Breaking Banks: Recent Episodes
Breaking Banks - The #1 Global Fintech Podcast
The #1 global fintech radio show and podcast. Every week we explore the personalities, startups, innovators, and industry players driving disruption in financial services; from Incumbents to unicorns, and from the latest cutting edge technology to the people who are using it to help to create a more innovative, inclusive and healthy financial future.
Entrepreneurship is an odyssey with many unexpected stops on the journey. You could find yourself on a loading dock in East LA, freestyle rapping with a man known as DJ Trucker—yes, there is video proof.
In this episode of our special series, Killing It, hosts Jason Henrichs and Alex Johnson talk with Max Farrell. Max started his career in business development at Dwolla and went on to found WorkHound, which is now WorkStep. WorkHound began when Max stumbled upon a problem in an industry he didn’t come from, and he jumped right in.
The trio speaks candidly about the unpredictable nature of the founder journey and the need to deeply understand the customer. This includes Max spending 48 consecutive hours in the cab of a truck, winning a Truck Tank pitch competition, and recognizing when it is time to personally hit the road and move on.
This honest conversation shares the ups and downs of building a business. Max describes the near-failures, the acquisition, and his eventual decision to leave his founder identity behind. It’s an odyssey.
In This EpisodeFor years, Banking as a Service (BaaS) was sold as a silver bullet for community banks to solve their deposit problems and grow non-interest income. Through its evolution, the industry has learned that it is not enough for BaaS to simply be programmable. For innovation in banking to flourish, without sacrificing the safety and security of the banking ecosystem, BaaS must also be governable.
With the bankruptcy of Synapse and the resulting consent orders, sponsor banks have been forced to prove their control over outsourced operations.
This week on Breaking Banks, Jason Mikula, who wrote the book on BaaS, literally!, and is publisher of FinTech Business Weekly; Ellen Linardi, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Synctera; and Reid Whiting, President of Lincoln Savings Bank join Jason Henrichs to talk about sponsor banking. Is it growing up or catching up?
Interested in learning more? Check show notes for a link to a paper, a blueprint really, for the choices a bank that wants to play in sponsorship banking will need to make.
White Paper Link: Orchestration, Control, and Observability: A New Framework for Sponsor Banking https://alloylabs.docsend.com/view/gs8925x8yeii5vxg
In This EpisodeWhat if AI could replicate your consciousness?
Listen as Breaking Banks host Brett King connects with Paolo Sironi, host of Provoke.fm‘s The Banker’s Bookshelf about Paolo’s latest book, Quantum Sapiens.
Paolo’s foray into literary fiction explores the intersection of quantum gravity, philosophy, and the future of human consciousness in an AI-driven world, providing a unique way to explore complex topics.
Available at major bookstores and on Amazon, Quantum Sapiens is a haunting novel blending scientific speculation, the frontiers of artificial intelligence, theories of consciousness and urgent ethical questions into a compelling narrative.
Join Paolo and Brett as they dive into the “hard problem” of consciousness and how technology like AI acts as a mirror for the human experience.
In this episode of Breaking Banks host Brett King sits down with Farbod Sadeghian, Founder and Executive Chairman of TheBlock. Based in Dubai, TheBlock is a fintech collaboration space dedicated to fintech, blockchain development, and crypto, bringing together fintech, AI, and capital markets to build the next economy of virtual assets,
The conversation covers the origin story of TheBlock and the UAE’s regulatory landscape—specifically the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA). They also discuss how TheBlock is building a virtual asset community that enables faster speed to market through direct collaboration with onsite advisors and strategic partners.
By connecting people, infrastructure and opportunities, TheBlock offers end-to-end support to help companies launch, operate and scale within the digital economy.
If in Dubai, stop by!
In This EpisodeFinancial institutions (FIs) are currently navigating a “perfect storm” of technological, market, and consumer shifts. They face a multi-front war: constant economic and regulatory pressure, soaring consumer expectations for 24/7 personalization, and the existential threat of megabanks with massive tech budgets.
To survive and thrive, FIs must move beyond “pilot purgatory”—where 95% of generic AI pilots fail—and adopt a banking-specific AI workforce,an AI-powered intelligence layer for modern banking.
In this episode of Breaking Banks host Jason Henrichs is joined by Dan Michaeli, CEO & Co-Founder of Glia, a digital customer service and banking AI platform serving over 700 FIs, and Madeline Fredin, SVP of Growth & AI Transformation at Alloy Labs to explore how a self-learning institutional brain unifies data across the organization. By starting with the contact center—the richest source of unstructured interaction data—banks can build a foundation that shifts their entire operation from reactive service to proactive growth and agentic workflows.
In This EpisodeKiah Haslett walked into our Hot Takes session at the Alloy Labs annual member meeting with a thesis she’d been sitting on, and it’s a good one: in a lighter-touch regulatory environment, the prisoner’s dilemma rewards whoever moves first. The strategically correct move, she argues, might also be the morally bankrupt one. And she’s not sure that changes the math.
Dara Tarkowski — who sees the grand jury subpoenas before anyone else does — pushed back. Not on the logic, but on the premise. The statutes didn’t go anywhere. The switch can still be flipped.
And underneath both arguments is the question we’d been wrestling with the day before: if most banks only have a debt mindset — protect the downside, don’t lose, get your principal back — what are they leaving on the table? And what does it actually cost them to keep waiting for clarity that isn’t coming?
Joining Jason Henrichs are Kiah Haslett (Fintech Takes Banking), Dara Tarkowski (Much Shelist, P.C.), and Rick Geloff (Bank of North Dakota).
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks Brett King interviews bestselling author Igor Pejic about his new book Tech Money: A Guide to the New Game of Technology Investing, available May 26th. Brett and Igor discuss turbocharged innovations, frontier technologies, and how AI and technology investment are changing our future.
In this wide ranging conversation, Brett and Igor also debate the implications of wars fought largely by AI and how tech-first defense players like Palantir, Anduril and others are changing the sector from an investment perspective.
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks, we feature sister podcast, Social Currency, powered by Sunrise Banks. Social Currency introduces us to some of the most innovative changemakers in finance, technology, and social impact—leaders who are dismantling barriers and reshaping their industries.
In this episode hosts Tyler Seydel, Chief Fintech Officer, and Eric Schurr, Chief Strategy Officer at Sunrise Banks are joined by Brian Tate, President and CEO of the Innovative Payments Association, to discuss where payments policy and innovation are headed next.
A graduate of Howard University with experience at the Financial Services Roundtable during the post-crisis reform era shaped by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Brian draws on decades inside Washington to unpack what’s coming for fintech, prepaid products, and the broader banking ecosystem. From regulatory modernization to emerging technologies, he shares his outlook on the opportunities and challenges that will define the next chapter of the payments revolution.
To hear more episodes of Social Currency go to provoke.fm or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
In This EpisodeHave we reached the point where AI is beginning to matter in a commercial sense or are we still in the ‘figuring it out’ stage and it’s not driving outcomes yet?
In this episode host Jason Henrichs is joined by Prashant Mehrotra, Chief AI Officer at U.S. Bank, and John Sun, Co-Founder and CEO of Spring Labs, for a deep dive into the frontier that is AI.
Listen as these executives share insights on AI as a transformational force, not just one part of the organization. Everyone needs to be brought along on the journey which requires evangelization, education, building, and execution as one. Best techs just exist, it should not feel like you are doing AI, you should just be doing your work — a state where intelligence is embedded and is everywhere.
The trio also explore the importance of balancing innovation with responsibility, and using AI thoughtfully. AI is complex, and organizations need to know where best to use it. There’s no need to overengineer every single solution. Generative AI costs every time you use it and human oversight remains essential, particularly in highly regulated environments.
As we search for efficiency and transformation for good, is AI the next set of prosperity, similar to the invention of the automobile?
This episode is part of the Hot Takes series, powered by U.S. Bank, and was recorded live at the University of Utah’s FintechXchange Conference.
In This EpisodeIn this episode of Breaking Banks, industry leaders Jason Hass (First Electronic Bank), Mike Jorgensen (U.S. Bank), and Louis Mrachek, (Merrick Bank) connect with Jason Henrichs for a dynamic conversation centered on embedded finance. Embedded finance seamlessly integrates financial services into non-financial platforms. Some examples include BNPL, Lending: Business & Personal Loans, and P&C Insurance, simplifying the claim process and getting the payment.
The panel explores how fintechs and banks are evolving from competitors into true partners—combining innovation, compliance, and trust to deliver better customer experiences.
They also tackle tensions between speed, risk and regulation, and the critical role banks still play behind the scenes. The future of finance may be invisible — but the trust powering it cannot be.
This episode is part of the Hot Takes series, powered by U.S. Bank, and was recorded live at the University of Utah’s FintechXchange Conference.
In This EpisodeWe’ve recently seen growth in many areas, but a disconnect always seems to exist between economic growth, especially capital market growth, and what people on the ground are experiencing. In short, the macro story is strong; the reality is more fragile if you look at households. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, what is the first thing today’s consumer pays for every month? Mortgage/rent, health care, food? All good guesses, but no! The primary financial priority: the cell phone.
In this episode, Robyn Burkinshaw, CEO of BlytzPay, and Jason Henrichs discuss the reality of financial health in the United States. With 30% of the population living at or below the poverty line and 25% considered unbanked or underbanked, the current system often widens the wealth gap.
Jason and Robyn discuss redefining financial health through access, designing for real lives rather than ideal users, and using the system to create stability. And Robyn shares how BlytzPay is working to “break the box” by helping lenders and servicers meet subprime consumers where they are via text-to-pay and a flexible online payment system. The mission is increasingly vital as AI and new technologies can potentially bridge or widen the current wealth disparity.
This episode is part of the Hot Takes series, powered by U.S. Bank, and was recorded live at the University of Utah’s FintechXchange Conference.
In This EpisodeBanks are evolving beyond traditional financial products to offer value-added services that deliver outcomes that matter in customers’ everyday lives.
In this episode of Breaking Banks, we explore this shift through a very specific lens. Joining host Jason Henrichs are Marcy Allen, Head of Enterprise Financial Institutions at Carefull, a company focused on helping families protect aging loved ones from financial risk and fraud, and Drew Reilly, VP, Fintech Partnerships & Investments at U.S. Bank They discuss how banks approach value-based accounts and loans, the realities of delivering these services within large institutions, buying versus building, and what happens when financial services appear where customers actually need help, not just where banks traditionally operate.
This episode is part of the Hot Take series, powered by U.S. Bank, and was recorded live at the University of Utah’s FintechXchange Conference.
In This EpisodeWhich trends are genuinely reshaping and transforming banking? Is fintech hitting its “awkward adolescent phase”—past the hype but not yet fully mature?
Today we sort through the signal and the noise. Which trends are actually changing how banks work and which are mostly theater. There are lots of pitches coming at banks, but just like in baseball, you can’t swing at them all. How do financial institutions decide what’s worth pursuing versus what’s just the latest headline?
Joining host Jason Henrichs are two people who view the landscape from different vantage points: Alex Johnson, Founder of FinTech Takes who analyzes and challenges the narratives shaping fintech, and Meghan Kober, Head of Fintech Partnerships & Investments at U.S. Bank who sits on the side of who decides which innovations get deployed within one of the most innovative banks. Together, they dig into where fintech stands today and what the next phase might look like once the noise settles.
This episode of Breaking Banks is part of the FintechXchange recording series at the University of Utah, powered by U.S. Bank.
In This EpisodeThe current regulatory regime in the US promised a lighter touch and more de novo charters. Sure enough, there has been a flurry of activity with a wide range of applications being submitted from long time payment providers like Paypal, neobanks looking to break free from their BaaS sponsors, and even silicon valley insiders looking to build the bank of the future like Erebor.
Reading the various applications and hearing the varied business plans raised a very fundamental question: What if bank charters are being issued to companies that don’t actually want to be banks?
We tend to treat a charter like a finish line — as if the moment you get one, you’ve crossed into some higher state of legitimacy. But a charter is a regulatory status. Being a bank is an economic role. And those two things may be drifting apart.
In this episode of Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs and Jeff Taft, Partner at Mayer Brown, dig into that tension. Jeff has advised on bank formations, regulatory strategy, and some of the most complex de novo and specialty charter conversations in the market. He has a front-row seat to how applicants think about charters — and how regulators evaluate readiness to operate as banks.
This conversation was recorded live as part of FintechXchange put on by the Fintech Center at the University of Utah. This Hot Takes series is powered by U.S. Bank.
Now let’s dig in to the question: are most charter applicants trying to become banks — or trying to become regulated?
In This EpisodePayments are getting faster. From RTP to stablecoins, rails are modernizing. Speed alone doesn’t equal progress, however. As real-time payment systems expand, banks, businesses, and policymakers are asking a bigger question: how do new payment rails actually change how money moves, decisions get made, and value is created?
In this episode of Breaking Banks, host Jason Henrichs brings together Dominic Venturo, SEVP and Chief Digital Officer at U.S. Bank and David Watson, President and CEO at The Clearing House to explore what is really changing beneath the surface. The trio discuss:
- how instant payments are moving beyond consumer use cases into business and treasury workflows,
- where banks are finding real opportunity (and where they aren’t), and
- how tools like request-for-payment and stablecoins are reshaping cash flow and transparency.
Share with industry friends and colleagues. The episode is not to be missed!
In This EpisodeWhat happens when three fintech nerds gather to eat spicy wings, share some sauce and talk about industry trends? If you are a regular listener to Breaking Banks, you already know the answer: the latest episode of Hot Takes!
Get some chips, your own sauce if you’d like, and listen now as Jason Henrichs, Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes) and Simon Taylor (Fintech Brainfood) — refereed by Peter Renton — offer Hot Takes fueled by hot sauce and spicy conversation. This episode was recorded live at the University of Utah’s 2026 FintechXchange.
This candid discussion with leading voices in fintech is not to be missed! The wide-ranging conversation covers everything from AI and stablecoins to financial nihilism, and more. The panelists explore trends reshaping the banking and fintech landscape while sharing key insights, things to watch and some predictions.
This episode is powered by U.S. Bank. Be sure to catch the entire series releasing this month from the Hot Takes stage, brought to you by U.S. Bank.
In This EpisodeThe length of the sales cycle in financial services is legendary. Slow decisions, endless diligence, and constant risk reviews are practically an industry meme. To be fair, the stakes are real. When money moves, it has to arrive; when deposits sit in a bank, they have to be safe. Somewhere along the way, caution turned into paralysis. Banks ask more questions, add more steps, delay commitment, often increasing the risk by avoiding learning, accountability, and real-world feedback.
In this episode of Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs connects with Lindsay Borgeson, President of Core Bank’s Partner Banking Division, and Kalyani Ramadurgam, CEO and Founder of Kobalt Labs. They discuss the dynamics of decision-making in banking, the importance of defining the problems to be solved, the role of proof of concepts, and the hurdles of implementation. By sharing the Core Bank and Kobalt Labs partnership journey, Lindsay and Kalyani offer practical strategies for navigating these processes more effectively.
