Capital One Financial Corporation, led by Chief Executive Officer Richard D. Fairbank, has reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging modern technology capabilities to drive opportunities across its business.
During the recent earnings call, Fairbank emphasized the importance of the company’s decade-long technology transformation journey, positioning itself as a pioneer in the banking industry.
Robert M Alexander is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Capital One Financial Corporation, responsible for IT spending.
In 2022, Capital One added over 13,000 associates globally, including close to 4,000 in technology roles like software engineering, data science, machine learning and cybersecurity. More than 2,800 full-time associates and interns joined Capital One through campus programs, which range from technology and product management to finance and business analysis.
HIGHLIGHTS
# Capital One recruited top technology talent
# Capital One rebuilt 1,300 applications
# By 2020, Capital One moved to public cloud and exited data centers
# In 2021, Capital One exited internal mainframes
# Capital One to use machine learning and artificial intelligence
One of the significant developments in Capital One’s tech journey has been the creation of “Eno,” their digital assistant. Eno looks out for customers’ financial well-being, proactively notifying them of potential issues like double charges, overcharges, or unauthorized transactions, even when they’re not actively monitoring their accounts. Additionally, customers can benefit from virtual card numbers through the Eno browser extension, enhancing online shopping security while keeping their actual card numbers private.
Capital One’s ambitious technology transformation involved rebuilding their tech infrastructure from the ground up. The company recruited top technology talent from leading tech companies and educational institutions, fostering an in-house engineering team while moving away from legacy third-party vendors. Adopting advanced technologies like APIs, microservices, DevOps, and automated testing and deployment has enabled Capital One to handle big data in real time.
With its data environment fully integrated into the public cloud and exiting internal mainframes, Capital One is now primed to harness the potential of machine learning and artificial intelligence, a rare feat in the corporate banking sector. This technology-driven approach has resulted in reduced credit losses, fraud costs, and positive risk management outcomes across the company.
CEO Richard D. Fairbank expressed his optimism for the future, stating that the company’s focus on underwriting, modeling, and marketing, along with the implementation of machine learning at scale, will continue to drive growth, efficiency improvements, and long-term value creation.
Capital One’s digital experiences have been well-received by customers, and the company remains committed to providing mass-customized marketing in real-time, enhancing reach and growth. As a result of the technology transformation, Capital One has expanded its product offerings and marketing channels, allowing them to leverage more data and provide customized solutions, ultimately contributing to the company’s performance.
In the second quarter of 2023, Capital One reported a 1 percent increase in revenue, reaching $9 billion, while net income soared to $1.4 billion compared to $960 million in the same period last year. The company also achieved a remarkable 3 percent decrease in non-interest expenses, driven by a 1 percent decrease in marketing expenses and a 3 percent decrease in operating expenses.
Capital One’s dedication to embracing modern technology from the bottom of the tech stack up has positioned it as one of the industry’s forerunners in digital banking. With a strong focus on customer delight and technology-driven growth, the company remains well-positioned to succeed as banking continues its digital evolution.
Rajani Baburajan
