Inside SMBC’s Asia Innovation Center: The Future of Corporate Banking

Rethinking Core Banking — From the Inside Out
In this special GFTN Japan edition of Couchonomics with Arjun, we welcome Mayoran Rajendra, Managing Director and Head of the Asia Innovation Center at SMBC — one of Japan’s largest financial institutions.
We discuss how his team is re-engineering the core of corporate banking using generative AI, automation, and agentic infrastructure — not just adding on shiny tools, but rebuilding from within.

🔍 In this episode:
How data-driven dashboards are transforming CFO decision-making
Why real innovation starts with fixing foundations, not chasing trends
The hype vs. reality of GenAI in financial services
The rise of Agentic BaaS — and what it means for the future of banking

🎧 Watch the full episode now — available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

#Couchonomics #SMBC #CorporateBanking #DigitalTransformation #GenerativeAI #AgenticAI #BaaS #TokyoFinance #FinancialInnovation #CFOtech #FutureOfBanking


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chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Meet Mayoran from SMBC
01:05 Mayoran's Background and Transition to Banking
04:20 Role and Mission of the Asia Innovation Center
06:49 Challenges and Successes in Innovation
10:38 Asia Rising Fund: Supporting Startups
13:40 Generative AI: Hype vs. Reality
17:08 Limitations and Innovations in AI Models
18:14 CFO Agent: Revolutionizing Financial Reviews
20:12 The Rise of AgTech AI and Open Finance
21:30 Agentic Workflows in Banking
25:05 Challenges and Opportunities for Traditional Banks
27:00 Staying Relevant with Emerging Technologies
30:18 Fostering Innovation in Financial Institutions
33:22 Conclusion