For financial institutions, speed doesn’t require cutting corners. For fintech providers, strong partnerships can be built by proving value early and enabling clients to make decisions based on real operational impact.
Whether you are a financial institution seeking to modernize your technology stack or a fintech company looking to accelerate enterprise adoption, this conversation offers experience-based guidance for making faster, high-confidence decisions without sacrificing risk discipline.
Listen now, share with your colleagues, and please reach out to share your feedback.
In This EpisodeCould up to 80% of existing credit cards be canceled or see credit reductions under the proposed 10% interest rate cap?
That’s the stark prediction from industry research and leading credit providers like JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon. Instead of helping consumers, the policy could trigger an evaporation of available credit, shrink access, and push borrowers toward less regulated alternatives.
In this episode of Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs connects with leading industry voices Ron Shevlin, Managing Director & Chief Research Officer of Cornerstone Advisors and author of Forbes‘ Fintech Snark Tank, and Rhett Roberts, Co-Founder and CEO of LoanPro.
As the trio discuss benefits, tradeoffs, and risks, they recognize that one size doesn’t always fit all, and explore where innovation might fill the gap: buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) models, bespoke lending products, and how stablecoins could be a market-based alternative to blunt the access problem, a way to lower costs without breaking the system. Could “loan-on-card” structures or embedded finance preserve convenience while reshaping risk? If credit migrates outside traditional card networks, are we undermining decades of consumer protection?
For anyone shaping the future of banking, fintech, consumer lending and credit, or just trying to better understand the benefits, potential tradeoffs, and risks of interest rate caps and stablecoins as a market-based alternative, this episode is essential listening. Credit has a very long history of teaching us that quick fixes often create new problems.
In This EpisodeJust as mobile was once a separate vertical within banking, has digital transformation simply become part of everything we do?
In this week’s episode of Breaking Banks, hosts Jason Henrichs, Brett King, and JP Nicols debate this and more as they discuss the current state of banking, the impact of fintech, and the evolution of digital banking. They cover the challenges posed by legacy systems, the rise of digital-only banks, and the role of AI and stablecoins in shaping the future of finance. The top 50 fastest growing FIs in the world are all digital direct players, pure players.
Is AI going to be a vector in the growth of banks? Will AI change how banks are structured?
Is it time to rewrite the rules? Think about things differently? Reimagine what the future of financial services looks like?
Brett, JP and Jason look forward to another year of exploring the future of banking and financial services together.
Reach out, send us your thoughts and any topics you’d like to see us address in a future episode of Breaking Banks.
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks, we spotlight our sister podcast, The Bankers’ Bookshelf, hosted by Paolo Sironi.
In this episode, Paolo sits down with frequent Breaking Banks guest Leda Glyptis to discuss her book, “Beyond Resilience: Patterns of Success in Fintech and Digital Transformation”. Drawing from candid interviews with leading entrepreneurs, Leda moves past the typical success stories to uncover the raw realities of building groundbreaking ventures. She offers an honest exploration of digital transformation, including the lessons learned, inevitable mistakes, course-corrections, and the personal and professional growth required to lead through the messiness of digital change.
Leading fintech transformation demands more than sheer resilience: it’s about wielding control amid chaos, maintaining consistency and integrity, and standing firm, whether solo or with a team.
This conversation is essential for anyone navigating the complexities of fintech transformation. Listen now!
In This EpisodeWhat’s your favorite holiday movie? It’s a Wonderful Life? Miracle on 34th Street? Scrooged? Plot twist (literally): These are all banking movies.
This week on Breaking Banks hosts Jason Henrichs and JP Nicols invite you to an Alloy Labs virtual holiday gathering. Joined by Amber Frye, Pam Kaur, and Samer Saab, they share favorite holiday movies with good cheer and a twist — the need to tie the cinematic selections back to banking and fintech.
Tie back to banking and fintech, you say? Think fraud, legal contracts, loan workouts, wealth management, alternative investments, identity theft — you get the picture! It’s a lively and animated conversation.
No spoiler alerts, so let’s get this party started … listen and watch now!!
It’s not too late to check out some of the favorite recommendations and to let us know if you agree with their takes, or have suggestions of your own. We’re listening!!
In This EpisodeWhat if someone told you you’ve been underpaid by more than two million dollars across your career?
In this episode, Jason Henrichs speaks with fintech entrepreneur Tom Sosnoff. You may know Tom from founding thinkorswim and tastytrade, two billion-dollar exits that transformed retail investing. His newest venture, Lossdog, launching this month, focuses onsalary transparency.
Traditional compensation platforms rely on legacy salary benchmarks and anonymous, unverified self-reports that create wide ranges. Lossdog’s approach to compensation data is one that uses AI and verified data sources to deliver personalized valuations rather than vague, crowdsourced ranges. Think of it as whole-person valuation meets Machine Learning — a worth engine combined with AI onboarding surfacing overlooked value in resumes, including skills, certifications, pivots, and even career gaps.
It’s all about fair value and knowing your worth! Lossdog aims to give individuals institutional-grade tools to negotiate salary on equal footing with employers by generating accurate compensation valuations.
Listen, share, and subscribe for more weekly fintech insights from Breaking Banks.
In This EpisodeThis week, Breaking Banks offers a human interest story from Brett’s conference travels. Listen as Brett connects with Arwa Damon, former CNN reporter based in Istanbul, and current President and Founder of INARA, an NGO working in Palestine.
INARA, International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance, is a humanitarian organization providing rapid response and treatment to refugee children, its mission to ensure every child has the agency to create a dignified life.
Arwa provides a first-hand look at the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and discusses how it impacts the basic needs and access to financial services for people living there.
In This EpisodeIn this episode of Breaking Banks, hosts Jason Henrichs, Brett King and JP Nicols delve into the transformative impact of AI and technology on the banking industry, and share insights on what institutions must do to not only survive, but thrive as AI rewrites playbooks.
The conversation covers the role of stablecoins, agentic AI, the future of smart contracts, smarter digital infrastructure, and how accelerated innovation cycles are reshaping the global financial system.
They explore the structural changes they see coming and the potential of AI in automating cross-border transactions and business banking platforms, while discussing challenges and opportunities for larger and smaller banks in adapting to new systems of trade.
How best for bankers to get ready for this transition?
All banks, regardless of size, need to get their data house in order, ensuring better access to their data and data capabilities, and need to assess their cultural agility. The banking industry is entering a new era where data fluency, cultural adaptability and use of available AI tools and AI-driven automation will define the competitive frontier and spark innovation. As the hosts remind us, “Adapt or be left behind.”
Listen now to hear how leaders across banking and fintech can navigate the shift and prepare for what comes next.
In This EpisodeToday, we turn the show over to our friends at Breaking Banks Europe, as we celebrate their 6th anniversary.
What began as a podcast experiment has grown to over 280 episodes, more than 570 guests, thousands of listeners from every corner of the world, and countless debates.
Over the past 6 years, the show has:
- Shaped conversations around open banking, fintech, DeFi, payments, digital innovation and every trend and highlight you can think of.
- Featured founders, heads of state, college students, academics, executives, regulators, dreamers, disruptors & troublemakers.
- Connected Europe with the Middle East, Africa, Asia, LATAM and beyond
- Helped spotlight voices that deserve to be heard
Today we’re celebrating with a special throwback episode. Host Matteo Rizzi welcomes back Serena Torielli, CEO and founder of WealthHype, who first joined the show back in Episode 3.
In this new conversation, Matteo and Serena dive into Revolut’s explosive growth in Italy, the future of private banking, and how AI, Bitcoin, and gold are reshaping investing. They also explore regulation, stablecoins, and global market shifts, with Serena sharing her optimistic view on innovation in AI, energy, and biotech as drivers of the next financial revolution.
In This EpisodeToday on Breaking Banks we feature the newest addition to the Provoke.fm family, Breaking Banks Africa.
In this episode Breaking Banks Africa Host and Executive Producer Matteo Rizzi sits down with Sandra Yao, Ecobank‘s Group Head: Cross Border Remittance, Payments & BaaS (Fintech). With 20 years of experience driving fintech and payment innovation across Africa, Sandra brings a unique “builder’s mindset” into one of the continent’s largest financial institutions, operating in 39 markets.
From pioneering mobile money to tackling fragmented infrastructure and regulatory environments, Sandra shares how interoperability, accessibility, and digital transformation are reshaping the future of payments in emerging economies. Additionally, Sandra reveals how Ecobank is empowering young African talent, forming major tech partnerships (including Google), and creating API-first solutions to help fintech founders scale across borders.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about Africa’s digital growth story, inclusive innovation, and hearing about those turning vision into execution—from Nairobi to the world.
In This EpisodeMarkets are whipsawing, rate paths are murky, and headlines keep revising “the facts”, but no matter where we are in the economic cycle, the future presses on regardless. Our resident futurist Brett King and our resident “recovering banker” JP Nicols debate what that means for incumbent financial institutions and insurgent fintechs.
We unpack how AI is shifting from pilots to profit (and where it’s still hype), why deposit mobility and funding stability will be the quiet kingmakers of 2026, and how the inevitable continued rise of agentic AI and its insatiable need for energy collide with real world Monday morning priorities.
If you’re ready to retire the 2006 playbook and win in 2026, you’ll want to give this one a listen.
In This EpisodeThis episode of Breaking Banks features host Jason Henrichs sharing thoughts and key take-aways fresh from Money 20/20 USA.
Stablecoins, Agentic AI and especially Agentic Commerce dominated many conversations at this year’s Money 20/20 event. Cross Border Payments another big topic not to mention AI, how it’s changing the game and being used by financial institutions.
Jason had the opportunity to speak with Harriet Rees, CIO of Starling Bank (UK), who discussed the exciting announcement made at Money 20/20 regarding Starling Bank’s collaboration with Google on fraud detection. Through this AI-powered partnership, Starling Bank can now help customers identify warning signs of purchase scams. Their new tool, Scam Intelligence, allows customers to upload images of items and ads from online marketplaces. It then analyzes them for signs of fraud and provides personalized guidance within seconds. This tool, built with Google Gemini in collaboration with Google Cloud, is available today for personal, joint, and business account customers. This UK-first initiative by Starling and Google has the potential to save billions of pounds annually.
Listen now, and enjoy the episode!
In This EpisodeInside The Futurists X Summit: Preparing For An AI Powered Future
This week Breaking Banks comes to you from The Futurists X Summit in Dubai, the world’s largest gathering of top-ranked futurists. This summit brings together leaders, innovators and policymakers from around the globe for meaningful dialogue on the future of technology, business and society.
Tune in as Breaking Banks and The Futurists host Brett King speaks with Mastercard’s J.K. Khalil, EVP and Division President of East Arabia, and Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mastercard.
JK and Brett kick off the discussion with JK highlighting Mastercard’s partnership with the Ministry of AI in Dubai and their AI Center of Excellence in the UAE. Mastercard is always talking about the fast and accelerating pace of change and its impact on consumers’ lives. The AI Center of Excellence aims to demonstrate that AI is more than just a buzzword, helping people see the bigger picture and understand the broader implications — how this access to information and AI translates to daily life. The discussion also touches on exploring possible futures and enhancing the human experience.
Then, Raja joins Brett to share his perspective on an AI-powered future. As AI improves quality of life, helping to alter the work-life balance — working less, experiencing more — what does the world look like? With AI, chores can be delegated to the machine, you can let go of certain things and have more time for other things. Time to pursue your passions – a long-standing focus for Mastercard is helping elevate lives through experiences.
As technology levels the playing field—and everyone feeds similar briefs into the same AI tools—outputs will start to look alike. That’s exactly why this moment could become a new golden age of marketing: a chance to break through the sameness with real creativity, smart risk-taking and unconventional ideas. With advanced tools and the right mix of strategy and imagination, the possibilities are endless. And when you serve consumers with heart while driving revenue, that’s marketing at its best.
It’s an engaging and thought-provoking episode from leaders in the field….priceless!
Interested in hearing more about The Futurists X Summit? Follow our sister podcast, The Futurists.
In This EpisodeMany bank leaders are currently grappling with the same paradox: despite having access to more data than ever, it’s increasingly difficult to discern what truly matters. Budgets are tight, initiatives are piling up, and the market sends conflicting signals, all while the imperative to remain relevant to customers persists.
Breaking Banks did a show on VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) three weeks ago (if you missed it, take a listen when you get a chance!). When there’s VUCA, the natural inclination is to add more—more dashboards, more projects, more committees—yet this rarely leads to clarity.
This episode of Breaking Banks features Catherine Lynch from Citizens Bank and Greg Palmer, host of sister podcast Finovate. They discuss the importance of human-centered innovation.
Catherine Lynch leads digital experience and human-centered design at Citizens, a super-regional bank with approximately 1,000 branches primarily in the Northeast and $220 billion in assets. With over 20 years in banking and prior experience at Accenture and various tech startups, Catherine has dedicated her career to leveraging technology to solve customer problems. At Citizens, she focuses on digital channel strategy and experience design for a diverse customer base, including consumers, commercial clients, and wealth management customers.
Catherine explains that all banking clients share three fundamental needs: seeing their money, moving their money, and protecting their money. However, these needs have evolved as people navigate cognitive overload, economic stress, and reduced community connections, leading to a demand for simpler and easier banking experiences. To meet these changing expectations, Citizens employs a human-centered design approach, placing customer needs at the core of their problem-solving process through empathy, collaboration, iteration, and testing. Their innovation lab, part of Green Pixel Studios, enables them to observe customer interactions and rapidly develop solutions for pain points.
With its human centered focus and work building the right kind of innovative community, the future looks bright for Citizens Bank as it continues to deliver exceptional customer experiences and help customers navigate today’s information overload. Listen now to learn more!
In This EpisodeDr. Antoine Khadige, Senior Partner at Strategy+ GCC, and Mohamed AlSabea, Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at barq, join host Brett King for a special episode, live from The Money Pot studio at Money20/20 Middle East in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Together, they share insights on the Gulf’s fintech transformation and on Riyadh’s growing reputation as the gateway to one of the world’s fastest-moving financial markets, where global players and regional decision-makers come together to build what’s next.
It’s an interesting discussion as the trio unpack Saudi Arabia’s dynamic fintech ecosystem and share the success story that is barq. Barq is the fastest growing private wallet / digital bank in the world with 8M users in just 1 year. They share insights on barq’s success, some of its secret sauce and plans for the future.
Regulation, digital infrastructure, youthful demographics and public trust have made the GCC a fertile ground for next-generation finance. From embedded finance and AI-driven personalization to the region’s broader Vision 2030 transformation, this conversation captures the determination and optimism fueling Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a global fintech powerhouse.
Is the Gulf the “new Europe” for fintech innovation? With determination and bold leadership driving transformation, the region’s financial future is only beginning.
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks we finish our series on Brett King’s new book, Branch Tomorrow where we’ve featured interviews with Brett’s contributing authors: Bruno Diniz, Efi Pylarinou, Jim Marous, Paolo Sironi, and Richard Turrin. Each author brings a specialty in a different market, giving Branch Tomorrow a multi-perspective look at banking, banking culture, changes in ‘branching’ and the future of financial services across the globe, from the US to India, China, and Latin America.
