CFTE has launched a new programme, Generative AI for Payments in Financial Services, designed to help professionals build practical capability in applying Generative AI within real payment environments.
As Generative AI becomes increasingly embedded across financial services, payments is one of the first areas where its impact is moving beyond experimentation into day-to-day operations — from fraud detection and chargeback management to cross-border flows and customer experience.
Yet across the industry, a clear gap remains.
While many payments teams are testing AI tools and running pilots, far fewer are developing the capability to apply Generative AI confidently, responsibly, and at scale. This programme is designed for professionals looking to move beyond experimentation and build readiness where it matters most.
Why payments requires a different approach
Payments is one of the most complex and sensitive areas in financial services. Decisions are made in real time, trust and regulation are always in play, and errors can carry immediate financial and reputational consequences.
This is why generic Generative AI education often falls short for payments professionals. Applying AI in payments requires clarity on where AI creates real value, awareness of data and regulatory constraints, and the ability to translate experimentation into operational impact.
The programme has been designed around these realities.
A practitioner-led programme
The course is led by Efrain Antonio Florencia Espinosa, Former Country Manager at Wise and a long-time CFTE alumnus.
Efrain brings hands-on experience from building and scaling cross-border payments platforms, navigating complex regulatory environments across Latin America and Asia, and leading digital transformation initiatives where AI, compliance, and operations intersect.
This practitioner perspective ensures the programme remains grounded in what works in real payment environments, rather than abstract or theoretical use cases.
What participants gain from this programme
Designed as a six-week, fully online programme, the course requires just 15 minutes a day, making it accessible for working professionals.
Participants will explore:
The evolving Generative AI landscape in payments
Real-world use cases across fraud, operations, and customer journeys
Practical applications of GenAI tools in payment contexts
Data, risk, ethical, and regulatory considerations
How to move from pilots to sustainable AI capability within teams
The focus is on decision-making, readiness, and responsible application.
Who this programme is built for
The programme is designed for professionals working across:
Payments and transaction banking
Payment operations and systems
Fintech and cross-border payments
Innovation and strategy roles in financial institutions
If payments sit anywhere in your remit, this course has been built with those realities in mind.
Building long-term capability in payments
As Generative AI becomes embedded within payment systems, the real differentiator will not be access to technology, but capability.
Organisations that invest early in understanding where AI fits — and where it does not — will be better positioned to scale responsibly and competitively.
CFTE’s Generative AI for Payments programme is designed as a practical step in that direction.
