Date

28 – 30 October 2025

Location

Kigali, Rwanda

Rewiring Banking for the Age of Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping every industry, and financial services is no exception. From front-end customer engagement to middle and back-office operations, AI is transforming how banks operate, compete, and create value. The Banking Academy invites senior management of banks, digital banks, financial institutions, fintech platforms, and technology providers to join this essential AI in Banking Bootcamp in Kigali, Rwanda, on 28 – 30 October 2025.

AI will force banks to rethink every aspect of their business — from technology systems, security, customer interfaces, and product design, to workforce mobilisation and risk frameworks. With advances in generative and agentic AI accelerating, the industry urgently needs clear roadmaps to navigate this fast-evolving landscape. Over the next 12–30 months, leadership teams will face critical decisions that will shape their institution’s competitive edge and resilience.

This bootcamp provides an exclusive forum for industry peers and experts to engage in practical discussions, scenario planning and guided exercises. It will help banking leaders develop a strategic mindset and actionable frameworks for managing AI-driven transformation.

For Past Event Photos Click Here

Skills to be gained

Shape executive strategies for future banking

Lead technology-driven transformation

Strengthen decision-making and governance

Design customer-first product innovations

Manage data, ethics and trust

Drive organisational change

Expand peer networks across the region

Areas to be covered

Banking in an intelligent economy

Evolving technology architecture

Data governance and cybersecurity

Customer engagement and new products

Leadership and talent strategies

Fairness, ethics and trust

Regulatory models and public policy

Pre-Preparation
  • Participants will receive background reading materials to prepare for the bootcamp
  • A short pre-event survey will be conducted to tailor the discussions
Types of Sessions

The bootcamp sessions will comprise:

  • Expert presentations
  • Peer discussions and structured dialogues
  • Role playing and scenario planning
  • Private mentoring sessions
  • Curated reading material
  • Online self-assessments

Who should attend

Chairmen and board members of traditional and digital banks

CEOs and senior management

Heads of strategic planning, innovation and business development

Heads of AI, data, analytics, cybersecurity, channels and distribution

Senior managers driving AI adoption across banking functions

Regulators and policymakers shaping AI governance in financial services

The Programme

Building the AI Bank Bootcamp Africa

28 October 2025

18:00 – 20:00

Welcome Cocktail

An opportunity for participants to meet fellow attendees, faculty and guest speakers. The session includes an introduction to the bootcamp, key themes to be explored and how to prepare for the discussions ahead.


29 October 2025

06:00 – 07:00

Morning walk

07:00 – 08:30

Breakfast

08:30 – 10.00

Discussion 1: A Lay of the Land – how AI will transform Africa’s socio-economic landscape

This session examines how banks must anticipate changes in demographics, technology and economic structures and adapt for long-term relevance. It connects macro trends with banking strategy, helping leaders align their institution’s vision with the evolving marketplace.

Key Learning Points:

  • A study of the GDP growth and social demographics of the countries in attendance
  • A profile of Gen Zs and Gen As today
  • Employment and industrial profiles of countries in the region
  • Technology that is to come – from robotics to gene editing
  • The shift from digital platforms to AI – changes in every day life

With discussion papers and structured dialogues.

10:00 – 10:30

Discussion Break

10:30 – 11:30

Discussion 2: Setting the Technology Milestones – Prioritising your bank’s strategy roadmaps to breakthroughs as they happen

With rapid breakthroughs in generative AI, robotics and quantum computing, banks must develop clear strategic roadmaps to stay ahead. This session helps leaders identify priorities, sequence initiatives and allocate resources for both immediate wins and long-term transformation.

  • Mapping AI breakthroughs: large language models, AGI, robotics, quantum
  • Identifying “low-hanging fruit” for near-term gains
  • Balancing cost efficiency with strategic innovation
  • Aligning technology milestones with business objectives

Session includes discussion papers and structured dialogues

11:30 – 12:30

Discussion 3: “Banking and relationships in the Agentic Age”

Agentic AI will transform how customers interact with banks and manage financial relationships. This session explores how banking apps and platforms must evolve to meet new expectations and examines the shifting role of embedded finance in everyday life.

  • Redesigning digital platforms for conversational and adaptive engagement
  • Rethinking customer experience and relationship models
  • The evolving role of embedded finance in an AI-driven world
  • Prioritising what matters to customers in the agentic age

Session includes discussion papers and structured dialogues.

