Welcome back to this first full week of work after the holiday season for most of you. I live in the outer boroughs of Greater London. The leafy idyll that is zone 6 (we have a Nandos and everything). Which means I rely on the train to get to work - Southeastern Rail. This morning my normal 45 minute commute took two hours! (What does this have to do with FinTech, Liz? <==as always, 'bear with me') 

This morning as my train stopped at yet another 'red signal' outside Lewisham (not an unusual occurrence) my thoughts turned to FinTech, and the conventional wisdom of 'building on the existing rails' as I sat on an ageing network of 'rails' whose legacy infrastructure had roots in the Victorian era and is increasingly incapable of meeting the needs of the 21st Century commuter. 

Clients of HSBC were met with a similar, back to work failure, as many personal and business accounts remained inaccessible due to an online blackout at the bank. 

Both entities - the rail networks and the banks - can't shut down their entire infrastructures to rebuild shiny, new reliant rails in which to deliver innovation transportation and financial services. Both have a entrenched, loyal (and an almost monopolistic hold) on their market. 

However, the suburban trains have one advantage over our banking brothers and sisters. I give you 'Scheduled and Emergency Engineering Work'. (stay with me). 

Those of you reliant on suburban rail are familiar with the wonderful sight of 'Rail Replacement Buses' (usually on a weekend) which stand in place of your normal fast track to London express. 

This may seem radical and out there, but let me suggest 'Scheduled and Emergency Engineering Work'...for banks. (I SAID stay with me). Instead of rail replacement buses - we can just go back to cash and cheques. Maybe issue IOUs? Just for a few days, while our trusty, ageing banks do some rail replacement work on their wonky infrastructure. 

If you can think of a better idea, send your answers in on a post card please.

Because I refused to listen to one more ideologue who shouts 'Innovate or die!' while ignoring the crumbling network many of our industries depend on. 

Fix the crumbling infrastracture or die!