A new Journal of Financial Services launches this autumn, offering strategic insight on payments innovation, regulation, and digital finance.
The financial services industry is entering one of the most transformative periods in its history, particularly within the payments sector. From the rapid rise of digital currencies and real-time settlement to sweeping regulatory reforms and the integration of emerging technologies, industry leaders are grappling with a scale of change that demands informed, forward-thinking dialogue.
This autumn, that dialogue will find a new home. Projective Group has announced the launch of the Journal of Financial Services, a biannual publication dedicated to thought leadership across financial services, with its inaugural edition focused squarely on the UK and European payments landscape.
A forum for the industry’s sharpest minds
Unlike traditional industry publications, the Journal of Financial Services is designed as a platform for debate, innovation, and action. Drawing on the expertise of leading academics, senior industry practitioners, and policy influencers, the Journal aims to move beyond surface-level commentary, delivering strategic insight into the most pressing issues affecting financial services.
The first issue’s theme—the payments revolution—reflects both the urgency and complexity of developments in this space, from cross-border interoperability and ISO 20022 adoption to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and private sector payment innovations.
Why now?
As Stefan Dierckx, founder of Projective Group, explains: “We’re creating something truly special here—not just another industry publication, but a forum where the most innovative thinkers in financial services will be heard. The payments sector is evolving at unprecedented speed, and industry leaders need a reliable source of both clarity and challenge.”
The timing is significant
UK payment volumes exceeded 45 billion transactions in 2024, with a sharp increase in instant and account-to-account payments.
The Bank of England’s RTGS Renewal Programme (RT2) went live in April 2025. Within its first two months, it had already processed more than £30 trillion across RTGS settlement services, according to the Bank of England.
Across Europe, instant payments are being turbocharged by the EU Instant Payments Regulation, requiring full market adoption by 2027.
In an environment where innovation cycles are shortening and regulatory change is accelerating, the Journal of Financial Services will act as a curated, high-quality source of strategic analysis. Articles will be selected not just for their expertise, but for their ability to offer practical, actionable insights that payment companies and financial institutions can apply directly to their strategic planning.
A broader vision
Each edition will emphasise cross-industry collaboration—a necessity in an era when regulatory change, technological disruption, and evolving customer expectations are deeply interconnected.
By convening voices from academia, business, and the public sector, the Journal intends to help set the agenda for the industry, influencing both corporate strategy and policy debates.
Launch event at SIBOS Frankfurt
The Journal of Financial Services will debut at a high-profile launch event in September 2025, coinciding with the SIBOS Frankfurt conference—a fitting backdrop for a publication aiming to reach the most influential decision-makers in financial services. The Journal will be available both digitally and in print, ensuring accessibility for professionals across the UK and Europe.
If you’d like to be notified of the launch of the Journal, register your interest here.