12:30 – 14:00

Lunch

14:00 – 15:30

Discussion 4: Bank Technology Architecture in an AI Age – what the IT vendors aren’t telling us"

AI is reshaping how bank technology is created and maintained, and how data is procured, stored and processed. Many IT vendors are still struggling to adapt. Banks need their own mental map of what to build, what to buy and how to manage vendor relationships. These are now CEO-level decisions that must return to the board before moving forward. This session helps leaders plan a clear architecture strategy for the future.

  • How much of your technology should be built in-house?
  • What is the right balance between internal and vendor-delivered solutions?
  • How to plan for cloud, hardware and hybrid technology investments
  • How to structure leadership and governance in architecture decisions

Session includes discussion papers and structured dialogues.

15:30 – 16:00

Discussion Break

16:00 – 17:30

Discussion 5: Organising for AI: Skills, Structures and Teams

AI will transform every banking function, from advisory to claims processing to payments and fraud detection. Banks must rethink how to organise talent, structure teams and develop new capabilities. This session explores how development teams, business units and operations should work together to drive AI adoption across the organisation.

  • Where should AI development teams sit relative to business and operations?
  • How should responsibilities shift between analysts, programmers and business leads?
  • How to reshape organisational structures for agility and innovation
  • Case studies: building AI capabilities in key banking functions

Session includes discussion papers and structured dialogues.

17:30

End of Day

18:30

Dinner


30 October 2025

06:00 – 07:00

Morning walk

07:00 – 08:30

Breakfast

08:30 – 10.00

Discussion 6: Institutionalising Ethics, Integrity and Algorithms

AI systems can amplify bias, compromise privacy, and damage trust if not properly governed. Banks must embed ethics and integrity into algorithms and organisational culture. This session uses real scenarios to explore how to build transparency, fairness, and accountability across AI-enabled services

  • How to recognise and correct bias in AI systems
  • Building feedback loops for continuous learning and improvement
  • Protecting customer data while maintaining transparency
  • Ensuring fairness in lending, hiring and conflict resolution

Session includes discussion papers and structured dialogues.

10:00 – 10:30

Discussion Break

10:30 – 12:30

Discussion 7: Cybersecurity, cloud and the new regulatory landscape

AI is creating new cybersecurity threats at unprecedented scale. At the same time, banks must navigate evolving regulations while building secure, trusted AI-driven services. This session examines how to manage these risks, engage with regulators and help shape future policy. Recommendations from this session will be published as a white paper for participants to share with their regulators.

  • How AI is changing the cybersecurity threat landscape
  • Leveraging networks and partnerships for better defence
  • Engaging regulators to co-create AI frameworks for banking
  • Building long-term trust with customers and stakeholders

Session includes discussion papers and structured dialogues.

12:30 – 14:00

Lunch

14:00 – 15:30

Discussion 8: From Data to mortgages to crypto: Rethinking products and services

AI is redefining what banks can offer to customers. From personalised mortgages to crypto and IoT-driven services, product innovation must keep pace with new technologies and evolving customer lifestyles. This session challenges participants to think beyond current offerings and explore what will create real value in the intelligent economy.

  • How AI is transforming product design and delivery
  • Personalising products and services for customer ecosystems
  • The role of digital assets and crypto in future banking
  • Building products that fit emerging lifestyles and behaviours

Session includes discussion papers and structured dialogues.

15:30 – 16:00

Discussion Break

16:00 – 17:30

Closing Session 9: What should we measure? Defining success in AI transformation

AI will reshape how banks measure performance, both financial and non-financial. This closing group exercise helps participants translate their learning into practical strategies and metrics. Teams will develop an AI transition roadmap for their organisation and critique each other’s approaches, to sharpen thinking and foster cross-learning.

  • What new KPIs will matter in an AI-driven bank?
  • Rethinking cost, profitability and ecosystem-level value
  • Balancing operational metrics with trust and customer outcomes
  • Drafting an AI transition strategy and roadmap

Final Words

17:30

End of Programme

Anchored by a highly qualified team of experts

The programme is anchored and delivered by some of the most experienced professionals in the industry.

Barry Katz
Emmanuel Daniel
Founder, TAB Global
Barry Katz
Axel Winter
Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Partner, & Advisor
Barry Katz
Christian Kapfer
Research Director, TABInsights

The Investment

US$5,000

Early bird US$3,800 (till 12 September 2025)

  • Full access to Building the AI Bank Bootcamp Africa (28-30 October 2025).
  • Programme slides, reading materials and videos.
  • 3-night accommodation in Kigali (28-30 October 2025).
  • All program-related breakfasts and lunches.
  • Certificate of Participation
  • One year membership to Future Bank Working Group

*Excludes airfare, visa fees, airport transfers and dinners

Have a Query? Get in Touch with Us Today!

Delegate Registration