Customer Success Director

SurePay appoints Robert Soetens as Chief Product Officer. * Payments * 22.09.2026 09:26 am SurePay, a leader in payment verification and fraud prevention, today announced the appointment of Robert Soetens as Chief Product Officer (CPO). Soetens will lead the growth of the company's fraud risk intelligence platform, built on the payment verification network the company has operated since 2016. That network reaches more than 4,500 banks and 30,000 businesses globally. Alongside this appointment, SurePay co-founder Marcel Rienties takes on the newly created role of Chief Innovation Officer. Rienties will focus on where fraud goes next, Soetens on the platform that meets it. David-Jan Janse, CEO, said: "Verification stops a payment reaching the wrong account. What customers need now is to know whether the payee should be trusted at all and that is what we are building towards, spotting malicious payees before money moves and sharing what we see back with our community. We built SurePay around a simple idea, that a payment should always reach the right person, first time. Robert is the right leader to take that from national schemes to a global network. We're thrilled to welcome him to the team." Robert Soetens said: "What drew me to SurePay was the strength of the foundation already in place, a unique network and data position that very few fraud prevention companies have. That is a rare thing to inherit, and it means we don't have to reinvent the wheel to grow, we just have to build on what's here the right way. My focus now is turning that network into something smarter. It sees payment behaviour that no single institution can see on its own, and our platform turns that into risk signals banks can act on. The ambition is simple. Stop fraud before money moves." Soetens joins at a point of rising pressure across the payments industry. According to the UK Finance's 2026 Annual Fraud Report, payment fraud losses across the UK banking sector reached £1.28 billion in 2025, up 4% year-over-year. Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, where victims are manipulated into paying criminals themselves, rose 19% to £576.4 million, with case volumes up 7% to 248,070. Industry estimates suggest roughly eight people are defrauded every minute in the UK alone. Soetens joins SurePay from Backbase, the digital banking platform company, where he spent seven years at the company in senior product leadership roles, most recently as Vice President of Product

People First Bank launches new digital banking platform on Backbase AI-native banking OS. People First Bank and Backbase have announced the successful launch of People First Bank's new digital banking platform, operated by Backbase's AI-native Banking OS - a major milestone in the bank's broader technology transformation. People First Bank was formed through the merger of Heritage Bank and People's Choice in 2023, with the goal of bringing together two distinct legacy technology systems to serve approximately 750,000 customers nationally. The new platform underpins the recently launched People First Bank App and Online Banking experience, providing customers with simpler onboarding, stronger security, improved reliability and a more intuitive user experience. People First Bank selected Backbase for its flexibility and proven market track record. Backbase allowed them to work toward unifying their platforms and channels without replacing any core banking systems - reducing risk and accelerating time to market through pre-built journeys for onboarding and lending. It also provides a strategic integration asset, making future mergers easier to execute and positioning the bank as a partner of choice in Australia's customer-owned banking sector. Australian Fintech Companies Andy Weir, Chief Technology and Transformation Officer at People First Bank, said the new platform was an important step forward for customers. "Digital banking is the primary way most customers engage with their bank, so getting that experience right is extremely important," Weir said. "Customers can now join more easily, navigate their accounts more intuitively and access improved support when they need it. We have also built a foundation that lets us keep improving over time." Weir described the launch as one of the bank's most significant technology milestones. "This is a major step in a broader transformation program that is modernising the technology that supports our customers and our people," Weir said. Discover more financial services Open Banking Solutions Responsible Lending Guides "Over the past three years we have delivered a new residential lending platform, and now a completely new and enhanced digital banking experience. "Importantly, we have done this in a way that creates a strong basis for future delivery, allowing us to continue improving digital banking, while progressing payments and core banking initiatives in the year ahead." The digital banking partnership delivered six production releases in the first nine months, and more than 600 employees participated in a launch program ahead of customer rollout to refine the experience and identify improvements. The platform is currently being rolled out to former People's Choice customers, with Heritage customers continuing to use existing digital banking services while preparations for their migration continue. Weir said the phased approach reflected the bank's focus on customer experience and operational resilience. "This is a significant change and we want to make sure customers are supported every step of the way. The staged rollout allows us to focus on delivering a smooth transition while continuing to learn and improve." Jeremy Thomas (pictured), Regional Vice President ANZ at Backbase said, "People First Bank is one of the most significant digital launches in Australian customer-owned banking. The team's commitment to getting this right, from executive alignment to staff onboarding, is what made it possible. We're proud to partner with People First Bank and what they're building for their customers." Australian Fintech Companies

Belize Bank ties up with Backbase for AI-native platform. The project will cover both retail and business banking and is intended to reshape the bank's digital operations in Belize. Belize Bank Limited (BBL) has agreed a six-year alliance with Backbase to introduce an AI-native banking operating system. The project will cover both retail and business banking and is intended to reshape the bank's digital operations in Belize. BBL accounts for roughly 43% of national banking assets and serves more than 100,000 retail and business customers, Backbase said. The bank also has over $1bn in total assets and the largest branch network in the country. BBL plans to use Backbase's Banking OS to bring together services that are currently handled through separate processes. The system is expected to support self-service functions, digital onboarding and cash-flow monitoring for business customers. Belize Bank executive chairman Filippo Alario said: "Our strategic partnership with Backbase represents a transformative step toward delivering a new era of banking - one that is seamless, intelligent, personalised, and built around the evolving needs of our customers. By combining Backbase's innovation with Belize Bank's commitment to excellence and customer-first vision, we are laying the foundation for a future where digital banking goes beyond transactions - creating more meaningful connections, empowering our customers, and transforming the way Belizeans experience banking." Within the bank, the platform is also intended to link internal teams through a single customer view, with the goal of shortening service resolution time, noted the tech vendor. The new system will operate on top of BBL's current banking core rather than replacing it. Backbase's Connectivity Layer, called Grand Central, will be used to connect the platform with existing banking systems and support the customer lifecycle. Additional Backbase marketplace partners will provide parts of the infrastructure, creating an integrated digital banking setup through a single system. Backbase CEO Jouk Pleiter said: "Belize Bank is exactly the kind of institution Backbase was built for - a market leader that takes its responsibility to customers seriously and wants technology that matches that ambition. Embarking on this comprehensive modernisation across retail, SME, and digital lending is a true reflection of the strategic discipline of the team at Belize Bank. We are proud to partner with them to architect the financial backbone of Belize's future economy." Give your business an edge with its leading industry insights.