In this episode of Breaking Banks, Brett King and Jim Marous, banking industry leader, fintech influencer, publisher and podcast host, dive into the insights from Branch Tomorrow from the U.S. perspective. They explore the evolving landscape of banking, focusing on the decline of physical branches (with peak branches in the U.S. in 2008) and the rise of digital banking solutions. While some large banks still invest in branches, smaller banks often struggle to justify the cost. The shift to digital is driven by customer behavior and operational efficiency,
With a keen eye on the economics and sustainability of traditional banking models, Jim and Brett discuss the challenges and opportunities facing financial institutions today. Tune in to the episode to better understand the U.S. banking market, and why being digital-first is crucial for survival in the modern banking world.
Branch Tomorrow, available now!, is an invaluable resource for bankers, regulators, fintech innovators, and future-focused leaders dedicated to thriving in the digital transformation of finance. The future of banking is truly here and is built on digital realities. Lead the change before it disrupts you!
In This EpisodeThis week onBreaking Banks, we spotlight the newest member of the Provoke.fm family, Bankers’ Bookshelf, hosted by Paolo Sironi.
This episode features Paolo’s interview with Sangeet Paul Choudary, author of the new book, Reshuffle: Who Wins When AI Restacks the Knowledge Economy.
Paolo and Sangeet discuss how AI is set to transform the global economy and company operations by redistributing power among key players. Sangeet explores four key tensions driving this transformation: tensions between workers and their software tools; tool providers and the organizations that use them; businesses consolidating power and the industries they disrupt; and empowered individuals and established incumbents.
Drawing on compelling examples, historical parallels, and innovative perspectives, this conversation uncovers the opportunities and challenges AI presents—and reveals who stands to succeed or struggle when AI restacks the deck.
Don’t get left behind! Listen now!
In This EpisodeGyrating securities prices, perplexing consumer confidence numbers, multiple revisions of jobs numbers, varying interest rate forecasts- that’s VUCA: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. Tim Mahedy is Founder and Chief Economist at Access Macro and serves as the Chief Economist at Alloy Labs, and his perspective, shaped by time at the IMF, as the Chief of Staff at the San Francisco Federal Reserve, and by advising leaders globally, comes at a critical moment.
He joins host JP Nicols to reveal why the old banking playbooks are dead, how the “VUCA Bazooka” is reshaping the landscape not just now, but for the foreseeable future, and what bold leaders must do now to turn chaos into their biggest competitive advantage. If you don’t want to be left behind, this is your wake-up call, and your blueprint to winning in 2026 and beyond.
JP Nicols and Tim Mahedy will be giving an executive briefing on their findings and recommendations on October 2nd. Learn more and register at AlloyLabs.com/events
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks, we feature a fascinating and thought-provoking episode from our sister podcast, The Futurists, where Brett King welcomes celebrated experimental astrophysicist Professor Brian Cox.
Professor Cox, an English physicist and musician, is widely recognized for presenting science programs such as BBC Radio 4’s The Infinite Monkey Cage and the Wonders of... series. He is also the author of two popular science books: Why Does E=mc²? (And Why Should We Care?) and The Quantum Universe. He’s selected to deliver the keynote address at The Futurists X Summit in Dubai on September 22nd.
In this episode, Professor Cox dives into how our understanding of black holes and quantum information theory could change our fundamental understanding of the universe, ushering in a new era of scientific advancement.
Professor Brian Cox is one of the most articulate scientists in the world today. This interview underscores that, in an era where science faces ongoing challenges from political forces and media, our future lies in embracing knowledge and applied intelligence. Are we at the event horizon of something new and extraordinary?
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks we’re continuing our series on Brett King’s new book, Branch Tomorrow, featuring interviews with contributing authors: Bruno Diniz, Efi Pylarinou,Jim Marous, Paolo Sironi, and Richard Turrin. Each brings specialty in different markets giving Branch Tomorrow a multi-perspective look at banking, banking culture, and the future of financial services across the globe, from the US to India, Europe, China, and Latin America.
In this episode, Branch Tomorrow co-author Efi Pylarinou, a leading global fintech and tech influencer, shares insights on branch transformation from the European zone. Efi delves into some of the uniqueness, challenges and opportunities of the European market — a great example of diversity and different ways of operating — one item of note, the large Post Office networks that can essentially compete with fintechs and offer services.
In looking at the evolution of banking and to the future of banking in Europe, Efi and Brett focus on the transition from traditional banking to digital-only models like Revolut, breaking down what makes them successful, taking a close look at the economics of the different models. They also explore how AI is reshaping customer experiences in banking, the impact of cashlessness, and the social implications of some of these changes.
How will regulatory challenges shape the future of banking? Will shared banking spaces emerge as a solution for branches? In the next five years, in Europe and globally, will we see new disruptors that will challenge existing disruptors from the last decade?
The future of banking is here. Branch Tomorrow, a must-read for future-focused leaders dedicated to thriving in the digital transformation of finance — available mid-September. Get a sneak peek by listening now!
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks we’re continuing our series on Brett King’s new book, Branch Tomorrow. We feature interviews with some of Brett’s contributing authors: Bruno Diniz, Efi Pylarinou, Jim Marous, Paolo Sironi, and Richard Turrin. Each author brings specialty in different markets giving Branch Tomorrow a multi-perspective look at banking, banking culture, changes in ‘branching’ and the future of financial services across the globe, from the US to India, China, and Latin America.
In this episode, Brett speaks with Richard Turrin, an industry leader in fintech innovation and digital transformation, and Author of Cashless: China’s Digital Currency. Brett and Richard delve into the robust digital financial services landscape in China which experienced significant digital disruption starting in the mid-2010s. You’ll hear how bankers there are still reeling from the unprecedented scale of disruption brought on by MYbank, WeBank, WeChat and Alipay.
Then, Brett connects with Paolo Sironi, Global Research Leader in Banking and Financial Markets at the IBM Institute for Business Value and host of Provoke.fm‘s Bankers Bookshelf podcast. Paolo shares insights from the Eurozone on branch transformation, highlighting how some European banks are embracing digitization by evolving their branches. He discusses how they are balancing digital and physical presence by adjusting their in-branch product offerings, with a focus on personalization, financial inclusion, and maintaining strong customer engagement.
Tune in now for these insightful conversations! Branch Tomorrow, available mid-September, is an invaluable resource for bankers, regulators, fintech innovators, and future-focused leaders dedicated to thriving in the digital transformation of finance. The future of banking is here!
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks we’re excited to introduce Brett King’s latest book, Branch Tomorrow. This new book re-examines our understanding of bank branches, banking culture, and the future of financial services across the globe, from the US to India, China and Latin America.
In a special Breaking Banks series, Brett interviews contributing authors Bruno Diniz, Efi Pylarinou, Jim Marous, Paolo Sironi, and Richard Turrin to deliver a multi-perspective global look at banking. Each author brings specialties in different markets; all analyzing changes and data from the past decade to what’s been happening with branch banking and providing insights into the ongoing transformation in finance.
In this conversation, Brett speaks with Bruno Diniz, Financial Innovation Expert, Bestselling Author, Speaker and Professor specializing in fostering financial innovation in Latin America. They delve into the evolution of banking in Brazil and LATAM, particularly the decline of traditional bank branches and the rise of digital banks like Nubank with its rapid growth in Latin America (123 million+ customers). They also explore the impact of regulatory changes, the economics of digital banking, and the role of innovative payment systems like PIX while discussing the challenges traditional banks face in adapting to this rapidly changing financial landscape.
We encourage you to listen now and stay tuned for more in this series! Branch Tomorrow, releasing in September, is a must-read for bankers, regulators, fintech innovators, and future-focused leaders eager to thrive in the digital transformation of finance. The future of banking is here!
In This EpisodeIn this episode, Breaking Banks delves into the evolving landscape of financial health standards, exploring how the Financial Health Network is pioneering a new set of standards aimed at designing financial products that prioritize consumer well-being. These standards, set to transform financial services by focusing on customer-centric outcomes, start with a focus on checking accounts and credit cards. encouraging people to spend well, and will be part of a library of standards around how financial institutions and fintechs can design financial products and services with the user’s financial health outcome in mind. A practical blueprint for building financial products with integrated financial health solutions.
Listen as Jason Henrichs and Brett King catch up with frequent guest Jennifer Tescher, President and CEO of the Financial Health Network and host of the EMERGE Everywhere podcast to discuss these new finhealth standards launched at the recent EMERGE conference. The trio explore:
- Creating a financially inclusive global economy: challenges and opportunities
- How financial industry standards shape consumer outcomes and institutional practices
- Improving financial decision-making through standards and outcome-focused frameworks
- Managing personal finances effectively with standardized financial practices
- Understanding moral hazard in financial services and regulation
- The impact of incentives and leadership priorities on financial system trust and performance
- Do consumers trust artificial intelligence more than traditional financial institutions?
Small changes can drive big impact and improve financial decisions, management and ultimately financial lives. There is a lot that financial institutions and fintechs can do right now and make a difference, but there’s also a lot to get right — tune in now!
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks, we focus on a fundamental topic in financial services: trust. Trust is the cornerstone of any successful banking relationship. Consumers trust their financial institutions to protect their information and funds—and that trust is warranted. We have guarantees like FDIC insurance to back it up.
The importance of trust is acutely felt in community banking. In this episode, Jason Henrichs introduces us to Carie Kelly, Senior Vice President and Digital Banking Officer at Claremont Savings Bank, and Stephen Lewis, President and CEO of Thomaston Savings Bank. Listen in as they talk about trust, what their community banks are doing to build and enhance it, and how they’re preparing for advanced issues in banking.
A $124 trillion opportunity in the U.S. lies in the current transfer of intergenerational wealth. Emily Cisek, Founder and CEO of Paige—a comprehensive life planning and succession software platform for families and small businesses—joins us to discuss a recent partnership with both Claremont Savings Bank and Thomaston Savings Bank, helping them serve as trusted advisors in generational transitions.
It’s an engaging episode with implications and applications for all generations and age groups. Enjoy the episode, and let us know what you think!
In This EpisodeToday we celebrate the 15th anniversary of Dodd-Frank!Tune in as Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes), Kiah Haslett (writer and former banking and fintech editor at Bank Director), and Dara Tarkowski (Tech on Reg host and Partner at Actuate Law) join host Jason Henrichs. They dive deep into Dodd-Frank, discussing its successes and shortcomings as the most significant piece of regulatory overhaul of the last century. Consider this a master class on the topic!Does the GENIUS Act have similar potential? Don't miss these "Sweet Takes" on legislation!Listen now!
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks, join us as we explore how real-time data is helping lenders understand financial behaviors beyond traditional credit scores, as Plaid, the largest financial data network, and Experian, a leading data technology company join forces via their new partnership.Listen as Michelle Young, Credit Product Lead at Plaid and Ashley Knight, SVP of Product Management at Experian connect with host Brett King to discuss how this new partnership is providing proven risk insights and real-time cash flow data to banks, credit unions and consumer lenders, and the potential it brings for a major change in lending. Datos Insights' Stewart Watterson also joins to offer insights on two critical industry challenges that the availability of real-time cash flow data addresses: creating pathways to credit for underserved consumers, and for financial institutions, expanding the consumer lending addressable market while improving the ability to manage credit risk. It's a win-win!This episode is not to be missed! Lend smarter and get ahead of the curve to learn how cashflow and credit data can fuel business performance and competitive advantages now!
In This EpisodeJPMorgan Chase has fired the first shot, announcing their plan to charge fintechs what some are calling exorbitant fees for access to customer data. It has the potential to shake the foundations of the open banking movement in the U.S. At the same time, the Section 1033 rule itself is under assault in the courts, and the future of consumer-driven finance hangs in the balance.In this episode, host JP Nicols is joined by two power players with a front-row seat to the action: Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council, and Penny Lee, President and CEO of the Financial Technology Association. Together, they debate the billion-dollar question: Should banks control and charge for access to your data, or is true open banking the only way to foster competition and innovation?No topic is off-limits:Are “data toll roads” an overdue necessity, or just a new barrier to competition?Should financial data be as open and regulated as our power grid?Who wins and who loses among big banks, community banks, fintechs, consumers, and small business.If you care about the future of money, data, and consumer power, you can’t afford to miss this episode. Listen in for a spirited debate that could decide the next decade of financial innovation.
In This EpisodeIn June we lost a pillar of our community, Barb MacLean, a brilliant fintech mind and a beloved colleague. A guest turned co-host on Breaking Banks and an invaluable member of Alloy Labs. She was truly special, she never hesitated to pay it forward or to speak truth, albeit in the most polite Canadian way, whether on podcasts or the stages of Finovate.Every week she curated a list of the most impactful things she had read and paired them with a song, publishing the Fintech Playlist. It was an honor to be included. She exposed us to new writers and new songs. For her, music was more than a backdrop — it was a language, a way to connect, to feel, to make fintech more human.This week's episode is a rerun of a favorite episode featuring Barb, JP Nicols and Alex Johnson discussing the invisible heist of business customers as part of our 'Unbreak the Bank' series.We hope to honor her legacy the way she lived it: with meaning, creativity, and community.There's a GoFundMe initiative started by her sister to support her family: https://gofund.me/81a8d4c5And a Fintech Playlist T-shirt, with 100% of the proceeds going to Barb's family: https://www.bonfire.com/fintech-tribute-t-shirt-her-song-lives-on/Let's keep her song playing!
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks, we feature our sister podcast, Social Currency, powered by Sunrise Banks. Social Currency introduces us to some of the most innovative changemakers in finance, technology, and social impact—leaders who are dismantling barriers and reshaping their industries for a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future.Hosts Tyler Seydel, Chief Fintech Officer, and Eric Schurr, Chief Strategy Officer at Sunrise Banks, speak with those at the forefront of positive change through social entrepreneurship, unveiling the stories behind the revolution that’s propelling us toward a world where everyone has equitable access to opportunity.In this episode, Tyler and Eric connect with John Barbella, Founder and President of Neighborli—a network of financial institutions aligned to prevent and fight fraud in fintech. With over 30 years of experience in financial services, John shares insights on compliance, the evolving fraud landscape, and how banks and fintechs can collaborate to stay ahead. Tune in to learn how Neighborli is bridging the gap between financial institutions and fintechs to build a more secure and innovative digital banking future.Enjoy the episode, and check out other episodes of Social Currency at provoke.fm or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
In This EpisodeLive from the main stage at American Banker’s Digital Banking 2025, this high-energy episode of Breaking Banks brings the regulatory heat. Host Jason Henrichs is joined by Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes) and Dara Tarkowski (Actuate Law) for unfiltered, rapid-fire takes on the most urgent—and divisive—issues shaping digital finance regulation today.In a fintech twist on the classic ‘90s game FMK, the trio tackles which regulatory bodies to "love, leave, or reform"—from the CFPB and OCC to the NCUA and beyond. No topic is off-limits as they debate the shifting landscape around Section 1033, Open Banking implementation, UDAP enforcement, and the growing tensions between innovation and compliance.Plus: what do the STABLE Act, the GENIUS Act, and Stablecoin policy have in common? They all point to a regulatory future that’s as complex as it is critical to get right.This episode is not for the faint of heart, but essential listening for anyone working at the intersection of fintech, policy, and consumer protection.
