The Origin of N5 Now: From USD 100 to a Global Fintech
In an interview with Julieta Tarrés (CNN Radio), Julián Colombo, CEO of N5 Now, shares how a modest USD 100 investment sparked the creation of a fintech with regional impact.
Its first client was Credicorp Bank (CCB) in Panama, an early validation of N5’s value proposition.
The name “N5” comes from an internal practice Colombo used at Santander: “deliver in five.” It stands for speed, commitment, and efficiency — values that today define the company’s culture.
The Challenge of Traditional Banking: Technological Entropy
Colombo explains that many financial institutions suffer from technological entropy — multiple disconnected systems (credit, risk, channels, incentives) that hinder agile innovation.
“Ninety-one percent of a bank’s technology budget is used just to maintain what already exists.”
N5 Now’s proposal is to unify these domains within an intelligent, integrated platform, eliminating silos and enabling continuous innovation without disrupting operations.
Artificial Intelligence in Banking: From Mystery to Transparency
For Julián Colombo, artificial intelligence (AI) should not be a “mysterious black box” but rather an explainable, controllable, and regulation-aligned tool.
N5 applies a hybrid approach:
- Probabilistic AI, based on inference and autonomous learning.
- Deterministic AI, grounded in rules and regulatory validations.
The human role remains essential: employees act as “AI commanders,” supervising and fine-tuning models.
Colombo discourages basic chatbots or isolated automations that add little value, advocating instead for deeply integrated, high-impact AI.
From Banking Conservatism to Fintech Disruption
The traditional banking world is characterized by its aversion to error and bureaucratic processes.
N5 Now positions itself as a bridge between legacy banking and fintech innovation, offering scalable, secure, and adaptable technology to accelerate digital transformation without sacrificing reliability.
N5 Now and the Future of the Financial Sector
According to Colombo, AI will be even more transformative than mobile banking or online access.
His vision points toward a transparent digital banking ecosystem, where technology and humanity coexist to deliver fairer, more accessible, and more sustainable financial services.
“In 7 to 10 years, you won’t be speaking to a human at a bank anymore.”
