This module will explore the history of money and banking through to the present day fourth industrial revolution and the emergence of decentralised finance and the Bitcoin currency. The fragilities in the current banking system will be identified along with the regulatory and technological movement towards open banking and Payment Services Directive PSD2 (&3) type regulation, and similar. The landscape of the current global payments industry including the prevalence of M-commerce will be discussed along with the fusion of financial services with social media giving rise to new opportunities such as hyperpersonalisation and bespoke payment solutions. Unique features of digital and neo banks will be articulated as well as strategies for how incumbent established banks can attempt to ‘close the gap’. The impacts of financial crises including; (1) The Dot Com Crash, (2) The Financial Crisis 2007-09 and (3) COVID-19 upon the banking and payments industries will be interpreted in the context of Black Swan thinking and attempting to pandemic proof new financial services business models. The role of A.I. in banking and payments will be outlined as well as predictions for the next decade plus, including Banking 4.0 thinking. Examples of international cases studies will be used to contextualise the academic theory and research-based teaching provided.