This week we bring you more insights from Cape Town South Africa as we continue to explore some great startups on the African continent and beyond from Crossfin's Circle of Fintech event.In our first segment, Brett speaks with Karl Westvig, CEO of TymeBank South Africa. Since receiving its banking license in South Africa in 2019, TymeBank has grown to 80 million customers globally, focusing on financial inclusion through accessible and frictionless banking. The expanding neobank has plans for further growth in several Asian markets. Key motivations include the immense scale of the Asian markets: the Philippines with 120 million people and Indonesia with 280 million alongside South Africa's 60 million. These regions boast young, digitally savvy populations that are largely underserved. Tune in as Brett and Karl discuss new opportunities, TymeBank's innovative "phygital" distribution strategy, tech stacks, Agentic AI, new products, and moreThen, Brett sits down with Unitey Founder & CEO, Muzaffar "MK" Khokhar, for an engaging conversation about the payments ecosystem. Based in the UAE, Unitey's mission is to democratize financial services and level the playing field. MK is a veteran payments ecosystem player, creating and operating payment ecosystems for central banks and governments. With Unitey, he is focused on the serenity of the ecosystem. With our current system built back in the 60s / 70s, we now have better tech for more robust payment rails. Change is happening, efficiency is coming into the system, and interoperability with other rails coming up fast with RTP, mobile money, and more. Unitey specializes in demystifying the card payment rails but has clear roadmaps focused on creating interoperability with other rails, ensuring multiple rails can actually interoperate.Want fintech & banking insights every week? Subscribe to The Provoke.fm Briefing: https://mailchi.mp/91ca869a66ec/provoke-fm-newsletter Listen and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://provoke.fm/follow-provoke-fm/ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-SWmY7HswQ5hI9LiIHJd7Q Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10459295 Connect With Karl Westvig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-westvig/ Connect with Unitey: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitey-digital/ Connect with Brett King: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettking/
In This EpisodeThis week's episode of Breaking Banks brings you insights from Cape Town, South Africa, and the Circle of Fintech event hosted by Crossfin. Africa accounts for a remarkable 70% of mobile money accounts globally, and over the past decade, fintech and mobile money have brought 1.1 billion Sub-Saharan Africans into the formal financial services system..In the episode, Brett King is joined by Dean Sparrow and Anton Gaylard, Co-Founders of Crossfin to talk about next gen financial services infrastructure emerging from South Africa and extending across the planet. They explore the evolution of fintech across the African continent. the rapid adoption of mobile money, fueled by the limited legacy banking infrastructure and the widespread use of mobile technology. They then get into Crossfin's investment strategy with focus on supporting founder-led businesses in Africa, particularly those developing payment-oriented solutions, and showcasing the agility and innovation within the African fintech ecosystem.But first, Brett sits down with Barry Levett, CEO of Mypinpad, a fintech entrepreneur dedicated to creating secure and scalable infrastructure that transforms mobile devices into trusted platforms for commerce. As the founder of SmartPesa, Barry spearheaded the expansion of its payment and agency banking solutions across 11 countries. After a merger with Mypinpad in 2022, he assumed the role of CEO, bringing a unified strategic vision to the combined entity -- a vision emphasizing digital infrastructure that enhances freedom and efficiency, enabling individuals and businesses to transact more securely and simply on their own terms. A key focus is "Soft POS," a growing trend in finance that leverages the capabilities of ordinary mobile phones to accept payments, essentially turning a phone into a point of sale terminal.Stay tuned for this insightful episode!
In This EpisodeTraditional banks just pocketed $268 billion in profit—even with loan growth stuck in first gear—while global fintech funding barely limped past $10 billion, thanks to a single blockbuster round. This week, Theo Lau and Greg Palmer join hosts JP Nicols, Brett King, and Jason Henrichs to untangle those contradictions and ask who’s really carrying the baton in the race for the future of money.Brace yourself for a knife-fight over BaaS regulation, a land-rush toward instant payments, and an AI gold rush that could super-charge compliance… or automate you right out of a job (and maybe swipe your wallet on the way).Is a 3 % NIM so cushy that banks will never reinvent themselves?Are stablecoins the rails of autonomous finance—or just more crypto hype?Add in deep-fake demos, a no-holds-barred scorecard of today’s leaders, learners, and laggards, and stark predictions of where they’ll be tomorrow. Whether you’re sprinting on a 150-year-old balance sheet or a Series A term sheet, the finish line is the same: deliver smarter, safer money experiences—before someone else does.And whatever you do, try not to low-key suck.
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks host Brett King is joined by Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation. As Political Leader of the City of London Corporation, Chris acts as a principal spokesperson and advocate for London as a global financial and professional services capital. In the segment, Brett and Chris discussThe impact to date of the Trump presidency on the UK financial services sector.Wider US-UK relations and the City’s view of the prospect of a UK-US free trade deal especially in services and tech.How the UK is a global gateway for US companies to access capital and advice, andOngoing work with the UK Government to create an investment hub (a concierge service) to make it easier to channel foreign investment into the UK economy, and ongoing conversations on regulatory reformThen, sister podcast, Finovate host Greg Palmer interviews Nick Evens, President and CEO of Curql. Nick shares his journey from working within credit unions to leading Curql, a strategic investment fund focused on credit union innovation. Curql invests in startups and fosters an ecosystem where over 130 credit unions collaborate and share resources, often co-investing in companies that serve both banks and credit unions. Born from a need to support credit unions in staying competitive with big banks by pooling resources to invest in transformative financial technology, Curql bridges a gap between fintech and credit unions, helping credit unions gain access to tech solutions they otherwise couldn’t afford on their own. More on the topic at FinovateSpring.
In This EpisodeThis week's episode of Breaking Banks features host Brett King in a one-on-one discussion with Dave Birch, speaker, author and internationally recognized thought leader in digital identity and digital money. Listen as they explore the future of AI-based payments, money, and the concepts surrounding Agentic AI.Their conversation delves into key areas such as: KYA (Know-your-Agent, a counterpart to KYC - Know Your Customer) How we'll tell if specific agents have the authority to make payments* The utility problem of money in a highly autonomous worldThis episode is the future of money, identity and payments all wrapped into one, featuring two of the most future-thinking people in the finance space today.
In This EpisodeToday, we bring you a special episode of Breaking Banks, live from the Alloy Labs Annual Member Meeting —a three-day event focused on critical discussions and deep strategy sessions for today's bank executives. While we can't disclose what was said behind closed doors, we can share some of the critical (and fiery!) conversations and topics that executives need to be thinking about and discussing, some of which we asked and addressed in this special recording.Host Jason Henrichs brings the sauce and is joined by recognized industry voices and Hot Takes contributors Kia Haslett from Bank Director, Alex Johnson of Fintech Takes, and Chris Nichols, Director of Capital Markets at South State Bank and writer of South State’s Banker to Banker blog.Leave us a comment on LinkedIn about what you liked, and you may just find yourself the winner of one of the limited-edition Hot Takes hot sauces the panelists enjoyed! First come, first served on the sauce (while supplies last). Don’t delay—listen now and join the discussion.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr4Y_eTI_O8
In This EpisodeIt is 2014, and Breaking Banks host Jason Henrichs is having coffee with Nektarios Liolios, an early leader in financial services innovation. Jason is in London—the uncontested fintech capital of the world at the time—sitting in the shadow of the Tower of London, seeking advice during what feels like the wreckage of his life post-Perkstreet.Nektarios, today's guest, was on a journey of his own. He joined SWIFT, the global payments messaging service, in 2007 and held various roles, from working with funds to collaborating with startups. He had recently left to co-found Startup Boot Camp Fintech and Rainmaking Innovation, a corporate innovation studio. He stepped away from both five years later for a period of reflection—which you'll hear about—before co-founding another fintech venture, Radish Credit, which recently wound down. Along the way, he’s gathered an abundance of hard-earned wisdom.For those unfamiliar with Killing It, the name comes from a private joke between Jason and his Perkstreet co-founder. When asked how things were going, they would say, “We’re killing it,” then mutter under their breath, “like putting a knife in it.” Perkstreet, founded in 2008, was one of the first neobanks and one that crash-landed when an acquisition fell through. Listen in as Jason and Nektarios continue the candid conversation they began years ago.Breaking Banks’ Killing It series isn’t just about startup failures; it’s about transitions and changes in identity. It’s about founders who sell successfully, only to see their dream owned by someone else. It’s about entrepreneurs who step away or are forced to. Killing It is about the journey of reinvention. This episode is a masterclass in entrepreneurship from a seasoned fintech founder, ecosystem builder, and mental health advocate.
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks, Don Ginsel, host of our sister show Breaking Banks Europe, takes our mic and brings the conversation stateside. Don is joined by Nik Milanović, founder of This Week in Fintech, for a wide-ranging and energizing discussion of the latest forces shaping the fintech landscape.From the evolving role of traditional banks and increasing interest in stablecoins to the current state of fintech M&A, the rise of fraud, and the impact of AI on financial services, Don and Nik cover the topics on everyone's mind.Whether you're a founder, investor, or financial exec, this overview of the trends, risks, and opportunities is not to be missed.
In This EpisodeIn a rare and inspiring crossover episode, Breaking Banks teams up with Barefoot Innovation to bring you a special dispatch from Necker Island, BVI. Hosted by Brett King and Jo Ann Barefoot, this episode captures the energy and insight of a one-of-a-kind fintech gathering organized by Virgin Unite: an event bringing together innovators from around the world, from a cross section of industry, exploring what the future of finance could (and should) look like.Podcasts hosts and speakers Brett and Jo Ann share their talks and insights from this carbon neutral event, connecting with Dr. Nick Hughes, OBE, father of M-Pesa, co-founder of M-Kopa and now Managing Director 4rdigital.com, the fourth revolution is digital, to cover all things fintech. Listen as these leaders discuss applications of fintech in other markets and all that is possible if we come out of our silos and collaborate -- the combination of problem solving perspectives, resources, networks and more can make an impact on some of the world's toughest challenges. We have the tech to do what we need to do, the potential is enormous! If you're looking for inspiration and forward-thinking ideas this episode delivers!
In This EpisodeKilling It is back! Jason Henrichs' series on banking and fintech entrepreneurs returns with Cokie HasiotisIn this episode of Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs connects with Cokie, serial entrepreneur and exited founder of Twali and drippi. Cokie candidly shares her entrepreneurial journey, providing insights into the emotional challenges and tolls inherent in entrepreneurship, and the stress of pivoting business. She also reflects on how these experiences have shaped her, underscoring the significance of community, the importance of self-awareness and filtering advice from others. Tune in to hear more about identity as a founder, navigating loss, soft landings, and transitioning to new opportunities.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar6NpEoUw4Y
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks, it’s a powerhouse podcast mashup you won’t want to miss.What happens when two leading voices in fintech join forces? You get a fast-paced, insight-packed conversation on the future of finance, banking innovation, and emerging technologies—recorded live in Finland.Breaking Banks host Brett King teams up with Pål Krogdahl and Ville Sointu, hosts of the Nordics’ #1 fintech podcast Fintech Daydreaming, for a high-level exploration of where the industry is headed next.In this episode, they dive into some of the most important developments shaping the future of financial services, including: The rise of mobile money and how it's reshaping economies The role of digital identity in secure, seamless transactions The concept of Q-Day and its long-term implications for cybersecurity in banking Smart contracts and business process in an autonomous algorithmic marketplace Agentic AI, KYM (Know Your Machine) and AI in Financial Transactions, and A sneak peek at Brett’s upcoming book, Branch TomorrowThis wide-ranging conversation serves as both a primer and a deep dive into the innovations transforming fintech right now. Whether you're tracking the next big trend or trying to stay ahead of digital disruption, this episode delivers high-value insights from three thought leaders at the forefront of change.Listen now and get future-ready!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_SjmoJZlY4
In This EpisodeThere’s something happening beneath the surface of every pizza order, every childcare payment, and every invoice sent by businesses across America. A quiet revolution that most people— sometimes even business owners themselves— have barely noticed.Traditional banks are being methodically extracted from the daily financial lives of businesses, replaced by something more streamlined, more embedded, as banking becomes just another node in a business operating system.We dug into those threats last episode on “The Invisible Heist”. This week, Jorge Garcia, Founder and CEO of Linker Finance, and Samer Saab, SVP of Product for Alloy Labs, join host JP Nicols and co-host Barb MacLean as we look at some viable options for banks to foil the heist and create a competitive response.We’ll look at the surprising opportunities sitting right in front of us, and how banks are rewriting the playbook to land and expand commercial customers through digital banking.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX2D6ZE2DdM
In This EpisodeBanking executives, your business customers aren’t leaving you for another bank—they’re leaving banking altogether— at least partially. For now.As a part of our “Unbreak the Bank” series we dissect the most significant existential threat to community financial institutions since the 2008 crisis: the systematic extraction of business banking services into everyday business software.Community banks are hemorrhaging 12-18% of operational deposits annually to companies that don’t even consider themselves “banks”, and they’re moving upmarket.The competitive battlefield has shifted, and “relationship banking” is not enough to compete. Customers are integrating business solutions into their daily workflow, and banks risks being shut out altogether.Discover why the future isn’t about being the best business bank – it’s about being a relevant layer in the best business experience.Fintech Takes founder Alex Johnson and Velocita founder Barb MacLean join host JP Nicols to reveal how embedded lending is systematically dismantling banking relationships as Quickbooks, Square, Toast, and others integrate financial services directly into business workflows, and explore some options for how banks can respond. https://youtu.be/FV5wUyhng6c?si=KpsHDtG0V4rRXSWt
In This EpisodePowered by U.S. Bank and recorded live at Fintech Xchange hosted by the Stena Center for Financial Technology, this episode dives into the most pressing issues shaping financial services today.In our first segment, Jason Henrichs chats with Sima Ghandi, Sr Advisor FS Vector, Co-Founder of Coalition of Financial Ecosystem Standards (CFES) and Phil Goldfeder, CEO American Fintech Council (AFC). AFC, a standards-based organization representing large financial technology (Fintech) companies and innovative banks, promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system supporting innovation and access to responsible financial products. CFES is a new (2024) industry-led organization with the goal of developing standards that promote safety and soundness for non-banks participating in financial services. They cover:· The growing role of bank-fintech partnerships in innovation and growth, and expanding access to financial services.· The importance of clear risk management and compliance standards in maintaining operational and business viability in the fast-moving world of financial servicesThen, the conversation shifts to AI and fraud prevention as Jason speaks with John Sun, CEO of Spring Labs, and Simon Taylor, Head of Content & Strategy at Sardine. Sardine offers an AI risk platform for fraud, credit and compliance, and Spring Labs provides an AI-Native conversational intelligence platform that turns chatter into actionable insight. Together, they explore:· The future of financial services in a world increasingly reliant on automation and robots· The broader implications of AI and Generative AI in shaping the future of financial servicesFrom standards setting in banking and fintech to AI and fraud this episode delivers hot takes and expert insights on the opportunities, risks, and evolving landscape of financial technology.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBdMjPG1rvE
In This EpisodeThis week, we bring you Part III of exclusive insights from Fintech Xchange '25 at the Stena Center for Financial Technology and the University of Utah, powered by U.S. Bank. Host Jason Henrichs engages in a dynamic discussion with Jason Mikula of Fintech Business Weekly and Chris Black, CEO & President of Thread Bank. Their conversation spans topics from Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and regulatory shifts under the new administration to the dual-edged nature of innovation in today's financial landscape.Chris delves into Thread Bank's unique transformation as it evolved from the historic Civis Bank—established in 1906—into a fintech-enabled community bank. In 2021, new leadership recapitalized and revitalized the institution by adopting an industrial approach to BaaS and launching Thread. Thread's goal is to deliver the unparalleled value of a community bank to individuals and businesses, leveraging intuitive technology to meet customers where they are. Maintaining two local branches, Thread is delivering on its mission of embedded banking -- deposits, loans, and payments, and exemplifies the integration of traditional banking services with modern embedded banking solutions. By transcending geographical limitations and focusing on scalable, durable models, Thread collaborates with partners to manage risks and capitalize on the strengths of partnership banking.In the second segment, University of Utah alumnus Rhett Roberts, CEO & Co-founder of LoanPro, joins "the Jasons" to discuss the evolving fintech ecosystem and APIs. Are they coming of age? Naturally they talk about cores, and how banks are in the process of conscious decoupling to build resilient infrastructures in order to weather future disruptions.Rhett shares LoanPro's journey from inception to powering some of the biggest lenders in fintech. LoanPro offers a scalable, API-first lending and credit platform that fosters innovation by streamlining origination, servicing, collections, and payments across various loan types, lines of credit, and credit cards. This narrative underscores the transformative impact of fintech solutions in modernizing financial services.Listen and watch to explore these compelling stories!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RC9Gt9PodA
In This EpisodeIn this episode we continue the series powered by U.S. Bank and recorded at the University of Utah's Fintech Xchange. CAUTION: The episode is hot!Breaking Banks' Hot Takes host Jason Henrichs, regulars Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes) and Jason Mikula (Fintech Business Weekly) are joined by David Ness, U.S. Bank's SVP Innovation, R&D and Peter Renton, Fintech Nexus, Chairman & Co-Founder. The newcomers jump right in, going straight for Fintech on Fire (#11 on a scale of 1 - 10), and comfortably deliver hot takes from the hot seats, recapping major themes from the event, and making predictions as to what 2025 brings to our industry. Plenty of insights are shared and there's plenty for the risky spice-takers to tackle including BNPL (acronym for a popular industry term, of course, and also our new Burn Now Pay Later hot sauce). Two other clues as to what the group might have talked about....the RegTech Reaper and Stable Coin Scorch . Don't worry, there's plenty more where these came from!Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!It's a hot conversation, worth being in the room for...to catch the visuals check it out on YouTube (@provokefm and while you are there, hit subscribe)!
