FinTech Australia names Finnies finalists for 10th year
FinTech Australia has named the finalists for the 2026 Finnies Awards, marking the programme's 10th year.
This year's awards attracted 312 entries across 22 categories, resulting in 160 finalists. More than 90 independent experts from the Australian fintech sector are involved in the two-round judging process, with 35 professionals now assessing the second round to select one winner in each category.
The Finnies recognise achievements across the fintech sector, including consumer and business lending, payments, insurtech, regtech, open banking, wealth management and workplace diversity. FinTech Australia says the sector contributes AUD $13.8 billion in direct value added to the Australian economy and supports 50,200 jobs within fintech businesses.
Shortlisted categories this year include FinTech Organisation of the Year, with finalists CoinJar, FrankieOne, Hello Clever, Monoova, OwnHome, Quickli and Zepto, and Emerging Fintech Organisation of the Year, featuring Eldium, Instantia, Sequential, TermPlus, RedOwl and Zeroo Home Loans.
The list also includes individual awards such as Outstanding FinTech Leader of the Year, Female FinTech Leader of the Year and Emerging FinTech Leader of the Year. In the Outstanding FinTech Leader category, shortlisted executives include Chris Brycki of Stockspot, Kym Whitford of Remitly and Trevor Wistaff of Zepto.
Category spread
Payments were one of the larger areas represented. Finalists for Best Innovation in Payments are ANNA Money, Ingenico, Mint Payments, Remitly Australia and Sniip. In open banking and open finance, finalists include ANNA Money, Beforepay Group, Fiskil, PocketSmith, Primary and Stryd.
The awards also reflect continued activity in artificial intelligence and digital compliance tools. The shortlist for Most Innovative Application of AI in Finance includes CreditorWatch, Fortiro, LoanOptions.ai, RDC.AI, RedOwl and TRM Labs. At the same time, Excellence in Regtech features Chainalysis, FrankieOne, Haast, LAB Group Services, Napier AI and Nuj Super.
In digital assets and blockchain, the Excellence in WEB3 category includes AUDC, Block Earner, CoinJar, Kraken, Swyftx and TRM Labs. Wealth management finalists are Blossom App, Briefcase, Jacobi, PocketSmith, Stockspot and TermPlus.
Partnerships also feature prominently. The shortlist for Excellence in Industry Collaborations & Partnerships includes Aussie and Bridgit, DoxAI Australia and WhiteHawk, FrankieOne and Pexa Group, OwnHome and Aussie Home Loans, and Zepto and Employment Hero.
Two categories will not proceed this year: Giving Back to the Fintech Community and Excellence in Green Fintech or Sustainability Initiatives. Both fell short of the minimum number of eligible entries required to continue.
Policy backdrop
The awards come as the sector monitors regulatory changes in payments, scams prevention and the Consumer Data Right. FinTech Australia linked these areas to current fintech activity and consumer outcomes.
"Behind each of these 160 finalists is a business that is measurably changing how Australians access finance, move money, insure their assets or protect their data," said Rehan D'Almeida, Chief Executive of FinTech Australia.
D'Almeida also pointed to longer-term economic projections for the sector. According to FinTech Australia, Deloitte Access Economics forecasts fintech could add $37 billion to Australia's GDP by 2035 under supportive infrastructure and policy settings.
"This shortlist is effectively a snapshot of where that growth is coming from and the choice fintech continues to deliver to consumers, small businesses and enterprises," D'Almeida said.