Why Most Digital Banks Fail - And How Engine by Starling Is Flipping the Script
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The next banking stack won’t just be fast — it has to be human.
In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Nick Drewett, Chief Commercial Officer at Engine by Starling, joins the conversation to share what it actually takes to launch and scale a digital bank — not in theory, but in practice.
Engine is the tech spinout from Starling Bank - one of the world’s first profitable digital banks - and it’s now powering next-gen banking infrastructure globally.
We cover:
- How Salt Bank launched in under 12 months
- Why most “modern” stacks still act like legacy
- Where AI adds real value in banking
- Why cost-to-serve is the new frontline
- What does it mean to localise for the GCC
Engine isn’t theory — it’s the tech behind Starling Bank’s success.
📍🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube & Apple Podcasts.
Couchonomics with Arjun Season 04 is brought to you by our partners:
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