What is Payments Culture?
In June 2007 I moved to Germany for an internship. I naively assumed that I could use my UK credit card until my salary came in at the end of the month.
I was wrong.
In Germany, back then, I could count on one hand the number of shops, restaurants, and cafés that allowed me to pay by credit card. I had money, yet couldn’t spend it.
That summer in Germany was my first lesson in how money moves differently around the world.
Over time, I realised that these differences are everywhere:
Japan is a hyper-modern society, but they still love cash. (though slowly changing)
Chinese tourists struggle to pay in London because their mobile wallets don't work the same way abroad.
In parts of East Africa, consumers leapfrogged straight to mobile payments without ever using traditional banking.
Payments Culture is where I explore these differences and what they mean for anyone working in fintech, finance, or tech — or just curious about how money works.
Why subscribe to Payments Culture?
Most of what I write falls into three main areas. This is my mini-framework:
The crux is that tech and culture are changing the way we pay and get paid.
In fintech, we often focus on the latest big trends, gigantic funding rounds, and outsized personalities, while the gradual shifts in culture and technology — which really make the difference — are rarely covered to the extent that they should be.
Change is slow then suddenly quick. And change doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it happens as a part of wider society and cultural change.
My focus is on these deeper shifts that often get missed.
Payments Culture comes with:
Expert perspective from my 15+ years working in the industry
Real-world stories that go beyond the headlines
Market intelligence you won't find in press releases
Here's what this looks like:
Every week, get one long-form email exploring how money moves, with my curated insights on a specific topic.
Some weeks, I’ll add additional content including personal essays, case studies, and interviews with fintech leaders.
If you’d like to support this newsletter you can get a monthly membership for less than the cost of a beer (in London that is). Any support is greatly appreciated!
Get in touch
I’m always interested to hear from those who read Payments Culture.
Feedback, collaboration opportunities, or anything else - it’s all welcome.
You can email me, message me on LinkedIn, or send a message with the below button.
Thanks for reading! Matt
Disclaimer: Everything on these pages are my own thoughts and opinions and is not reflective of the views, or strategy, of any organisation I am, or have been employed by, or consulted for.
