2026 FinTech Predictions: Insights from Jonny Combe of PayByPhone

We spoke with Jonny Combe, President and Global CEO of PayByPhone, a global leader in mobile parking payments that simplifies journeys for millions of drivers with smart, intuitive technology. As the industry looks ahead, Jonny shares his perspective on the trends shaping financial services in the mobility sector, from connected payment ecosystems to the security challenges that come with consolidation.

Over to you Jonny - my questions are in bold:

What's the biggest shift you expect across financial services in 2026?

I'm mainly focussing on our section of the financial services industry here and in 2026, I expect the shift towards connected mobility payments to really gain traction. Cities, businesses, and mobility providers are expected to focus on ways to join-up how people pay across parking, EV charging, tolls, and public transport to create more a seamless experience. Cloud-based platforms, open APIs, and data-driven intelligence are expected to drive this change.

Which emerging technology will have the most practical impact on banks and the FinTechs that support them?

In 2026 the growing data capability will help to provide much deeper insight into behaviour and payments, to make more informed decisions and to manage operations more effectively. However, building and maintaining trust will remain key for all businesses leveraging AI capabilities so there needs to be adequate oversight to balance carefully data protection and transparency.

What customer behaviours or expectations will most challenge banks and financial service providers?

Simple, connected and frictionless. These are three key principals I believe will play significant roles in creating an even more simplified customer experience journey in 2026 for businesses where consumers play a pivotal role.

What risks or blind spots do you think the industry is underestimating as we move into 2026?

As cyber security attacks become more frequent and impactful the biggest risk for the industry in 2026 revolves around working on consistently improving security measures, especially as more payments and data are consolidated into single systems.

If you were advising a bank's leadership team today, what strategic priority should they focus on to stay competitive in 2026 and beyond?

In transportation and mobility, we are likely to see the beginning of a shift away from drivers juggling several apps and payment options for a single journey. Imagine a streamlined experience: parking, fuel locating, EV charging, car sharing and other mobility offerings, all under one umbrella, with the added benefit of seamless, frictionless payments. In other sectors, we already see so-called super apps that integrate multiple services into one seamless interface.

If I were advising a leadership team today, I would encourage them to lead the change to super apps across fractured payment processes that can easily be simplified.

Thank you Jonny! You can connect with Jonny on their LinkedIn Profile and find out more about the company at paybyphone.com.