FinTech North returns to Manchester next week, on Tuesday 25th November, for its annual conference, shining a spotlight on the city’s accelerating influence within the UK’s fintech ecosystem.
Hosted at the University of Manchester’s historic Whitworth Hall, this year’s programme brings together a roster of speakers from organisations including Starling, the Bank of England, Mastercard, Barclays and the FCA, alongside some of the North West’s most exciting fintech startups and scaleups.
Across the full-day agenda, delegates will delve into key themes shaping the future of the sector: regulation as a driver of innovation, banking transformation, risk and resilience, and the evolving global payments landscape – an area in which Greater Manchester is rapidly establishing itself as a leading national hub.
A dedicated Women in FinTech spotlight will highlight female founders from across the region, alongside new insights on female representation in the fintech workforce and the opportunities and barriers around access to funding.
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This year’s conference is supported by headline sponsor OakNorth – the Manchester-based digital bank. Having surpassed £12.5bn in lending and successfully expanded into the US, OakNorth stands as a powerful example of regional fintech growth and, as a dedicated business bank, continues to play a vital role in unlocking economic growth across the UK.
The conference comes at a pivotal moment for Manchester’s fintech journey. Greater Manchester is now home to 175 fintech firms, making it the fastest-growing fintech cluster in the UK. Earlier this year, Manchester also entered the top 100 of the world’s most innovative clusters for the first time, according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s 2025 rankings.
Joe Roche, general manager at FinTech North, said: “Over the eight years we’ve been bringing our conference to Manchester, we’ve seen the city truly step into its own as a powerhouse of fintech talent and innovation. The sector now contributes more than £1bn to the regional economy, and Manchester has become a vibrant microcosm of startups, scaleups and global fintech brands that increasingly want to build a presence here.
“We’re anticipating another sell-out event this year, so we’d encourage anyone interested to secure their tickets early.”
This year’s event is delivered in partnership with OakNorth, Pulsant, Mastercard, Cyber Alchemy, Attenda, Intercash, Barclays, RSM, and Bruntwood SciTech.
Full agenda details and registration information are available here.