Complex systems, growing demands.
Banks and insurers process a huge amount of data: income, assets, transactions, creditworthiness, and more. This data is not only sensitive for the individuals concerned, but also falls under one of the most heavily regulated frameworks in the EU. That’s exactly why compliance in this sector is a structural requirement.
But these requirements keep piling up. Every new layer of regulation, GDPR, DORA, PSD2, AML, the AI Act, adds to a structure that in some cases has been decades in the making. Overhauling the foundations from scratch is rarely feasible in the short term, and that’s a natural result of growth, mergers, and years of development, not a shortcoming.
For large banks, it’s often the interwoven, historically grown systems that slow things down. For smaller and fast-growing players, it’s just as often the regulation itself tightening faster than the organisation can keep up. Either way, the pressure to act now, not in two years, keeps growing.
CRANIUM understands this reality and thinks alongside you as a partner who understands the context in which you need to make decisions.
What we can work on together
Regulation that doesn't always point in the same direction.
Fintech partners and suppliers bring risks that are best identified early, ideally already when choosing a partner. This matters especially when an existing partner falls short but switching isn't straightforward: which risks are acceptable, and how are they mitigated?
Historically grown systems.
Most institutions in this sector work with systems that were built before GDPR applied. We help map out the risks in these areas clearly, so you can justify them internally and tackle them step by step, at a workable pace.
More complex data subject requests.
Customer contact and sensitive data go hand in hand with a higher volume of access and correction requests. Some requests are also becoming more complex, think of questions around AI-driven decisions, or requests that go beyond what's strictly necessary.
A broad ecosystem of partners and suppliers.
Fintech partners and suppliers bring risks that are best identified early, ideally already when choosing a partner. This matters especially when an existing partner falls short but switching isn't straightforward: which risks are acceptable, and how are they mitigated?
Legal, IT, and security often working separately.
New projects usually touch several teams at once: legal, IT, security, and often more. Each team looks at the question from its own angle, which increases the risk of delays or conflicting decisions. Because we look at the bigger picture from a distance, we can bring these teams together instead of letting each one find its own way separately.
Rolling out new digital initiatives faster and compliantly.
New AI-driven initiatives are rarely isolated. They become intertwined with existing systems, raising questions about control over personal data and providing accurate information about it. We make sure you get answers to those questions quickly, so compliance doesn't slow down your pace.
Concrete projects we typically help with.
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(Pre) DPIA.
Not every new product or campaign requires a full DPIA. Through a short, targeted screening, we quickly determine whether the risk is high enough to require a full DPIA. When it is, think of new scoring models, automated decision-making around creditworthiness, or large-scale data exchange between a bank and insurer within the same group, we carry out that DPIA. This turns risk assessment into a standard part of your launch process, not a delaying extra step.
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DPO as a Service
We take on the role of external DPO, or provide structural support to your internal DPO. This includes monitoring KYC obligations in relation to privacy: which data is needed for identification, how long it may be kept, and how you organise this in a demonstrably correct way.
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Staffing
Targeted, temporary reinforcement of your team with a consultant who works within your structure, for example during peak workloads, on a specific project, or when specific sector knowledge is needed that you don't want to bring in-house full-time.
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Digital Law Scan
An overview of all the digital legislation that applies to your organisation, GDPR, DORA, PSD2, AML and more, and how these relate to one another. Particularly relevant in a sector where regulation stacks up faster than almost anywhere else.
Why CRANIUM?
Large financial institutions often collaborate with traditional advisory firms or specialised law firms. While this approach is valid, it may not be the most efficient solution for all needs. CRANIUM offers a pragmatic partnership. We respond quickly with targeted advice, avoiding unnecessary pages, and gain a deep understanding of your structure and history. While we don’t replace your existing advisors, we provide the added value of speed and sector knowledge when they matter most.
Financial sector, who's in it?
Financial sector is a broad term. This sector includes banks, in all their forms, and the insurance institutions with which they’re often historically intertwined.
- Large banks, which usually combine dozens of services: savings, lending, investing, insurance.
- Neobanks, fully digital players without a physical network, but with the same obligations.
- Credit institutions, focused on providing loans and credit.
- Payment institutions, which focus on payment services and payment accounts.
- Insurance institutions, often closely linked to a bank or banking group, with their own regulation but similar challenges in terms of data protection.
The distinction between these profiles isn’t always sharp in practice. Many institutions combine several roles, and it’s exactly this combination that makes compliance in this sector so multifaceted.
Meet the team
Nafissa Lamhamdi
Principal Privacy Consultant
Gorka Popoff Sanz
Principal Privacy Consultant
Noa Capiau
Privacy Consultant
Frequently asked questions
Does CRANIUM also work with smaller credit institutions or neobanks?
Absolutely! Our approach scales with the size and structure of your organisation. Smaller players also benefit from a clear, workable approach without unnecessary complexity.
What if we already have an internal DPO or privacy team?
Can CRANIUM also help us with DORA, in addition to GDPR?
How quickly can we get started?
How does the collaboration work budget-wise, fixed fee or based on effort?
Ready to take the next step
Whether you’re considering a first GDPR scan, looking for support with your DPO function, or want to get a grip on your processor relationships: CRANIUM knows the structures, the systems, and the context your sector operates in, and thinks along as a partner.
