Insight

When a bank undergoes major transformation, clear and effective internal communication is essential. With experience in communicating complex change across large-scale transformation programs, 421’s Emma Wadmark knows how to connect strategic decisions with the people responsible for turning them into reality. In this interview, she discusses how the right expertise can help organizations navigate transformation successfully, from early planning to post-go-live.

As PSR and PSD3, parts of the European Commission's proposed Payment Services Package move closer to finalization, 2026 is set to be a defining year for banks' readiness to navigate a highly complex regulatory transformation that is soon to become a reality. 2026 will require a dedicated focus on analysis and planning, understanding what needs to be done and why.

Over the past decade, Nordic banks have rapidly expanded their digital ecosystems. Instant payments, cloud platforms, and open banking have enabled new services but also introduced new exposure. In the middle of this shift is Joakim Nilsson, Senior Consultant and Partner at 421, who helps banks strengthen their resilience against cyber threats and operational disruptions.

The financial sector is often labeled conservative, but Payments proves otherwise. With two decades of experience, our Senior Consultant, Anna Holmgren, shares how the demand for instant payments is reshaping the way money moves and how new standards, such as ISO 20022, can spark innovation and foster collaboration between new and established players in the Payments market.

Major migration programs linked to Bankgirot’s transformation are reshaping Sweden’s entire payments landscape. They are projects that will transform payments, customer experiences, and banking operations.

With over two decades of experience in the financial industry, Daniel Amsenius has become the link between banks’ IT and business. At 421, he helps our clients navigate complex transformation projects, bringing together both different departments and wills.

The Swedish Payments industry is undergoing its biggest transformation in over fifty years. With the introduction of ISO 20022, new standards are being set for instant payments, high-value transactions, and Bankgirot’s infrastructure. Banks are forced to adapt, and a vital guide through this change is Gustav Dahlström, Manager at 421, who has played a key role in several of Sweden’s largest migration projects.

As part of a major transformation in Sweden’s financial infrastructure, 421 supported a leading Swedish bank through the migration of RIX RTGS to ISO20022— the real-time gross settlement system managed by the Riksbank. We sat down with a team member from 421 to reflect on the experience and share key takeaways from this landmark project.

In our previous article, “Fraud in the Modern Payment Landscape,” we discussed how fraud has become a structural challenge in the payment ecosystem. Faster and more seamless payments leave opportunities for fraudsters to exploit gaps in the system. One major threat is Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud. Since 2020, cases have sharply risen where victims are manipulated into executing fraudulent payments. Unlike credential theft, this bypasses many traditional controls, such as multi-factor authentication.