“The first thing we must acknowledge is that without a sound, reliable banking system, fintech companies cannot operate,” Johan Gellatly, Managing Director of Altron FinTech, says. “For fintech companies to expand and improve their service offering to consumers, a ‘coming together’ is vital for growth.”
A common goal
Gellatly explains that having a common goal in sight is the only way fintechs can offer their consumers the seamless, cost-friendly payment solutions they expect.
“Fintech companies are aware that their consumers are the most tech-savvy that they have ever been. We are in a digital age, which is why Altron FinTech has innovated and expanded its payment solutions so its customers have peace of mind that we have their backs, so to speak, and can operate efficiently and safely.”
Older generation companies, as Gellatly points out, are beginning to recognize the benefits of fintech agility, having a consumer-centric approach, and a fully integrated system-to-system technology platform. As for new generation companies, the need for fast, reliable, and secure transactional processing has become a priority and is expected as the norm.
Customer-obsessed environment
“For me, as well as for my employees, it is essential to understand our customers’ needs and develop tailored solutions in this fast-paced ecosystem, and it is because of our meticulous, patient, and persistent approach in understanding the core necessities of our customers that our technological development and transaction solutions have proved successful.”
Trust—the most valuable asset Gellatly believes that the trust created in the payment ecosystem will ultimately lead to solid partnerships with the potential to bring about real change in South Africa.
“Trust, in my experience, is not something you can gain if your goal is for short-term success,” Gellatly says. “The energy, the resources, and the innovative solutions we develop and cultivate take time and consistency. It is only when a customer or partner walks with you, and you with the customer or partner, through every challenging moment that a true partnership can be and is established.”
“Fintechs can gain access to regulatory expertise and guidance from regulators,” Gellatly says, “and they can leverage banks’ existing consumer base and infrastructure. Moreover, I strongly believe that fintechs can gain greater exposure to banks’ experience in risk management and compliance.”
Gellatly goes on to explain how banks and regulators can also benefit from this three-partner collaboration. He says, “Banks can tap into fintechs’ innovation and agility, enhance their digital offerings and competitiveness, as well as learn from fintechs’ customer-centric approaches to solve niche challenges in the payment ecosystem.”
Regulators can benefit from this association and stay informed about emerging trends and technologies, develop more effective regulations that balance innovation and risk management, and finally, foster a more stable and secure financial ecosystem to solve unique South African consumer payment challenges.
By working together, Gellatly says that fintechs, banks, and regulators can:
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Drive innovation: Collaborate on new products, services, and business models.
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Manage risk: Sharing knowledge and best practices, we can help mitigate risks and ensure payment stability.
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Improve customer experience: Develop more user-friendly, efficient, and secure financial services.
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Promote financial inclusion: Increase access to cost-friendly financial services for all South Africans.
In South Africa, Gellatly explains that collaboration among fintechs, banks, and regulators can help address specific challenges, such as financial exclusion and high fees. “By working together, I firmly believe that we will create a more inclusive and innovative financial ecosystem, something I am excited and energized to tackle,” Gellatly concludes.
