From Accelerator to Demo Day: Meet BanxLocal, the Fintech Rebuilding Community Bank Access
As part of our ongoing FinTech Wales Foundry 2025 Accelerator, we stood up with Kevin Smith, founder of BanxLocal, one of the visionary startups in this year’s cohort. With Demo Day just around the corner, we caught up to hear more about his journey so far, what BanxLocal is building, and what we can expect when he takes the stage on Thursday 9th October at the Wales Millennium Centre.
Watch the video interview below, and read on for an extended Q&A.
Sign up to attend Demo Day here
Q&A with Kevin Jones, Founder of BanxLocal
Q: Kevin, for those who don’t know you yet – who are you and what is BanxLocal?
I’m Kevin, founder of BanxLocal. We’re building the UK’s first independent branch network, giving people access to multiple banks and financial services from a single location. The idea is to reverse the exclusion many people face as traditional branches disappear, especially from underserved areas.
Q: Why is this needed now?
Because the impact of branch closures has gone far beyond inconvenience — it’s affecting financial inclusion. Over 20 million people in the UK are now classed as underserved or excluded from traditional banking access. We’re here to change that, by making services more accessible again, especially in areas fintech hasn’t reached.
Q: You’ve been part of the Foundry Accelerator – how’s that experience been?
Honestly, it’s been amazing. The support from the FinTech Wales team has been second to none. Being surrounded by other founders, all on different parts of the journey, has been inspiring. There’s real value in that shared experience — it keeps the energy high and the ideas flowing.
Q: Demo Day is fast approaching – how are you feeling about it?
Excited! (Nervous, too!) But mostly excited. It’s a chance to showcase the impact we’re trying to make, and pitch to an audience of investors, industry leaders, and supporters of fintech for good. We’ve got a strong message, and I’m looking forward to sharing it.
Q: Who should be paying attention to BanxLocal at Demo Day?
Everyone who cares about inclusive finance. That includes investors looking to back real-world impact, fintech innovators, banks rethinking their footprint, and community leaders. We’re tackling a national issue — and it’s going to take partnerships to solve it.
Q: What’s next for BanxLocal beyond Demo Day?
We’re gearing up to launch our first proof-of-concept branch, then go straight into scaling across the UK. The need is urgent, and we’re building a model that can scale quickly — not just to meet the challenge, but to lead the solution.
Join us at Demo Day
Don’t miss the chance to meet Kevin and the rest of our 2025 cohort on Thursday 9th October in Cardiff. Hear live pitches, connect with fellow innovators, and get inspired by what’s next in Welsh fintech.
📽️ Watch the short interview video above or follow BanxLocal’s journey at banxlocal.uk