In This EpisodeThis week we introduce you to a series profiling the digital banks and founders that are changing the world of banking. Focused on first hand accounts from founders all over the globe, the series chronicles the NeoBanking movement from the early days though to today, documenting the players building a new category of digital banking, reshaping the digital movement. Throughout our series we look at foundation stories, challenges each had, and the regulatory approach each took -- a look at the pioneering history of the neo and challenger bank movement.In this episode, Breaking Banks host Brett King connects with bunq's Founder & CEO. Ali Niknam. bunq is based in The Netherlands, a small country doing big things. bunq, bank of The Free, offers mobile banking that makes life easy for every new chapter in one's life, and for the digital nomad in everyone.Born out of Ali's interest in creating products that people like to use, bunq began in 2012 and its mobile app came out in 2015, all with the aim to help the world forward and do banking a little differently. bunq has brought lasting change to the European banking industry. Having built a product rooted in customer needs and wants, bunq quickly scaled to become the second largest neobank in the EU. Serving digital nomads across the European Economic Area, bunq makes life easy for location-independent people and businesses starting from the way they manage money: how they spend, save, budget and invest.On a mission to build the first global neobank for digital nomads, bunq announced its bid to enter the US market (April 2023) by applying for a banking license.It's an intriguing story, not to be missed!https://youtu.be/xflfJpM60NI?si=oKMhKcL13Q_eJM9s
This week on Breaking Banks, we take you inside fintechXchange, hosted by the Stena Center for Financial Technology at the University of Utah. As a proud media partner of the event, we explore how industry, academia, and policymakers are coming together to drive the future of financial services.Host Jason Henrichs sits down with Meghan Kober, VP of Fintech Partnerships & Investments at U.S. Bank, Taylor Randall, President of the University of Utah, and Ryan Christiansen, Executive Director of the Stena Center for Financial Technology. Together, they discuss the power of ecosystem building, highlighting the incredible human capital fueling innovation: VCs, startups, and institutions of all sizes collaborating to shape the next wave of fintech growth and banking transformation.Then, it’s time for the first Hot Takes of 2025, recorded live from 'Silicon Slopes'! Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes) and Jason Mikula (Fintech Business Weekly) are back in the hot seats with Jason Henrichs to break down the latest fintech headlines with sharp insights and no-holds-barred opinions. They dive into:The latest in open banking, the CFPB and regulationThe fate of BaaS Island, Synapse, and Patriot Bank’s BSA & AML challengesWhat really is possible with bankruptcy proceedings and what does it mean for fintech’s futureThis episode is packed with insight, energy, and hard-hitting discussions you won’t want to miss!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ-bdJNLu60
In This EpisodeWe are excited to introduce you to Provoke.fm's newest podcast....a-spinoff-of-a-spinoff of Breaking Banks. Bankers Bookshelf brings cutting edge banking and fintech research to life, sharing the stories and strategies behind financial innovation, bridging the gap between technology and finance -- a perfect fit for the Breaking Banks family! Host Paolo Sironi, global research leader in banking and financial markets at IBM Institute for Business Value, is a trailblazer in fintech himself.In this episode, Paolo connects with Ronit Ghose who runs the Future of Finance team in Citi's thought leadership unit "Citi Global Insights", and is the author of Future Money: Fintech, AI and Web 3.The world of money is rapidly changing, but what does it all really mean? The duo discuss insights from the book with Ronit bringing technical topics to vivid life via narrative deep dives into selected founders and their companies. From London to Lagos, via Ahmedabad, Dubai, Hong Kong, Karachi and more, this episode pulls together the story of how money is changing in the internet era.Subscribe to Bankers Bookshelf https://provoke.fm/show/the-bankers-bookshelf/ or listen via your preferred podcast platform now!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp1E9Fs3rco
In This EpisodeGetting digital right can be challenging for anyone --small banks, big banks, incumbents, challengers, you name it.In this episode, Brett King meets up with Akbank's Consumer Banking & Digital Solutions, EVP, Burcu Civelek Yuce to talk about Akbank and Akbank LAB, Akbank's Innovation Lab. The discussion focuses on the incumbent bank 's digital engagement and excellence in collaborating and partnering with fintechs and big tech.Turkey is the 18th largest country in the world in terms of population size, with Akbank one of the largest banks (77 years young) in Turkey. Akbank has nimbly undergone a smoothe digital transformation with the majority of its customers now coming through digital channels -- be it new customer acquisition, servicing or sales.Akbank LAB is the innovation center that coordinates Akbank’s pioneering fintech developments. Here, they study best working models and implement solutions to make the lives of Akbank's customers easier. Fintech partnership and collaboration are key components of Akbank LAB's success, with partners working hard to create value for their customers.Akbank is embracing AI with Banking IQ, hyper personalized information on customers, and is actively reskilling employees to lead the way forward.Listen to this engaging conversation to learn best practices relevant for all banks and financial institutions.For further information: akbanklab.com or akbanklab@akbanklab.comRead the entire transcript here. Related Content: Chapter 1: Introduction – The Evolution of Incumbent Banks (00:00)An introduction to the discussion on digital transformation in traditional banks. The host shares insights from a recent visit to Istanbul and the rapid changes observed in the Turkish banking sector.Chapter 2: Akbank’s Digital Transformation and Growth (05:15)EVP Bircu Sivilek shares key data on how Akbank has embraced digitalization, with significant growth in digital customer acquisition and engagement. The discussion covers the bank’s transformation into a digitally-led institution.Chapter 3: Fintech Collaboration and Open Innovation (12:40)How Akbank fosters partnerships with fintechs and big techs through Akbank Lab. The conversation explores how the bank accelerates innovation through strategic collaborations.Chapter 4: AI-Driven Personalization in Banking (19:20)A discussion on the role of artificial intelligence in banking, including how Akbank uses AI for hyper-personalized financial insights, enhancing the customer experience.Chapter 5: Supporting SMEs with Fintech Innovations (26:30)An exploration of how Akbank integrates fintech solutions to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) manage their financial operations, including a successful partnership with a Spanish fintech.Chapter 6: The Agile Approach to Product Development (32:45)Comparing Akbank’s development process to digital-first banks like Nubank and Revolut. Insights into how Akbank has reduced time-to-market for new banking products.Chapter 7: Modernizing Banking Infrastructure for Agility (39:10)A deep dive into how Akbank rebuilt its technology stack from the ground up to support seamless fintech integrations and AI-powered banking services.Chapter 8: The Future of Banking – AI, Generative Tech, and Digital Strategy (45:50)How Akbank is positioning itself as a leader in AI-driven banking, with a focus on generative AI, customer experience, and further digital transformation in the next three to five years.Chapter 9: The Transformation of Branch Banking (52:30)How Akbank’s digital push has reshaped the role of physical branches, transitioning to a cash-light model with a stronger focus on customer advisory services.Chapter 10: The Global Perspective and Final Thoughts (58:10)Final reflections on Akbank’s innovation journey and how fintech partnerships will continue to shape the bank’s future.
In This EpisodeWhat’s the key to financial security today? As technology and a shifting economy reshape how we save, spend, borrow, and plan for the future, mastering the art of money management is critical for achieving financial health. Listen as Jennifer Tescher, host of sister podcast Emerge Everywhere and Founder of the Financial Health Network, speaks with Suze Orman – personal finance expert, author, Emmy Award winner, and Co-Founder of workplace emergency savings platform SecureSave – about the critical role of savings and an important step companies can take to support employees’ financial success today.Dedicated to improving financial health for all, especially the most vulnerable among us, Emerge Everywhere tackles the complex issues intersecting the financial well-being of people across America while exploring how to build an inclusive economy.Listen now! Read the entire transcript here. Podcast Content: Chapter 1: Introduction and the Changing Landscape of Personal Finance (00:00)A reflection on how financial habits have evolved over the past two decades, with a focus on new tools, technology, and the challenges people face today.Chapter 2: The Disconnect Between the Economy and Everyday Americans (05:20)Suze Orman discusses the stark difference between national economic indicators and individual financial realities, emphasizing that many Americans are still struggling despite a strong stock market.Chapter 3: Lessons from the 2008 Financial Crisis and Beyond (12:10)A look back at how financial behaviors changed after the Great Recession, the long-term effects of financial fear, and how past economic crises still impact people’s financial decisions today.Chapter 4: The COVID-19 Effect: A False Sense of Security? (18:45)Examining how government stimulus during the pandemic created short-term financial stability, only for many people to fall into debt when support was removed.Chapter 5: Financial Behavior vs. Systemic Barriers (24:30)The debate between personal financial responsibility and the role of systemic challenges, including inflation, job access, and government policies in shaping financial well-being.Chapter 6: Educating the Next Generation on Money (31:15)Suze Orman raises concerns about how young people are learning about personal finance, questioning whether influencers and social media platforms are reliable sources of financial education.Chapter 7: The Importance of Emergency Savings (38:40)A deep dive into SecureSave, Suze Orman’s initiative to help employees build emergency savings, and why she believes savings—not investing—should be the foundation of financial security.Chapter 8: The Role of AI in Personal Finance (46:20)Suze speculates on the future of AI-powered financial advisors, discussing both the potential benefits and risks of AI replacing human financial guidance.Chapter 9: The Changing Face of Retirement and Aging (52:10)A discussion on financial security for aging populations, including how women often outlive their partners and the financial struggles they face later in life.Chapter 10: Closing Thoughts – Financial Security for All (58:30)Suze Orman shares her final thoughts on how individuals and businesses can take action to improve financial stability, and the need for a more holistic approach to financial education.Related Content: Episode 127 - Unconventional Saving ProductsWill Financial Advisers Be Replaced By Crowd, How Does Tech Change GenYs Plan Investment & Saving?Moving From Personal Financial Management To Personal Financial PerformanceA Penny Saved, in A Bank, Is A Penny Earned?Digital Identity- FinTech keeping ahead of fraud
In This Episode2024 is a wrap! Listen as industry leaders and fintech influencers share insights on the year that was before turning the lens forward to 2025. What will be hot in this new year?Back by popular demand, Breaking Banks hosts Brett King and JP Nicols assemble banking industry leaders and fintech influencers to get their takes and predictions on what 2025 has in store for the banking industry.Joining the discussion are Jim Marous (The Financial Brand, Banking Transformed), Ron Shevlin (Chief Research Officer, Cornerstone Advisors and Forbes Contributor), and Mary Wisniewski (Cornerstone Advisors, Money Isn’t Everything). Together, they explore critical topics shaping the industry, from fraud, risk, and efficiency to cutting-edge innovations like Agentic AI and LLMs, as well as developments in open banking, 1033, and the CFPB.And what about the lingering impact of the Synapse story from 2024? Will 2025 bring a reckoning, or are brighter days ahead for the industry? Tune in for a lively and engaging conversation packed with expert insights and bold predictions.Happy New Year from the team at Breaking BanksRead the entire transcript here. Podcast Content:Chapter 1: A Look Back at 2024 (00:00)The discussion opens with reflections on the major events of 2024, from economic shifts to major fintech and banking milestones. The panelists explore how the industry evolved and what lessons were learned.Chapter 2: The Fintech Reckoning and Market Optimism (07:20)The fallout from the Synapse failure and regulatory challenges dominated 2024. The discussion highlights how fintechs have adapted, and why, despite hurdles, optimism is growing for 2025.Chapter 3: The Rise of AI in Banking (15:45)AI took center stage in 2024, from fraud detection to customer service enhancements. The conversation explores how AI’s role in banking is expanding and what that means for both traditional banks and fintechs.Chapter 4: The Global Perspective on Fintech Innovation (25:10)While much of the conversation is U.S.-focused, the panel examines key developments worldwide, including digital banking growth in Latin America, China, and Africa.Chapter 5: The Future of Open Banking and Regulation (32:40)With Section 1033 and the CFPB's evolving stance, the discussion turns to the state of open banking and data ownership. What are the regulatory barriers, and how will they impact fintech innovation?Chapter 6: Agentic AI and Banking’s Next Transformation (41:00)The emergence of AI-driven financial agents is set to reshape personal finance. The panel debates how AI could soon manage customer financial lives better than traditional advisors.Chapter 7: The Fintech IPO Landscape and Market Predictions (50:30)With Klarna and Chime considering IPOs, the panel speculates on the first big fintech public offering of 2025. They also discuss when the first AI fintech unicorn might emerge.Chapter 8: The Future of Financial Services in a Digital-First World (58:10)The conversation wraps up with a bold look at how fintech, AI, and regulatory shifts will shape the financial industry. Will 2025 truly be a stellar year for banking?Related Content: Episode 529: Is 2024 the Year That BaaS Goes Boom?Episode 561: Demystifying Fintech: Insights on Banking's FutureEpisode 545: Buzzword BingoEpisode 560: Killing It: Ohad Samet on Reimagining Debt CollectionBank-Fintech Partnerships, Open Banking and AI...oh my!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yahPylU7TCw
In This EpisodeRegular listeners of Breaking Banks are likely familiar with the Killing It series, hosted by Jason Henrichs and Alex Johnson, where they explore candid stories of success, failure, and the pivotal and sometimes tough decisions that drive the journey from VCs to unicorns in the high stakes world of entrepreneurship. (If you’re not, check it out!)
