Rip Out the Core

The Platform Enabled Banking Transformation Playbook or What a Kitchen Disaster Teaches about Fixing Banks!

The renovations needed to fix a broken dishwasher and flooded kitchen are the genesis for Rip Out the Core: A DIY Guide to Platform-Enabled Banking Transformation. They showed what many transformation leaders learn the hard way: do not just tear everything out and rebuild. People have to live in the house while it is being renovated. Likewise, a bank must keep banking while modernising systems. Customers still need their payments processed. Regulators still need their reports. Staff still need systems that work. The art isn't in the demolition – any fool can destroy things. The art is in the careful, methodical, strategic rebuilding that does not bring the whole structure crashing down.

This art is the foundation of the book’s Platform Enabled Banking Transformation (PEBT). PEBT is not a product. It is not a framework in search of a slide deck. It is a way to think about doing progressive modernisation step by step, capability by capability, with strategy, sanity, and staying power. Tracing these steps, the book starts with why systems fail, how to spot the early warning signs, and why starting with tech is usually a terrible idea. It then covers blueprints, construction, and systems rollout to end with a look into the platform-enabled future of banking, and how to stay adaptable in an unpredictable world.

This book is written for anyone working in banking and especially in Information Technology, operations, architecture, or transformation. It is written to make them feel seen. It is written for those who have thought, “We can’t keep patching this thing forever.” This book explains why that thought keeps coming back, and how to modernise without losing control of the bank along the way

With more than 25 years of experience in the banking sector, Pål Krogdahl is a director at Samlink, a leading provider of innovative technology solutions and advisory services for the financial industry. His mission is to empower banks to realize their customers' dreams through digital transformation and embedded finance strategies. As a director, he guides financial institutions in their digital journeys, providing strategic insights and tailored solutions that align with their unique challenges. He leverages his industry expertise, technical skills, and partner network to deliver value and innovation to my clients. Additionally, he shapes Samlink's technology strategy, ensuring that its offerings are aligned with the latest financial sector trends and customer needs. He is also a co-host of the Fintech Daydreaming podcast, where he shares his knowledge and insights with the wider community and engage with industry thought leaders..