WHY THIS MATTERS: The expansion of The Money Awards into its second year is significant because it establishes a crucial global benchmark for fintech innovation at a time when the industry is grappling with rapid technological shifts, primarily around AI integration and financial inclusion. With market cycles becoming shorter and the pace of digital change accelerating, external validation becomes a key differentiator for attracting investment and talent. The composition of the judging panel—comprising active founders, VCs, and operators—means an award win directly signals real-world market relevance and execution excellence, not just theoretical potential. This matters to readers because the categories themselves, focusing on Banking, Payments, Startups, and Strategic Alliances, accurately map the current strategic priorities in the financial ecosystem. The program’s scope, including a top ‘Diamond Award’ emphasizing transformative achievement, will drive competition and spotlight companies moving the needle beyond incremental product updates.

Money20/20, the world’s leading fintech show and the place where money does business, announces the return of The Money Awards for its second year, following strong industry engagement and the momentum of its inaugural program. The Money Awards honor and celebrate the companies, innovations, and partnerships shaping the future of finance, recognizing outstanding achievements across the global financial technology sector.

The awards, which debuted in 2025, have quickly become one of the industry’s most‑watched benchmarks for innovation and meaningful impact.

Building on that momentum, the 2026 program expands its global reach and deepens its commitment to spotlighting organizations that are transforming industries and driving the next wave of financial innovation. Judging is conducted through a rigorous, merit‑based process led by a diverse panel of leaders from fintech, banking, payments, venture capital, and technology. The global award ceremony will take place at Money20/20 USA in Las Vegas on Sunday, October 18.

“The Money Awards were built with one clear goal: to set a global standard for what excellence in fintech actually looks like,” said Grania Chesterton, VP of Awards at Money20/20. “What makes them different is who decides. Our Jury Presidents and Global Jury are the operators, founders and innovators building this industry in real time. To be recognized by them isn’t just a win, it signals to the market, your peers and the world that your work truly matters.”

This year’s program centers on five main award categories that reflect the priorities shaping the future of financial services.

• At the top is The Diamond Award category, the program’s highest honor, celebrating the most transformative achievement in global fintech.

• The Startup category follows with two tracks: Early Stage and Growth Stage, recognizing founders at pivotal moments in their journey.

• The Banking, Payments, and Partnerships & Strategic Alliance categories round out the program, spotlighting excellence across the core pillars driving the industry forward.

Each category is led by a distinguished Jury President representing global expertise across financial services and technology. An independent Global Jury will join them and evaluate submissions through a transparent, multi‑stage process, including online assessments and in‑person deliberations at Money20/20 USA in October 2026. This year’s Jury Presidents include:

Diamond Award Category: Leading the program’s most prestigious category, Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President & CEO, Women’s World Banking, brings decades of global influence in financial inclusion to her role as Jury President for the Diamond Award category.

“The Money Awards 2026 come at a time of rapid industry transformation, where innovation must be both bold and inclusive. The Diamond category sets the highest standard, recognizing work that not just advances financial services but also revolutionizes what is possible. I am honored to lead this year’s Jury and to celebrate organizations that are elevating global standards for outstanding achievement and meaningful progress,” said Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President & CEO, Women’s World Banking.

Startup (Early Stage & Growth Stage): Overseeing the Startup category, Osama Bedier, Investment Partner, NYCA Partners, draws on his deep experience as a founder, operator, and investor to champion the next generation of fintech innovators.

“Every decade or so, a technology shift reshapes how money moves — from the web, to mobile and now to AI. The most important breakthroughs rarely start inside large institutions; they begin with founders willing to rethink first principles. The Money Awards 2026 shine a spotlight on those founders and teams pushing our industry into its next era. Leading the Early & Growth Stage jury gives me the chance to champion the bold ideas, the hard‑won progress, and the extraordinary execution that will determine the future of money. It’s a privilege to recognize the people who are not just imagining what comes next, but actively creating it,” said Osama Bedier, Investment Partner, NYCA Partners.

Banking: Shruti Patel, EVP, Business Banking; Chief Product Officer, U.S. Bank, leads the Banking category and draws on her experience building products and leading U.S. Bank’s business banking solutions portfolio.

“Banking is evolving rapidly, and it is essential to develop solutions that build trust, boost resilience, and deliver real value to customers. I am honored to chair the Banking jury for 2026 and look forward to recognizing innovators who demonstrate what purposeful and ambitious modern banking can achieve. The Money20/20 Money Awards celebrate the visionaries reshaping financial services—from digital pioneers to those expanding access and opportunity to help drive economic growth. We’ll be recognizing institutions that prove modern banking can be both technologically sophisticated and deeply human-centered,” said Shruti Patel, EVP, Business Banking; Chief Product Officer, U.S. Bank

Payments: As Jury President for the Payments category, Dave Excell, Founder, Featurespace, a Visa Solution, leverages his pioneering work in fraud and risk technology to spotlight breakthroughs shaping global money movement.

“The payments ecosystem stands at a pivotal moment where innovation, security, and customer experience must converge to create truly holistic solutions. As technology reshapes how we transact, the need for adaptive, real-time fraud detection has never been greater. I’m excited to serve as Jury President for the Payments category at the Money Awards, where we’ll celebrate the pioneers driving this evolution. We’ll be recognizing companies that understand what drives the best payment experiences to make them accessible to all,” said Dave Excell, Founder, Featurespace, a Visa Solution

Partnerships & Strategic Alliance: Leading the Partnerships & Strategic Alliance category, Garry Sien, Chief Innovation & Solutions Officer, International, Ant Digital Technologies, brings a global innovation lens shaped by his work driving Ant Digital Technologies’ international strategy.

“The Money Awards 2026 highlight just how much collaboration fuels progress across the global financial ecosystem. Partnerships and strategic alliances are where vision turns into real‑world impact, bringing together diverse strengths, shared ambition, and the willingness to build something superior to what any one organisation could achieve alone. I am proud to lead this year’s Jury as we recognize the cross‑industry collaborations that are creating new value, accelerating AI innovation, and moving financial services forward worldwide,” said Garry Sien, Chief Innovation & Solutions Officer, International, Ant Digital Technologies.

The program will conclude with the announcement of the 2026 Money Awards Trophy winners at Money20/20 USA. Additional recognition moments at Money20/20 Europe and Money20/20 Asia will provide global visibility for honorees. Winners will receive a bespoke trophy and year‑round exposure across Money20/20’s platforms, including exclusive speaking opportunities, media coverage, investor visibility, and access to global networking at all Money20/20 events.

Applications for entries are now open. For details on categories, judging criteria, and entry instructions, visit www.money2020.com/awards.

FF NEWS TAKE: The return of these awards validates their immediate standing as a key industry measuring stick for fintech excellence. The rigorous judging process, led by influential global operators, ensures the recognition carries significant weight in investment circles and partnership discussions. We should now watch the applications closely, particularly in the Startup and Partnerships & Strategic Alliance categories, as these are the leading indicators of where AI integration and collaborative models are driving the next wave of disruptive financial technology.