In this episode, Brett King shifts gears with a “Starting It” theme, sitting down with industry veteran Anthony Thomson —an entrepreneur, marketer, speaker, author, and founder of Metro Bank, Atom, and 86 400. Metro Bank challenged traditional banking in the UK, while Atom and 86 400 brought innovation as neo-banks in different markets, with 86 400 later acquired by NAB (National Australia Bank) and then merged into UBank.
Join this enlightening discussion as Brett and Anthony dive into the unique missions and lessons behind each of these groundbreaking ventures. And who knows? You might even get a sneak peek at the next big breakthrough in the industry!
Read the entire transcript here.
Podcast Content: Chapter 1: (00:00) – Introduction and Setting the SceneBrett King and Jason Henricks open the episode, reflecting on their history of exploring financial disruption. Special guest Anthony Thompson joins from Abu Dhabi, sharing memories of past debates on the future of banking.
Chapter 2: (03:45) – The Genesis of Metro BankAnthony recounts his journey from marketing in financial services to founding Metro Bank. The discussion highlights how Metro Bank disrupted traditional banking by focusing on customer-centric value and trust.
Chapter 3: (12:30) – Cognitive vs. Associative Trust in BankingThe hosts and guest delve into the dual dimensions of trust: competence versus intent. Anthony explains how Metro Bank leveraged customer-centric policies, like dog-friendly branches, to foster associative trust.
Chapter 4: (20:15) – The Shift to Digital BankingAnthony reflects on the rise of digital banking, including his transition to founding Atom Bank. The conversation examines how mobile banking became the cornerstone of modern financial services.
Chapter 5: (28:50) – Building Atom BankThe discussion explores Atom Bank’s founding principles, focusing on delivering a superior mobile experience and balancing liabilities with assets. Anthony contrasts Atom’s approach with competitors like Monzo and Starling.
Chapter 6: (40:00) – Lessons Learned and 86 400Anthony describes his move to Australia to establish 86 400. He shares how lessons from Atom influenced his strategy, particularly the importance of engagement and transaction accounts.
Chapter 7: (51:30) – Challenges in Traditional Banking TransformationThe conversation shifts to why traditional banks struggle with digital transformation. Anthony and Brett critique cultural and regulatory hurdles faced by legacy institutions.
Chapter 8: (58:10) – The Role of Regulators in a Digital WorldAnthony discusses how regulators worldwide are adapting to digital banking innovations, emphasizing the importance of competition and better consumer outcomes.
Chapter 9: (1:06:20) – Reflections and Future of BankingAnthony shares his hopes for the future of banking, emphasizing customer-centricity as the industry’s ultimate goal. Brett and Anthony speculate on the next breakthrough, pointing to adjacencies and AI in banking.
Chapter 10: (1:12:50) – Closing Thoughts and TakeawaysThe hosts summarize the key themes of the episode, including trust, customer value, and the evolution of banking. They close with a call to action for listeners to engage with the podcast and its community.
Related Content: * Big And Small Preparing For Shifting Generational Expectations * Episode 17: You can bank on it: trust and winning customers from incumbent banks * Episode 550: Cease and Desist * Build The Necessary And Useful … And Remember Trust Is The New Black * Episode 459: Building Trust & Expanding Reach
This week, host Brett King sits down with Colin Walsh, Founder and CEO of Varo Bank, to explore the journey of building the first all-digital, FDIC-insured de novo bank in U.S. history. Designed to improve financial health and serve a diverse range of customers—from those with financial abundance to those facing economic hardship—Varo Bank is on a mission to create a banking experience that truly works for everyone.
With the unique distinction of being the first consumer fintech to be granted a bank charter in US history, Varo is redefining banking with innovative products tailored to modern consumers’ needs. From managing fraud and credit risk to building trust and leveraging a cutting-edge tech stack, they delve into the strategies that power Varo’s ability to stay agile and customer-focused. Whether it’s delivering accessible savings and lending solutions or tackling the challenges of financial inclusion, Varo Bank’s story is one of innovation and impact.
Tune in for a wide-ranging discussion on how Varo is using digital banking to create financial inclusion by addressing the real financial challenges that Americans face every day.
Read the entire transcript here.
Podcast Content: Chapter 1: (00:00) – Introduction and Varo Bank’s Unique PathBrett King introduces the episode and welcomes Colin Walsh, founder and CEO of Varo Bank, to discuss their journey as the first pure-play digital bank with a de novo charter.
Chapter 2: (04:15) – Navigating Industry ChallengesColin reflects on the pandemic’s impact, funding market changes, and navigating regulatory challenges while focusing on profitability and customer-centric innovation.
Chapter 3: (10:45) – The De Novo AdvantageA discussion on Varo’s strategic decision to pursue a de novo national bank charter, contrasting it with fintech sponsorship models and highlighting its benefits.
Chapter 4: (16:30) – Building a Competitive Tech StackColin details Varo’s proprietary technology investments, including AI, machine learning, and the migration to React Native, ensuring agility and innovation in product offerings.
Chapter 5: (24:50) – Lending Innovation and Financial InclusionVaro’s approach to cash-flow-based lending and leveraging technology to responsibly serve non-prime, paycheck-to-paycheck consumers is explored in depth.
Chapter 6: (32:10) – Tackling Fraud with TechnologyThe team discusses how Varo combats sophisticated fraud through advanced tech and the advantages of being a technology-first bank in risk management.
Chapter 7: (37:40) – Scaling with DisciplineA look at Varo’s approach to disciplined customer acquisition, organic growth, and creating high lifetime value customers through deep engagement.
Chapter 8: (44:00) – The Future of Financial InclusionColin explains Varo’s mission to become a financial operating system for underserved Americans and discusses innovations like embedded financial tools.
Chapter 9: (50:30) – IPO Plans and Market ConsolidationThe conversation shifts to Varo’s long-term goals, including profitability milestones, potential IPO timelines, and strategic opportunities in a consolidating market.
Chapter 10: (58:15) – Looking AheadColin previews upcoming initiatives, including a new app launch and partnerships, and emphasizes Varo’s role in addressing financial stress for customers.
Related Content: * Special Episode: Navigating the Crisis * Episode 553: The Secret of NIM * Episode 560: Killing It: Ohad Samet on Reimagining Debt Collection * Huawei Does Gen-Fi * A Digital Banking Revolution in SEA: GXBank and Mastercard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lIqYB3d4IY
In This EpisodeSoutheast Asia’s fintech revolution is here, and GXBank is leading the charge. From its roots as a ride-hailing service to becoming Malaysia’s first digital bank, GXBank is transforming how Malaysians access and manage their money.
This week on Breaking Banks, host Brett King sat down with GXBank’s Chief Commercial Officer, Kaushik Chowdhury, and Mastercard’s Senior Vice President & Country Manager for Malaysia and Brunei, Beena Pothen. They discuss the incredible journey of GXBank, the partnership with Mastercard, and how the bank is reshaping financial inclusion in Southeast Asia.
GXBank, a subsidiary of GXS Bank Pte. Ltd. (a joint venture between Grab and Singtel), officially launched operations September 1, 2023, introducing its app two months later. In a year, the bank has amassed over 750,000 customers, offering innovative and personalized solutions to support financial resilience and inclusion. Learn how GXBank is making banking accessible to all Malaysians while setting a new standard for digital banking in the region.
Discover how Mastercard’s cutting-edge technologies and deep fintech expertise are empowering GXBank to deliver smarter, more inclusive financial solutions. As fintechs look to build, launch, and grow their business, Mastercard is helping to drive smarter decisions for better outcomes through strong partnerships across the payments ecosystem.
Resources:
Learn more about GXBank: gxbank.my
Explore how Mastercard supports fintech innovation: Mastercard Fintech Services
Read the entire transcript here.
Podcast Content:Chapter 1: 00:00 – Welcome and IntroductionBrett King introduces the episode, focusing on digital banking trends in Southeast Asia with GXBank and Mastercard as key players.
Chapter 2: 03:30 – GXBank: Building a Digital Bank from ScratchKaushik Chowdhury discusses GXBank’s journey, from user research to creating a mobile-first digital bank in Malaysia.
Chapter 3: 10:15 – The Evolution of Banking in Southeast AsiaBina Pothan highlights the rapid adoption of digital banking in Southeast Asia, driven by smartphones, internet access, and changing consumer expectations.
Chapter 4: 18:00 – Financial Inclusion through Digital InnovationExploring how GXBank and Mastercard aim to serve underserved and financially vulnerable populations across Malaysia and the region.
Chapter 5: 26:30 – Leveraging Partnerships for SuccessInsights into GXBank’s partnership with Mastercard, enabling rapid launches and delivering impactful financial products to consumers.
Chapter 6: 34:45 – Payments Innovation and Embedded FinanceExamining GXBank’s focus on payment solutions, including QR systems, debit cards, and embedded banking experiences with Grab.
Chapter 7: 42:00 – Overcoming Challenges in Digital BankingKaushik discusses the challenges of building a digital bank, including hiring, partnerships, and balancing innovation with trust and security.
Chapter 8: 50:15 – Future Plans and Scaling AmbitionsGXBank outlines its roadmap, aiming for profitability and becoming a top bank in Malaysia by leveraging its ecosystem and customer-centric strategies.
Chapter 9: 57:30 – Key Takeaways and Final ReflectionsBina and Kaushik emphasize trust, utility, and collaboration as essential elements for succeeding in the digital banking revolution.
Related Content: * Fintech Visionaries and Revolutionaries & What’s Up With Bitcoin? * Bank-Fintech Partnerships, Open Banking and AI…oh my! * Huawei Does Gen-Fi * Shopify Finance: Fueling Merchant and Small Business Growth * Episode 558: Fintech Visionaries Reimagining the Future of Finance: Start Path
Recorded end of September
In This EpisodeGood leaders drive day-to-day results. Great leaders share visionary ideas and then inspire organizations and stakeholders to find a way to get there. In today’s second segment, Jennifer Tescher, host of sister podcast Emerge Everywhere, introduces this year’s Financial Health Visionary Award honoree, Brian Moynihan, Chair and CEO of Bank of America. The Visionary Award recognizes those who have shown unparalleled leadership in building a more inclusive financial system and empowering the next generation of leaders to innovate solutions that improve financial health for all. Listen to hear about Brian’s commitment to financial health and the upcoming headwinds and tailwinds impacting customers’ financial health.
But first, bestselling author Michael J Casey, the chairman of DAIS (Decentralized AI Society), senior advisor on MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency initiative, and previous Chair of Consensus at CoinDesk, joins Brett to talk about the reality of decentralized and open source AI. The intersection of DeFi and DeAI appears to be a logical path if not for the hundreds of billions being invested in big tech efforts to create AGI. Is it possible to really make AI less centralized and still deliver the promise of a highly automated world? You’ll need to tune in to find out!
Read the entire transcript here.
Podcast Content: Chapter 1: 00:00 – Welcome and IntroductionBrett King introduces Michael J. Casey, discussing his transition from Coindesk to leading decentralized AI initiatives at DAIS.
Chapter 2: 03:45 – The Concept of Decentralized AIMichael explains the importance of decentralizing AI to avoid monopolies and to democratize access to AI-driven innovations.
Chapter 3: 12:30 – Challenges and Innovations in Decentralized AIExploring technical and economic challenges in implementing decentralized AI, including blockchain integration and distributed computing.
Chapter 4: 22:00 – Data Ownership and Privacy in Decentralized SystemsThe shift from data privacy to data ownership, with blockchain providing traceability and ensuring compliance in AI applications.
Chapter 5: 30:15 – Financial Inclusion through Decentralized AIHow decentralized AI can drive financial inclusion, especially for underbanked communities, by creating fairer access to financial tools.
Chapter 6: 38:45 – Open Health Data and Decentralized ModelsA comparison between open banking and the potential for open health data, emphasizing secure, decentralized systems for sensitive data.
Chapter 7: 46:15 – The Future of Decentralized AI in Financial SystemsMichael and Brett discuss the long-term potential of decentralized AI to reshape financial services, creating smarter and more inclusive systems.
Chapter 8: 54:00 – Reflections on Michael’s Book: “Our Biggest Fight”Insights from Michael’s book on reclaiming digital autonomy, setting the stage for the critical role of decentralized AI.
Related Content: * Huawei Does Gen-Fi * Bank-Fintech Partnerships, Open Banking and AI…oh my! * Shopify Finance: Fueling Merchant and Small Business Growth * Fintech Visionaries and Revolutionaries & What’s Up With Bitcoin? * AI is coming to help!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QSByxCEUbA
This week on Breaking Banks, host Brett King takes us to Shanghai for a riveting discussion with Jason Cao, CEO of Huawei’s Global Financial Services competency. In this eye-opening episode, they uncover how China is shaping the future with AI—not as a mere tool for profit, but as core infrastructure driving the world’s fastest-growing economy.
Discover why GenFi LLMs (Generational Financial Language Models) don’t exist yet—and what’s holding AI like ChatGPT back from transforming banking as we know it. Explore how China’s unique approach to technology infrastructure is setting them apart from the rest, helping them to create a Smart Economy of the Future.
Tune in for a conversation that could redefine the future of global finance and AI!
Read the entire transcript here.
Podcast Content: Chapter 1: 00:00 – Welcome and IntroductionBrett King and Jason Henricks introduce the episode, recorded in Shanghai, featuring Huawei’s Jason Tsao discussing fintech innovations.
Chapter 2: 03:30 – Global Fintech Highlights: NewBank and BeyondExploring global fintech trends, including NewBank’s growth and the technological strides of digital-first banks like WeBank.
Chapter 3: 10:45 – Huawei’s Vision for Smarter FinanceJason Tsao shares insights into Huawei’s initiatives in digital finance, AI integration, and the transformation of customer experience in banking.
