Password theft is an ongoing problem. Finger print and voice recognition is still years away. What's a bank to do if it wants to verify the thousands of customers using its mobile app? One way is their behavior -- or at least their typing behavior. Banks in Europe's Nordic region have begun rolling out a new kind of security technology for their mobile apps that tracks the pressure and speed of how customers type a pin number into their smartphones.

The UK fintech market is experiencing a new wave of innovation. Developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning are giving rise to a new generation of fintech startups. Prop trading houses and hedge funds have been using machine learning techniques for years to beat financial markets. It's interesting to see A.I. making its way into mainstream fintech. Companies are leveraging the technology to make sense of large volumes of data, making financial products and services more accessible for the end user.

The migration to online and mobile has created a conundrum for banks. They have worked hard to sell the convenience of digital channels to the point that they now find themselves in reactive mode -- they are waiting for customers to need something. The 20 startups selected for this year's FinTech Forward Companies to Watch are helping banks replicate, and in some cases enhance, the close bonds they often share with their customers in person through digital channels. The companies are redefining personal banking and personal security. They're using artificial intelligence to offer virtual assistance.