API Platform Trusted by the World's Top 5 Banks
Regulatory Compliance & KYC Modernisation
Akinola Fakeye led the development of a regulatory compliance API platform adopted by 5 of the world's top 10 banks. The platform modernised KYC and payment validation workflows, driving compliance speed and operational savings at a global scale.
The Challenge
Financial institutions faced three critical challenges: 1) Slow, costly onboarding processes that delayed customer acquisition and revenue generation. 2) Compliance risk due to fragmented systems that created audit vulnerabilities and regulatory exposure. 3) Rising demand for real-time validation capabilities to meet modern banking standards and customer expectations.
Approach & Methodology
- Owned the product roadmap and vision, establishing clear milestones for platform development and market adoption
- Ran stakeholder discovery sessions with global clients to deeply understand their regulatory requirements and pain points
- Designed close to real-time KYC validation capabilities that dramatically accelerated compliance processes
- Implemented developer-first design principles including comprehensive API documentation, sandbox environments
- Ensured easy integration into both legacy banking systems and modern cloud-based infrastructures
- Aligned cross-functional teams across data engineering, technology, and compliance to deliver a cohesive solution
- Presented platform capabilities and strategic value to C-level leaders at major financial institutions to secure alignment and adoption
Outcomes & Impact
5 of Top 10 Banks
Successfully adopted by 5 of the world's top 10 global banks
30% Faster Compliance
Achieved 30% reduction in compliance process time
New Revenue Streams
Enabled new revenue opportunities through API commercialisation
Real-Time Validation
Delivered close to real-time KYC processing capabilities
Technologies & Tools
Key Lessons Learned
- Developer-first design with comprehensive documentation and sandbox environments significantly reduces integration friction for enterprise clients
- C-level engagement and presentations are critical for securing strategic partnerships with top-tier financial institutions
- Cross-functional alignment between data, technology, and compliance teams is essential for delivering enterprise-grade platforms
- Real-time capabilities and modern API architecture are key differentiators when competing for major banking clients
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