New Regional Fintech Partnership Brings Together Jordan FinTech Academy and MENA FinTech Association

New Regional Fintech Partnership Brings Together Jordan FinTech Academy and MENA FinTech Association

Amman, Jordan – Oct 01 – Reflecting Jordan’s growing role in the regional fintech ecosystem, the Jordan FinTech Academy (Jordan FTA) at the Institute of Banking Studies (IBS) and the MENA Fintech Association (MFTA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for cooperation, knowledge exchange, professional development, and stronger connections between fintech professionals and institutions in Jordan and across the MENA region.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Jordan FinTech Festival 2026, held on 23–24 September at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre at the Dead Sea. The festival was organised by the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) in partnership with the Association of Banks in Jordan and in cooperation with GIZ, bringing together regulators, financial institutions, fintech companies, investors, and industry experts from Jordan, the region, and international markets.

The signing marks the beginning of a structured collaboration between IBS – Jordan FTA and MFTA focused on capacity building, training, expert and trainer exchanges, curriculum development, research, knowledge sharing, and fintech ecosystem development.

As a next step, the two organisations will work towards developing a series of specialised workshops, training programmes, seminars, and knowledge-sharing initiatives covering areas relevant to the evolving financial technology landscape. These initiatives will draw on MFTA’s regional network of industry practitioners and experts alongside the educational and professional-development capabilities of IBS – Jordan FTA.

The collaboration will also explore joint research and knowledge products, participation in regional and international initiatives, exchange of non-confidential research and market insights, and opportunities to connect financial institutions, fintech companies, entrepreneurs, academics, experts, and other ecosystem stakeholders.

Dr. Riyad Al-Hindawi, Director of the Institute of Banking Studies, said:

“We see this partnership as a bridge for communication and the exchange of knowledge and expertise between Jordan and the fintech ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa. The rapid development of digital financial services requires partnerships that transcend institutional and geographic boundaries and provide meaningful opportunities for shared learning and benefiting from the diverse experiences across the region.”

He added:

“Through our collaboration with MFTA, we seek to expand access to knowledge for specialists and professionals and create opportunities for joint initiatives that contribute to skills development and foster a culture of innovation. The planned workshops, training programmes and knowledge-sharing activities will help professionals and institutions keep pace with the transformations taking place across the financial sector.”

Nameer Khan, Chairman and Founder of the MENA Fintech Association, said:

“Jordan has built a strong foundation for fintech development, supported by its financial institutions, regulatory ecosystem, and growing pool of technology and fintech talent. Our collaboration with the Jordan FinTech Academy at the Institute of Banking Studies creates a practical bridge between regional industry expertise and professional development.”

He added:

“The value of this MoU will be measured through what we build from it. We look forward to developing a series of workshops, training programmes and knowledge initiatives that bring practitioners, experts and institutions together around the technologies and capabilities shaping the future of financial services. Working alongside institutions such as IBS – Jordan FTA, and within an ecosystem supported by the Central Bank of Jordan, allows us to connect Jordan’s fintech expertise with the wider MENA network in a meaningful and sustained way.”

The partnership builds on the wider efforts of the Central Bank of Jordan to strengthen the country’s fintech ecosystem and support innovation, digital transformation, and financial-sector development. The Central Bank has positioned fintech and innovation as important components of Jordan’s evolving digital financial ecosystem, including through its fintech and innovation initiatives and the Jordan FinTech Festival.

The MoU provides a general framework for cooperation between IBS – Jordan FTA and MFTA. Areas identified in the agreement include capacity building and training; exchange of experts, trainers and speakers; training curriculum development; research and development; knowledge and information exchange; events and knowledge-sharing activities; networking and ecosystem development; and regional and international cooperation.

Specific programmes and activities will be developed and agreed between the parties as the collaboration progresses, allowing both organisations to respond to emerging priorities and opportunities across the fintech sector.

The partnership comes at a time of rapid transformation across financial services, with digital payments, artificial intelligence, open finance, digital assets, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies reshaping the industry. Strengthening access to practical expertise, professional training, and regional knowledge will be increasingly important as Jordan and the wider MENA region develop the capabilities needed to support the next generation of financial innovation.