• Consumer-driven banking, also known as open banking or consumer-directed finance, refers to frameworks that allow consumers and small businesses to securely transfer their financial data through an application programming interface (API) to approved service providers of their choice.
• It enables consumers to securely use data-driven financial services that can help them better manage their finances and improve their financial outcomes. For example, through consumer-driven banking, individuals can access services that allow them to build their credit by proving they have paid rent on time.
• The 2023 Fall Economic Statement (FES) included an announcement of the Government’s intent to introduce framework legislation through the 2024 Budget. The FES was accompanied by a Policy Statement that provided clarity on key framework elements. Together, the FES and the Policy Statement form the Government’s plan for the implementation of a consumer-driven banking system for Canadians.

• Streamlined onboarding or account opening, payments, new opportunities for banks to deliver tailored customer experiences, create new product categories, new revenue streams and capture a share of previously untapped spaces
• Why you can’t just focus on finding that ‘killer app” – some magical use case that is going to trigger value transfer en masse.
• The need to look at all possibilities with the only limit being your imagination
• New national and international use cases

Yesterday’s banks and credit unions were not designed for today’s customers. Overcoming legacy thinking, operations and technology remains one of the biggest challenges banks and credit unions face in working toward positive customer experience. Digitization and open banking can be seen as an expense; in reality, it provides banks and credit unions with an opportunity for new revenue growth and increased membership and market share.

• How a platform-based approach opens the application programming interface (API) and gives third-party developers access to develop applications on bank and credit union systems
• Realistic expectations in combining bank-strong security and fintech agility
• Case studies from other jurisdictions of increased number of customers, market share, and ROI
• Monetization strategies to consider

• Developing a customized version of an Open Banking platform that meets the unique needs of the credit union system
• System developed for a collective of 10 large credit unions including: Affinity, Cambrian, Coastal Community, First West, Gulf & Fraser, Libro, Meridian, Prospera, reflecting a diverse and geographically widespread presence across the country
• Other credit unions invited to join
• How was the partnership formed?
• What were the challenges?
• Contract issues
• Goals and expectations

Digital Identification and Authentication will lay the foundation that will support Canadian Innovation, competitiveness and growth. Find out about;

• The comprehensive approach taken to build a digital ID ecosystem
• Collaboration and transparent development
• Ontario’s digital wallet
• Alberta’s ‘MyAlberta Digital ID’,
• Regulatory changes such as privacy reform and the Federal Digital Charter
• Role of Secure Key
• Unlocking the interoperability of public and private sector capabilities by establishing an identity trust assurance framework

• Learning from other jurisdictions
• Working group recommendations and process
• What issues are still being debated?
• What are the challenges and proposed solutions?
• Will barriers to entry be low enough to allow participation by a wide range of entities while protecting consumers, end users and other participants
• Who will ensure criteria are met and maintained?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) proposed Personal Financial Data Rights rule is intended to boost competition in financial services, giving consumers more control over their financial data and allowing them to switch banks more easily to take advantage of favorable rates and services. In the U.S. data sharing will become mandatory for certain financial institutions at different times, depending on the size of the organization. What role will the CFPB play in the roll out of open banking?
Topics will include:

Topics will include:

• Establishing consistent industry standards for consumer data access and protection.
• Enhancing efficiency and fostering innovation by promoting data sharing and competition between FIs.
• How implementation will happen
• Requirements for financial institutions
• Providing personal financial data free of charge via secure digital interfaces
• Enabling customers to share their data with third parties, facilitating switching and account management
• Implementing robust data protection measures to prevent misuse and surveillance, shift away from risky data collection methods, and contribute to developing fair industry standards
• Impact on customers

Along with all the excellent opportunities for banks, fintechs and consumers, Open Banking brings new risks and liabilities. To participate in Open Banking, consumers want “full protection from any losses” “ability to revoke consent at any time”, “requirements to report data breaches exposing consumer data”, “Enforcement of standard security requirements for open banking participants, “ Strong governance and oversight, and a straightforward process for reimbursement of any resulting losses. How will you meet consumer expectations for safety and security?

• Who’s liable in what circumstances?
• Liability in other jurisdictions
• What will agreements between banks and third parties look like?
• What will be the conditions on access to banks’ APIs, including security and data protection?
• What are the high-level principles for governance of third-party service providers?
• Where there are no agreements will parties rely on civil liability frameworks?
• Where there are agreements between banks and third parties how will liability issues be addressed?
• Will a white list be created so consumers can better identify legitimate third parties?
• Will third parties accessing bank accounts be required to hold professional indemnity insurance?
• What are the major risks and issues relating to fraud or data exposure in other jurisdictions? What strategies have been used to address them?
• How do you better enable customer awareness and knowledge of how to deal with data exposure issues?