Build or Buy? Payments Strategy with Nihit Ahuja, Volante Technologies & Lee McNabb, NatWest

Nihit Ahuja from Volante Technologies and Lee McNabb from NatWest explore the strategic decisions banks face when it comes to payments transformation – specifically the question of build vs. buy vs. partner.

Ahuja begins by outlining what’s essential when building a modern payments solution. It’s not just about ticking boxes for compliance, scalability, and being cloud-native. It’s about recognising that payments is a constantly shifting space, and keeping pace requires ongoing investment. For banks with deep pockets and a long runway, building may be viable. But for others, buying an extensible solution or platform, one that can evolve as regulations and market demands change, offers a faster, more adaptable route to market. In Ahuja’s view, it really comes down to cost and time-to-market.

McNabb reflects on the evolution of bank strategy over the years. Having spent decades in the industry, he notes how banks have cycled through phases of self-reliance; where the default was to build everything internally to today’s more open, ecosystem-driven mindset. In the current landscape, where fintechs and tech companies bring specialised knowledge and agility, the most practical route is often a blend of build, buy, and partner. At NatWest, McNabb says they’ve adopted hybrid models: buying frameworks from third parties that their own teams can build on. This approach gives them autonomy and control while also benefiting from external innovation and support.

Ultimately, both speakers agree that success in payments transformation isn’t about committing to one fixed approach, but about staying open to combinations that deliver on specific goals.