Chapter 4: 20:00 – Resilience in Financial InfrastructureA discussion on the critical need for resilience in banking systems, addressing latency, zero downtime, and advanced fraud prevention technologies.
Chapter 5: 30:15 – AI-Driven Banking and Generative FinanceExploring how Huawei collaborates with banks to leverage generative AI for efficiency, value creation, and customer-centric innovations.
Chapter 6: 40:00 – Digital Infrastructure in China: A Global ExampleHighlighting China’s advancements in digital payments, infrastructure, and regulatory approaches that drive a highly digital economy.
Chapter 7: 50:30 – Cloud Strategies for Financial InstitutionsExamining the rise of hybrid cloud strategies and the pivotal role of cloud computing in transforming banking operations.
Chapter 8: 59:00 – The Future of Autonomous FinanceHow AI and automation are shaping the next generation of financial services, inspired by China’s digital transformation.
Chapter 9: 65:00 – Invitation to Explore the Future in ChinaJason Tsao extends an invitation to global audiences to witness the rapid technological advancements in Shenzhen and across China.
Related Content: * Bank-Fintech Partnerships, Open Banking and AI…oh my! * Shopify Finance: Fueling Merchant and Small Business Growth * Fintech Visionaries and Revolutionaries & What’s Up With Bitcoin? * Episode 189: Disruption Stories: Generative AI for Investments * Episode 405: Driving Change Through Talent and Infrastructure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCqmVDiKms4
In This EpisodeStrong partnerships and value creation can make even solid companies better!
Serving over 80% of the top digital payment and neobank fintechs on the CNBC Global Fintech list, Mastercard takes a collaborative approach to innovation. By viewing fintechs as true partners—and bringing data insights, market expertise, and solutions to the table—Mastercard helps fintechs scale by unlocking new opportunities and driving smarter decisions for better outcomes.
In today’s episode, Brett King connects with Jenique McNaught, Mastercard’s Senior Principal, Advisors & Consulting Services, UK & Ireland, and Revolut’s Fiona Davies – Head of Growth UK, Ireland & Nordics. Together, they discuss important market dynamics and the trends they see in the regions they cover.
One big takeaway is how customers want to have a meaningful relationship with their financial services provider. Trust is more than just a cool factor, it is earned through a solid track record of picking the right partner and interacting with customers in their preferred manner. Everywhere, customers are embracing innovative fintech solutions that embrace convenience and meet their changing needs, with many consumers multi-banked.
The trio then dive into Mastercard and Revolut’s exciting partnership and spotlight Revolut’s incredible growth story.
Marking a major milestone — 50M customers in less than 10 years—Revolut is celebrating and sharing its success with “Revolutionaries,” a one-of-a-kind two-day experiential event for Revolut customers, highlighting revolutionary figures who have challenged norms and pushed boundaries.
Then, the latest on bitcoin…Bitcoin has seen a 42% increase in price in just the past month, lots of crypto is up. Listen as Brett King and Henri Arslanian, author, industry expert and speaker, share thoughts on the election impact on #bitcoin and #crypto markets.
Hear about this and more in this engaging and dynamic episode.
In This EpisodeWe kick off with a crossover segment featuring Fintech Takes host and fintech insider Alex Johnson, who joins Jason to break down major themes from Money20/20 2024. Together, they explore the hot topics shaping fintech right now: bank-fintech partnerships, Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), open banking (1033), and the evolving role of AI.
Alex shares highlights from his on-stage interview with CFPB Director Rohit Chopra, where they discussed the finalized 1033 rule, the ongoing legal pushback from big banks, third-party risk management, and new BaaS standards aimed at creating more balanced partnerships. The duo also dives into the rapid-fire world of AI. Is it all just hype, or are we approaching real innovation? With regulation on the rise, there’s a lot for the industry to figure out—standards, safeguards, and perhaps even a looming digital divide.
Finally, Jason wraps things up with a lively chat with Mary Wisniewski, Editor-at-Large for Cornerstone Advisors. They discuss financial therapy, Mary’s perspective on the latest 1033 updates, and even squeeze in a bit of Texas Hill Country fun. Hit play and join us for a packed episode!
https://youtu.be/ZPQWCMOHOWI
In This EpisodeHow can merchants take control of their finances and fuel growth directly through their commerce platform? This week, Shopify unveils Shopify Finance, a powerful new hub that unifies financial tools for merchants directly within the Shopify admin and mobile app. In this episode of Breaking Banks, Brett King sits down with Vikram Anreddy, Head of Product, Financial Services for Shopify, to break down how Shopify Finance empowers merchants to manage their business, cash flow, and make strategic decisions on-the-go.
From Shopify Capital, offering flexible growth loans for merchants and lower costs for faster repayment, to Shopify Balance and Bill Pay for better cash management, Shopify Finance brings a comprehensive suite of tools to merchants. With Shopify Credit—a Visa card with 3% cashback on business purchases—and Shopify Tax for simplified tax compliance, this hub offers a complete view of financial health anytime, anywhere.
Good things in store!
Define your career in fintech with a Masters of Science in Fintech, NYU Stern
To learn more stern.nyu.edu/MSFT-BreakingBanks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap3B6S1m0Gs
In This EpisodeThis week, we’re shining a spotlight on our sister podcast, Breaking Banks Europe, as they celebrate their 250th episode! Host Matteo Rizzi marks the milestone by reflecting on five incredible years and 500 unique guests. He’s joined by six of the show’s hosts for an engaging conversation on what fintech means to them, each summing up the past 15 years with a single word.
From culture (which shapes fintech’s future) to strategy (the key to success), and foresight (looking ahead at how fintech is evolving), these hosts dive deep into the industry. They also explore the possibilities found in challenges, the rollercoaster ride that is fintech, inclusion in emerging markets, and the crucial role of talent and upskilling.
Join us as we celebrate the show’s favorite moments and raise a toast to five more years of exploring what fintech means. Don’t miss out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfu10WzZsx4
In This EpisodeThis week cohosts Brett King and Jason Henrichs have a far reaching conversation, tapping into guest expertise on all things open banking and digital finance. John Pitts, Global Head of Policy at Plaid, Christy Sunquist, Head of Open Finance at Plaid, and Cameron Taylor, Chief Product Officer at Ninth Wave join Jason and Brett as they dive into topics from international open banking and the standards that we can expect out of open banking in the U.S., to how Plaid and Ninth Wave are partnering to assist financial institutions ahead of the rulemaking here in the States.
Plaid recently announced their Gateway Partner Program, which gives financial institutions a way to streamline their integrations ahead of open banking requirements, to make it easier for financial institutions to choose an approach that works for their unique needs as they enable open banking. Ninth Wave is Plaid’s inaugural partner for the Gateway Program, and will support financial institutions who want to simplify their API integrations while ensuring their customers have access to the thousands of apps and services in the Plaid network. Together, Plaid and Ninth Wave are solving open banking requirements for financial institutions who may be at varying stages of preparedness.
Hear about this and much more on this episode of Breaking Banks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CstYX_XLZn0
In This EpisodeThe Fed just cut rates. The 50-basis point cut was welcome news for many financial institutions, but the pressures the industry faces are not going away. In fact, rate cuts may mask the underlying changes going on. In our first segment, Jason Henrichs connects with Lake Michigan Credit Union’s EVP, Chief Lending and Experience Officer, Eric Burgoon and James White, General Manager, Banking at Total Expert talk about the future of banking. Customers are always in search of highest yield and the best terms. It’s easier than ever to move money and customers have options. Institutions need to be reliable, relatable and credible. To do that institutions need an overarching organizational strategy and data to drive personalized products.
Where can you find everyone from the collective world of money? Vegas of course, October 27-30! To provide insight into Money 20/20 2024 and this year’s money and fintech story, Chief Strategy Officer Scarlett Sieber and Zach Anderson Pettet, VP of Global Fintech Strategy, connect with Brett King to talk about the conference and the dynamics as they see it shaping financial services. Keynotes from industry experts and rising stars lead the agenda with sessions on open banking, AI, borderless payments, embedded finance, fraud, policy & regulation and of course, they’ve built in lots of fun…no spoiler alerts here! If you are headed to Vegas, join us for the Fintech Luminaires reception. You can apply for an invitation with this link: https://lu.ma/p0zcx7ki See you in Vegas!!
https://youtu.be/3lIHDhzVfnU
In This EpisodeAI is simultaneously taking over the world and disappointing in it’s ability to take over the world depending on the publication you read. No doubt we are in the first innings. Today Derek Higginbotham, CEO of First Electronic Bank, Matt Bochenek CEO of Avant and John Sun, CEO of Spring Labs, and Jason Henrichs talk about why everyone needs to be getting up to bat with AI, no matter the size of institution you work for.
Spring Labs AI Native Banking and Fintech conference is next week and has a powerhouse lineup. Register at conferences.springlabs.com and use code SpringLabsXBreakingBanks for a discount.
In This EpisodeGlobetrotter and Host Brett King shares banking news and investment conversations from around the world
We start today’s podcast on banking with Brett’s one on one discussion on tech in Thailand with Dr. Supachai Kid Parchariyanon. Dr. Kid is CEO and Co-Founder of consulting company Rise, and managing partner for SeaX Ventures, a Thai venture capital firm with presence in Silicon Valley. Rise’s company goal is to drive 1% of the GDP in Thailand as well as reduce 1% of carbon emissions in all of Southeast Asia. Earlier in his career, Dr. Kid was a key figure responsible for bringing the social media app Twitter (now known as X) to Thailand, it was a technical challenge, and one that had legal barriers as well. Later, he and his team were also able to code software for the Nokia phone, creating in his words a “Robin Hood-like app” for Thailand. He speaks to us today about the Thai tech scene, what’s happening in fintech and the VC world, and specifically what’s helping drive the Thai economy — from fintech to health tourism to the Thai lifestyle movement and digital nomad visas, the conversation is wide-ranging as this small country slowly recovers from covid and faces demographic headwinds. With an aging society they are looking to attract new talent and people to the country, collaborate not compete and expand investment in deep tech, AI, agritech, medical, and tourism tech.
Then, from the 24 Fintech Conference in Saudi Arabia, Brett introduces us to Saudi Arabia’s Barq, making headlines around the region and other parts of the world, as he sits down with its Chief Business Officer, Saad Almuhana. Barq is the newest and fastest growing private wallet and challenger bank in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and potentially the world, having garnered 1.5M customers in 35 days — having hit the amazing milestone of 1M customers in 21 days. In Saudi Arabia, younger people represent 70% of the population, tech savvy, mobile banking is very successful in the Kingdom with mobile penetration off the charts. Consumer appetite is high for help with finances in a quick manner. Remittance is a big part of Barq’s offering, assuring customers that the optimal rail is selected at the right time for payment transactions. The journey started August 2024 with an EMI license (e-money), expansion plans are already in the works. In their second month, Barq is enhancing service offerings through multiple partnerships and hoping to hit 2M customers. If the evolution of the fintech is such, they have the option to upgrade to a full bank. It’s an interesting and unique journey, one of incredible growth.
But……one last thing before you listen to the latest episode of our financial podcast,,,,you know what season it is? Not just pumpkin spice, it’s conference season and there is a new show to add to your list. The AI-Native Banking & Fintech Conference is happening October 7 in Salt Lake City and Breaking Banks is proud to be a media partner. Our listeners get a 20% discount when they register at conference.springlabs.com and use the code SpringLabsXBreakingBanks. They have an outstanding set of speakers and this is not to be missed. Once again, you have the link http://conference.springlabs.com and the code is: SpringLabsXBreakingBanks, don’t forget to claim your discount!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZNxqyOfV6M
In This EpisodeWarning: Extra spice added — new sauces and participants!
The stream of consent orders against banks that offer BaaS continues. Fintech partner banks drew 1/3 of all formal enforcement orders by federal banking agencies in the 4th quarter of 2023, that’s quite a bit when you consider that fintech partner banks only account for roughly 3% of all U.S. banks.
BaaS is here to stay — it’s a great way for community banks to grow, big banks are already on board and will do more, and entrepreneurs will want to continue to create better banking experiences which means they’ll need to partner with banks.
Jason Henrichs brings you our latest Hot Takes with regulars Kiah Haslett, Bank Director; Alex Johnson, Fintech Takes; and Jason Mikula, Fintech Business Weekly, as they are joined by Barb MacLean, SVP, Head of Tech Operations & Implementation, Coastal Community Bank and Allen Denson, Partner, Litigation, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP. The flaming hot panel discusses why BaaS is facing regulatory headwinds, what banks should do, and how the North Star needs to be a BaaS solution that provides the optimal blend of technology and compliance, all while having some fun. From the stage of FinovateFall we bring you this episode of Breaking Banks.
https://youtu.be/Fk01H61HlJc
In This EpisodeIt’s a mashup between Breaking Banks and Dave and Dharm Demystify, a podcast that takes you on a journey through the ever evolving world of fintech and digital finance. In this episode triple hosts, Brett King, Dave Wallace and Dharmesh Mistry offer thought provoking discussion and insights, covering off the fintech movement and relevancy in this new state of banking. Integration is key in the new world order. Special shout out to JPMorgan Chase for all they are doing.
What will the banking experience look like in the future? When Q-Day comes there will be radical transparency, get those strategies in place.
Join the discussion, weigh in, share your thoughts and feedback!
https://youtu.be/CxtFxiEE27Y
In This EpisodeIn this week’s episode of Breaking Banks we bring you the next feature in our Killing It series as host Jason Henrichs connects with Ohad Samet, Co-Founder and CEO of TrueAccord. Several calls from unknown numbers and one unpleasant conversation about a forgotten credit card with a relatively small balance was the impetus for Ohad to reimagine the debt collection process and the genesis of TrueAccord. Prior experience as the Chief Risk Officer of Klarna, a European payments company, and experience with other start-ups in the area of risk and analytics served him well.
Development is an upward spiral and founding a company (companies actually) involves a lot of self-expression and is often less about the money and more about what you want to do. At some point, though, you may need to fire yourself.
Another candid and enlightening conversation in the series with relevance for all.
https://youtu.be/Ev2DwaPJh-o
In This EpisodeThe FDIC recently issued a proposed rule change on how brokered deposits are treated. This isn’t so much a proposed change but a rollback. A roll way back. Way back to 1989 when the original brokered deposit rule was written. As Jason Mikula points out, that’s when Taylor Swift was born. Jason M, Alex Johnson, Kiah Haslett and Alex Barrage of Troutman Pepper have some hot takes with Jason Henrichs on how the business of banking has changed through the eras and the implications for the future. Also, the views expressed are those of the individuals and not their respective employers – the lawyers made us add that.
https://youtu.be/yW6m7yCif-A
In This EpisodeOpening doors to high-potential fintech startups that share a mission to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible has been a goal of Mastercard’s with the founding of Start Path in 2014. Since its inception the program has helped over 430 startups in 57 countries.
