The 2025 Banking Tech Awards are set for December 3 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. FinTech Futures highlights the key trends shaping the financial services industry by interviewing shortlisted companies. A major focus is on the transformation of core banking systems. Jeffery Kendall, CEO of Nymbus, emphasizes that upgrading core systems has shifted from a mere technology upgrade to a strategic necessity for growth. Nymbus is recognized for helping PeoplesBank migrate to a cloud-native core system, marking it as the largest community bank in the U.S. to make such a transition. Kendall points out that many financial institutions are finding their legacy systems are not just outdated but actively hindering their growth ambitions. As banks and credit unions plan for digital expansion and potential mergers, they confront challenges posed by their existing infrastructure. The article outlines how the industry's approach to core banking technology is evolving, reflecting a broader trend toward modernization and strategic alignment with growth objectives.