Chris Michael

Co-founder & Co-CEO

Chris is a leading authority in open banking and open finance, recognized for his role as CTO of the UK Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE), where he led the creation of the UK’s open banking standards. Chris has driven innovation and regulatory change in financial services, championing secure data sharing and consumer empowerment. He also founded a successful digital agency and helped build Reckitt Benckiser’s digital practice, bringing a unique perspective on the intersection of technology and finance.

Articles by Chris Michael

A graphic image of the world globe with dots and lines used to show worldwide connection through global communication

Insights

Global Interoperability

Explore why global interoperability is essential for Open Finance, addressing the need for standardised regulations, security standards, and infrastructure to overcome regional fragmentation and fully realise its benefits.

Chris Michael

23, Sep 2024

News

Will PSD3 finally unlock the potential of open banking?

The recently published PSD3 proposal addresses many of the issues we have seen during the implementation of open banking across Europe over the last 5+ years. However, in order to actually fix these issues banks will need to make significant changes.

Chris Michael

06, Jul 2023

Mac screen displaying The Global Open Data Tracker

Insights

Standards by Design: Mapping the global financial landscape in Open Banking

With open banking initiatives gaining momentum around the world, we are seeing a range of different standards emerge. Smart Data Foundry and Ozone API together bring you the Standards Library and Innovation Atlas, outlining the features and similarities between different standards being set across the globe.

Chris Michael

22, May 2023

Insights

The JROC Report on the future of Open Banking has one glaring omission

The Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee (JROC) report is a milestone in the story of Open Banking in the UK. Ozone API CEO, Chris Michael, shares his thoughts.

Chris Michael

18, May 2023

Insights

Building an open standard

A brief history of how the UK open banking standard was created by the industry, for the industry, open by design and open source.

Chris Michael

23, Sep 2021

Insights

What will unlock open banking?

Last night, I was delighted to host a panel at Open Banking Excellence, entitled “What will unlock open banking?” It was a great panel and a fantastic discussion – see my introduction below: For more information about Open Banking Excellence, please visit: https://www.openbankingexcellence.org/

Chris Michael

17, Jan 2020

Insights

Open Banking in South Africa

Last week I met several banks in South Africa, courtesy of Ping Identity and Ubusha. Over the course of two days, I spoke to Nedbank, Absa and Standard Bank, as well as a number of challengers. I was interested to see what they thought of the work the Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE) has been doing in the UK to develop a standard and…

Chris Michael

10, Oct 2018