November 19, 2026
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The Global Trade Finance & Fintech Innovation Forum 2026 is a focused two-day executive forum held on 19 and 20 November 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany, running from 08:30 to 17:30 each day with a Gala Dinner on the evening of 19 November. Organised by Mon Bien Events, the forum is designed as a premium senior-level B2B platform connecting financial institutions, digital banks, fintechs, payment providers, market infrastructure players, investors, compliance specialists, technology firms, and advisory organisations. Frankfurt's status as one of Europe's most important financial capitals makes it the natural setting for a forum dedicated to the convergence of trade finance, digital banking, payments, and institutional financial innovation. The event is positioned as a focused executive forum rather than a mass-market expo, emphasising strategic insight, senior-level networking, partnership development, and commercial relevance.
The event is designed for Managing Directors, Heads of Trade Finance, Heads of Transaction Banking, Heads of Corporate Banking, Heads of Digital Transformation and Innovation, Heads of Payments, Heads of Treasury, Heads of Compliance, AML and KYC, Heads of Risk, Fintech Founders and CEOs, Business Development Directors, Strategy Directors, Investment Directors and Partners, and Infrastructure and Market Development Leaders. Confirmed speakers for 2026 include Maximilian Gagel, Senior Associate Digital Currencies at DZ BANK AG; Anke Uebele, Head of Trade Credit DACH at Bondaval; Virginie Auzas, Director at Societe Generale; Markus Auer, Senior Portfolio Manager at Erste Asset Management; Serhii Karaulov, Retail Lending Director at Raiffeisen Bank; Piotr Szulc, Business Development Director BaaS at UniCredit; Matteo Russo, Head of Trade Finance Desk at BBVA; Inés Lüdke, Head of Foreign Trade Business Germany at HypoVereinsbank; Dr. Eugenio Cavenaghi, MD and Head of Working Capital Advisory and Structured Trade Europe at Santander Corporate and Investment Banking; Daniel Otto-Schleicher, Product Manager Instant Payments at Deutsche Bank; Jens Reichfrom, Head of Digital Euro Ecosystem at Deutsche Bundesbank; Ivy Schuhmacher, Vice President Digital Assets Transformation at Deutsche Bank; Romano Ramanti, Vice Director and Certified Ethical Hacker at Zürcher Kantonalbank; Christopher Anz, Research Associate at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management; Domenico De Maio, Group Head of Treasury and Tax at Helsinn Healthcare; Baris Gokalp, Global Treasury Director at Sisecam; and Fred Hesse, Head of Partnerships DACH at Wise.
The two-day programme runs from 08:30 to 17:30 across both days, combining keynote presentations, panel discussions, case study sessions, and structured networking formats within a closed-door executive environment. Speakers are drawn from senior roles across European and international banking, fintech, payments, treasury, compliance, and digital assets. Day One closes with a Gala Dinner from 19:00 to 21:00, providing a dedicated social and networking occasion for all in-person delegates. The programme covers the commercial and strategic forces reshaping trade finance, digital banking, cross-border payments, financial infrastructure, AI-driven operations, and the emerging institutional landscape for digital assets and tokenisation. Coffee breaks, beverages, meals, and refreshments are included for all in-person delegates throughout both days.
The agenda addresses the full spectrum of forces converging to reshape global trade finance and financial services. Key themes include the digitisation of trade finance and the transition from paper-based instruments toward electronic and blockchain-enabled documentation; cross-border payment evolution and the emergence of real-time and instant payment rails across Europe and globally; the digital euro and central bank digital currency developments and their implications for banking and payments infrastructure; AI integration in trade finance, risk assessment, and compliance workflows including AML, KYC, and sanctions screening automation; embedded finance and the integration of financial services into non-financial platforms and supply chains; tokenisation of real-world assets and the institutional readiness for digital asset adoption; Banking as a Service and the evolving BaaS model connecting fintechs and incumbent banks; treasury and liquidity management in a multi-currency, multi-jurisdiction environment; commodity finance and structured trade strategies for global corporates; RegTech and compliance technology including AML automation, sanctions monitoring, and regulatory reporting; cybersecurity and ethical hacking considerations in financial institutions; and the strategic partnership models emerging between traditional banks and digital challengers.
The Global Trade Finance & Fintech Innovation Forum 2026 concludes on 20 November at 17:30 in Frankfurt, closing two days of executive dialogue, case studies, and peer networking at one of Europe's most strategically significant financial hubs. The forum's focused senior-level format ensures that delegates leave with concrete commercial insight, strengthened partnerships, and a clear view of the strategic forces shaping the next era of trade finance and financial innovation.
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