CBD Strengthens Digital Banking with 3 MoUs at Dubai FinTech Summit
CBD also participated in multiple panel discussions at the Summit, discussing bank-fintech collaboration, themes shaping the future of banking.
Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), a prominent player in the UAE’s banking sector, forged three new partnerships during this week’s Dubai FinTech Summit. These Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Nexthink, and CODE81, reflecting the bank’s continued focus on simplifying daily banking through smart and innovative solutions.
Key Signatories and Focus Areas of the MoUs
The agreements were formalized in the presence of CBD executives and representatives from the partner firms. The first MoU, signed between Sultan Ahmed AlMahmood, CBD’s Chief Human Resource Officer, and Gireesh Ramachandran, CEO of Nexthink, aims to improve employee experience through digital workplace insights and proactive IT service solutions.
Enhancing Data Capabilities Through CODE81
CBD’s second agreement was concluded with CODE81. Represented by Helen Brewster, Head of Transformation and Business Management at CBD, and Nader Paslar, General Manager at CODE81, this partnership will bolster the bank’s data analytics infrastructure. It marks a significant step in CBD’s journey toward becoming a data-centric organization.
Expanding a Decade-Long Collaboration with TCS
The third MoU, with long-time partner TCS, was signed by Thomas Cherian, CBD’s Chief Information Officer, and Sumanta Roy, President & Regional Head – Middle East and Africa at TCS. This new phase in the ten-year partnership aims to deepen collaboration in IT operations and explore future technology innovations.
Dr Bernd Van Linder, CBD's Chief Executive Officer, commented: “At CBD, we believe technology must ultimately serve and benefit the customer, and our latest partnership agreements reflect our ongoing commitment to enabling meaningful innovation in banking. For over 50 years, we have been proud to grow alongside the UAE, and today, we continue to invest in partnerships that allow us to lead in digital transformation, aligning with the UAE’s vision for a future-proof and globally competitive economy.”
On the summit's opening day, CBD’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Bernd van Linder, participated in a panel titled, “The next financial frontier: navigating the tech-driven economy.”
Leadership Insights on Innovation and Digital Transformation
During the Summit, CBD CEO Dr. Bernd van Linder shared insights on leveraging technology to create enhanced customer experiences. He emphasized the importance of fintech collaborations and highlighted CBD’s Digital Factory at DIFC as a key engine of transformation. Dr. van Linder also noted the rising impact of AI and Generative AI in live applications, and the importance of building the right talent and data infrastructure to support meaningful adoption.
Vladislavs Mironovs, Chief Digital Officer led a panel about “Open finance, open possibilities: Redefining financial innovation and inclusion globally,”. He explored how collaboration is central to realising the full potential of open finance. He outlined a vision where banks serve as infrastructure builders, fintechs act as innovation partners, and regulators play an active role in bringing all parties together. Mironovs emphasised that customer needs must remain at the centre of this transformation, as consumers are ready to share data when it results in tangible benefits such as enhanced credit scoring and seamless payments. He concluded that the faster the ecosystem connects, the faster value can be delivered.
Hamayoun Khan, Head of Transaction Banking, led a fireside chat with the CEO of Haifin, an e& enterprise company, “Reimagining Bank Guarantees: Digitising Trust, Scaling Impact.” The chat focused on the increasing need to digitise trade instruments and scale impact across the financial ecosystem.
Continued Commitment to FinTech and Talent Development
Participating in the Dubai FinTech Summit for the third consecutive year, CBD served as a strategic partner and exclusive VIP Lounge sponsor. The bank also hosted the GCC Fintech World Cup Qualifier ahead of the summit, showcasing top startups competing for global recognition. By facilitating such initiatives and contributing to the jury, CBD reaffirms its dedication to innovation, entrepreneurship, and alignment with the UAE’s D33 economic agenda focused on global competitiveness and technological advancement.
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