We Attended the 2025 Bankers Summit

On June 2, Discrepancy team attended the 2025 Bankers Summit in Toronto! Over 600 banks, credit unions, and fintechs attended the event in Toronto at The Quay, which was a jam packed day full of networking, expert panels, and workshops. The current convergence of finance and technology tools might just be a tipping point for the fintech industry, and networking events like the 2025 Summer offer the chance to be part of ‘history in the making.’ 

Here’s what stood out from the fun full-day event.  

Embedded Finance is “Having a Moment”

The morning panelists at the 2025 Bankers Summit led a workshop on embedded insurance, an innovative way to integrate risk protection into your purchase or checkout. Embedded insurance products (such as ‘adding $4.99 for a 2 year warranty’ in an online checkout or Amazon store) lets the customer make their insurance decision at the time of purchase, rather than trying to do additional research after the buy. 

Beginning with the current market dynamics, as well as the existing pattern of payments and loans, income, and bill payment protection, a cross-sector panel including Daniel Shain (the VP Head of Product at Fig), Hanif Joshaghani (CEO and Founder of Symend) and Mike Titkov (Investor at Telus). Jil Macdonald (the COO of Walnut) was the panel’s moderator. 

Later in the afternoon, the session on embedding lending (such as ‘buy now, pay later’ options included in checkout) covered auto, home, and travel financing options – and what might come next in the future. 

The workshop left us with a new understanding of creditor insurance and the type of risk and lending ‘add ons’ that might resonate in the current consumer environment. 

Are Fintechs Making Headway? 

We also attended the afternoon session, ‘Are Fintechs Winning Canada’s Business Banking Race?’ Panelists Oliver Takach (CEO and founder of KEEP) and Rob Khazzam (CEO and Founder of Float) spoke to moderator Tal Schwartz (General Partner at North Exit Ventures) about the future of fintechs and whether or not they appear to be making headway in the current market. 

The opening session “Fueling Fintechs: The Hidden Opportunity for Canadian Banks” touched on a similar theme, pointing out that sponsor banks (traditional financial institutions) are the ones powering fintech connectors (like fintech cards and payments apps). Moderator Kevin Carmichael (The Logic’s Editor-at-Large) led panelists Pamela Draper (President at Digital Commerce Bank) and William Keliehor (CCO of Peoples Group) in a discussion of how Canadian banks can (and are) unlocking growth via fintech partners. 

Canada’s Changing Financial Future

A final highlight was keynote speaker The Hon. Victor Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. He spoke about the recent U.S court decisions that blocked Trump’s tariffs, and what this will mean for Canada’s financial institutions. Fedeli took that stage right after the networking lunch, which was just one of a number of opportunities to chat, connect, and speak with some of the many attendees.

We enjoyed the chance to meet other fintech and banking interests, and look forward to attending next year as well – for fintech, banking, and insurance industry professionals, don’t pass up the chance to pop into a single day conference filled with great panels and lots of new information. It was time well spent!