With partnership in its DNA, Start Path is helping define how the company innovates for the future and creates meaningful, sustainable impact for society. Working with players large and small, Mastercard is helping fintechs push the boundaries of what’s possible, to foster innovation, expand access and ensure trust. This symbiotic relationship helps the partners innovate at scale and, together, change the game for the wider commerce ecosystem.
In this episode, Brett King connects with Sabrina Tharani, SVP, Global Fintech Programs at Mastercard and Jordan Wright, Co-Founder & CEO of Atomic Financial, a leader in payroll and merchant connectivity solutions, and a member of the Mastercard Start Path Open Banking program. Listen as they discuss Start Path and how their commercial partnership is enabling consumers to automatically switch their direct deposits and update recurring bill payments. A secure, seamless online banking experience through Mastercard Open Banking, solutions delivered in partnership with Atomic, ultimately helping drive account primacy for financial institutions.
As fintechs look to build, launch and grow their business, Mastercard is helping drive smarter decisions for better outcomes across the payments ecosystem.
Want more Mastercard Start Path content? Join Mastercard live to meet the newest members of the Start Path program as they pitch their innovative solutions. Register here: https://go.mastercardservices.com/mastercard-start-path-showcase
In This EpisodeConsent orders are dropping with increasing frequency. Historically consent orders were viewed as failing grades. It’s no surprise that bankers are a breed that don’t respond well to failing grades, it is the credit mentality around loss avoidance that leads to an overly developed risk-mitigation culture. Doing new things, by definition, requires taking on risk at some level.
In this episode, Jason Henrichs is joined by guests Gilles Gade, Founder & CEO, Cross River Bank, Phil Goldfeder, CEO, American Fintech Council, Clayton Mitchell, Managing Principal, Crowe Risk Consulting, and Mandi Simpson, Partner, Lead Accounting Advisory team at Crowe as they dive into the critical topic of organizational resilience for banks in the wake of receiving a regulatory consent order. Together they explore how financial institutions can not only comply with regulatory requirements but also use this challenge as an opportunity to strengthen their operations and culture.
Spoiler Alert: Lots of great quotes in this episode!
In This EpisodeDigital banking is reshaping market share. All the fastest growing banks these days are fintechs. After a three year battle, fintech challenger Revolut has provisionally secured a UK Banking License. With this, Revolut can now represent themselves as a bank, having the rights and obligations of a chartered financial institution in the UK. Revolut already had a license in the EU but the UK license could help with entry into the US. With 45M customers, revenue over $2B and profitable, they are making a mark for themselves. Listen as hosts Brett King and JP Nicols share their take on the news and implications for the industry.
Then, it’s Tyme….TymeBank, South Africa’s (and the African continent’s) most successful challenger bank aimed at the lower income market. Listen as Co-Founder, Coen Jonker, speaks with Brett to share Tyme’s origin story and progress. Tyme is challenging the notion of how neos might work in this space. It began with BaaS and several years later, 2019, TymeBank launched in South Africa (SA). Launching during CoVid taught Tyme (Take Your Money Everywhere) to build an anti-fragile business.One of three banks since 2000 to have been granted a SA banking license, TymeBank uses a phygital operating model to work towards it’s goal of financial inclusion and democratizing access to banking. In 2022 they expanded to the Philippines, GoTyme, and now, Vietnam. Via digital kiosks for onboarding in physical retail stores — you can open an account in 3 – 5 minutes and be issued a debit card — they are building trust and educating customers, integrating banking into the shopping proposition. TymeBank is in it for the long game.
In This EpisodeAnother thrilling episode of Breaking Banks’ special series Killing It!. Host Jason Henrichs connects with fintech superstar, dare we say fintech Olympian (Paris 2024!), Bill Harris, industry veteran, founder of 10+ tech and fintech companies, author, and current Founder & CEO of Evergreen Money. Together Jason and Bill look back at Bill’s career to date, the different companies, the lessons learned and the tough calls made. Among those hard decisions, the need, at times, to avoid prolonging a failing venture and the need to conserve resources. It’s a race to the finish where Bill shares details about his latest endeavor.
In This EpisodeIntegration is a team sport these days. There is a need for constant adaptation and innovation, it can be complex and expensive, a lack of standards in the U.S. has introduced a lot of competing standards and solutions challenging business and consumer adoption. Partnerships and tighter focus can be key to bringing down cost to exchange funds and complement the current payments system with $80 Trillion processed on the ACH system in 2023, $55 Trillion of it B2B payments. Listen as Brett King catches up with Dwolla’s CEO, David Glaser and CTO, Skyler Nesheim. Dwolla was first featured on Breaking Banks back in 2013, they bring us up to date on the innovative interfaces that Dwolla offers to the US banking system and their ability to work with innovators of all sizes. It’s an interesting discussion covering RTP payments, open banking, pay by bank, connections to the ACH Network and RTP Network for institutions of all sizes.
Then Jason Henrichs chats with veteran financial services executive, founder & CEO Sanjib Kalita, about fintech events from Money 20/20 to Fintech Meetup and beyond. From best practices to the need to create the right culture and maximize the value of content and improve ROT (Return on Time), differentiation is important as is contributing to greater knowledge. Are there too many events? It’s a master class in events!
In This EpisodeDeposits are the aqua vitae of banking, the water of life.
The very core of the traditional banking business model is gathering deposits at no to low-cost and lending the money back out at higher rates. Bankers used to reference the “3-6-3 Rule”: bring in deposits at 3%, make loans at 6%, and be out on the golf course by 3:00PM.
Money is the primary raw material in the business of banking. The difference between what financial institutions pay for that raw material is subtracted from what they earn from lending it out right at the very top of their income statements. That difference is net interest income, and it is the largest component of earnings for virtually every bank. As much as 95% or more for some.
Expressed as a ratio, the net interest margin or NIM is a key metric in measuring bank performance, and it’s been under considerable pressure lately. The traditional levers have been trying to lower deposit rates and raise loan rates, and hope you don’t lose too much volume. As the business has become more complex, so have the tools and strategies to reduce that pressure.
Today we get into some of the hidden levers that banks are using to add non-rate value, one focus is SBA lending. How new approaches and new technology is expanding the market for banks large and small, and also for fintechs; and how the secondary market is helping to improve liquidity and improve NIM. Joining host JP Nicols in this episode are Steve Tanzer and Joel Updegraff, both Managing Directors at Brean Capital.
In This EpisodeThis Breaking Banks episode’s Killing It guest went from software engineer to investment banker to founder of a community supporting the next generation of fintech founders to adviser then founder of the fintech team at Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z) and now solo venture fund founder in the fintech space investing at the angel, pre-seed and seed stage. Meet Rex Salisbury, founder Cambrian Ventures, backing early-stage companies, as he shares his journey and founder stories — his path, motivation and the support that ultimately led him to being a solo fund founder after clearly being bitten by the fintech bug. He shares thoughts on putting talents and strengths to good use, creative destruction and how to think about failure to get you where you want and ought to be. In short, he’s killing it!
In This EpisodeSoft landings are a topic of hot conversation these days. The go-go days where you can always raise another round are gone. The ecosystem is littered with companies with little product market fit, less revenue and even less runway. Many of these are looking for a soft spot to land. Unfortunately M&A is hard in the best of times and many fintechs are now looking to banks as a potential exit.
In the first half of today’s show, Jason Zaler, partner at Oliver Wyman, joins Jason Henrichs to discuss Oliver Wyman’s new report on bank fintech M&A. In the second half, Robert Antoniades, General Partner at Information Venture Partners, and Jason H talk about 3 decades of venture cycles and M&A more broadly including strategies for big banks, community banks, fintechs and even VCs.
In This EpisodeCome for the expert views on how the Synapse bankruptcy has led to regulatory consent orders for three banks (so far), stay to find out what happens when two regulatory lawyers and a self-declared ‘bank nerd’ editor break down the issues and the lessons for the rest of the industry.
Matt Janiga from Trustly, Jesse Silverman from Troutman Pepper, and Kiah Haslett from Bank Director dive deep into what went wrong on the bank side, and what banks need to do to avoid a similar fate. Jesse has ideas for a better regulatory system, and says banks need to think beyond disclosures. Matt says banks need to step up their AML/BSA compliance systems and not try to do too much at once. Kiah gives a little history lesson and goes on a rant about how much of banks’ risk management systems are anything but. Everyone agrees with JP that banks keep stumbling over well-known issues, and that the risks of inaction are too big to ignore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC4LF19DAfs
In This EpisodeIt’s a Breaking Banks and Finovate collab! Fresh off of FinovateSpring hosts JP Nicols, Greg Palmer and Brett King talk trends, takeaways and best of show; bringing the best to you in this episode. If you missed FinovateSpring, enjoy the recap and themes, and some of the best fintech innovations covering artificial intelligence, open banking, future payments, CX and more. With new market entrants and the loosening of capital, creativity is coming back into the ecosystem, and the bar is being raised, pushing everyone forward. We also introduce you to one of FinovateSpring’s Best of Show winners, Maya Mikhailov, SAVVI AI, Founder & CEO. Meeting users where they are, SAVVI AI offers a powerful AI tool to unlock data and make finserv and fintech goal driven AI use cases easier, distilling data natively into excel, to offer insights for institutions on new product offerings to benefit customers and business.
In the coming weeks, tune into sister podcast Finovate for profiles, a deep dive and one-on-ones with all FinovateSpring ‘Best of Show’ winners: Bloom Credit, Remynt, Kobalt Labs, QuickFi, SAVVI AI, Cascading AI
In This EpisodeJake Gibson, former investment banker, entrepreneur / co-founder NerdWallet, angel investor, now VC founder Better Tomorrow Ventures, who crossed career paths with host Jason Henrichs 10+ years ago, have an honest discussion about the twists and turns of co-founding a boot-strapping start-up particularly when you are young, on to something and quickly have to figure everything out. After years of hard work and being all-in, tough decisions needed to be made as NerdWallet continued to grow quickly. Jake knew it was time to move on, but so hard to do. The arrival of twins and focus on strengths, honesty, lessons learned, and giving advice to others in similar situations, helped Jake figure his calling and path forward, and has enabled him to keep many ‘cards in his wallet’.
In This EpisodeThere’s more to episode 543 — Killing It: The Story Behind the Synapse Story — right here! The Synapse saga continues but we make it easy to stay current and benefit from expert analysis as host Jason Henrichs unpacks the latest news with Jason Mikula, publisher of Fintech Business Weekly. The two are watching the topic closely, offering insight into what it all means, from a Chapter 11 Trustee, to new account and financial resilience concerns, FDIC insurance disclosure, challenges and regulation not to mention potential risks and implications for banking and fintech. A takeaway from it all, the importance of regulation in promoting responsible innovation.
https://youtu.be/JrbIignFP64
In This EpisodeIn this episode Jason Henrichs and Kiah Haslett, Bank Director’s Banking and Fintech Editor riff on FBO (For Benefit Of) accounts, implications for banks, banking as a service and the future of fintech.
Then, Jason connects with Paul Davis, Founder, The Bank Slate about fintech partnerships, future landscape, consent orders and AI in banking.
In This EpisodeIn this episode Brett King catches up with Ali Paterson, Editor-in-Chief, FF News about … fintech and banking!
Having been part of the architecture, or rather furniture, of the industry for many years, these two leaders, writers and influencers look at fintech — through rearview mirrors and what’s on the road ahead — in a lighthearted discussion from respective vantage points. There are standout moments (does anyone remember the literal payments race?), personalities, culture, and some favorite stories.
In This EpisodeBrett King connects with industry leaders and influencers Joao Bezerra Leite, 2W Ecobank and former CTO, Banco Itau, and Bruno Diniz, fintech advisor, author, professor, speaker and top 10 influencer in Ibero America for another engaging episode of Breaking Banks about the fintech / payments boom in Brazil and Latin America. The trio focus on several success stories to include Pix pay; NuBank, the reasons NuBank has been so successful; Creditas, and other companies to watch. Can these successes be replicated elsewhere? How might the market react if / when NuBank becomes the largest market cap bank in LatAm? These are just some of the questions the industry veterans tackle in this episode.
In This EpisodeIt’s another engaging episode from Breaking Banks’ new series, Killing It. Host Jason Henrichs shares a candid conversation with Sankaet Pathak, Synapse CEO and Co-Founder, about Synapse’s just completed, very public bankruptcy and acquisition that came with highly opinionated social media commentary. Listen as Sankaet shares his personal story as well as a behind the scenes narrative of Synapse’s journey, the challenges faced, and what ultimately brought him to the decision to kill Synapse as a stand-alone entity. Sequencing is important.
In This EpisodePay by bank is gaining momentum in the U.S., it’s a natural evolution of how we pay with funds from our bank accounts. What will it take to get more people to use it and what about readiness for different use cases? Listen as host Brett King, Eric Sager, Plaid’s COO and Trevor Nies, Adyen’s SVP, Global Head of Digital discuss the state of pay by bank, what is driving it in the U.S., the value it delivers, the next segments to adopt, and how key challenges are being overcome to make it good for consumers and for businesses. Will we start seeing pay-by-bank in everyday e-commerce experiences? Listen to our latest episode of Breaking Banks to find out!
In This EpisodeEmbedded banking is reshaping the industry for those with the right approach. To succeed, banks of all sizes will need a strategy, tools, and technology.
Listen as host Brett King connects with Booshan Rengachari, CEO of Finzly, pioneering provider of modern money movement systems to financial institutions, as they uncover the opportunities and keys to success in embedded banking.
Attract more corporate banking customers with new advanced features, learn how to handle KYC & KYCC compliance for fintech partnerships, and how open APIs, virtual accounts and ISO 20022 nativity enable embedded banking.
In This EpisodeTodays’ Breaking Banks spotlights sister podcast Finovate, featuring host Greg Palmer’s recent interviews on the Future of Real-Time Payments with The Clearing House’s, Jim Colassano, SVP Product Development & Strategy and a new report on Cost of Living, Lending and Insights from Tink with Jack Spiers, Banking & Lending Director, UK & Ireland.
Finovate Spring is around the corner, May 21 – 23, 2024 in San Francisco, CA. Check it out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yIeYTZbXpQ
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks, we feature an episode from sister podcast EMERGE Everywhere.
Is artificial intelligence the key to providing personalized financial advice for all? While companies like Credit Karma are tapping into AI’s vast potential to help customers manage their money, the technology also raises weighty questions about how to use it responsibly. In this episode, Jennifer Tescher, host of EMERGE Everywhere speaks with Credit Karma CEO Ken Lin about how the company has embedded AI into its solutions, the biggest opportunities and challenges right now, and what an AI-enabled future might look like.
In this EpisodeThis week, Jason Henrich connects with Mary Wisniewski to talk about her new podcast, Money Isn’t Everything, which will explore unconventional ideas and strategies within the financial services sector. In her biweekly podcast Mary will tap into her passion for uncovering counterintuitive concepts, sharing stories and looking at complexities, gaps and opportunities in our market with focus on the role banks and credit unions play in driving and improving outcomes,
The first episode of Money Isn’t Everything airs 4/18, catch it on Apple, Spotify or the Cornerstone Advisors website.
https://youtu.be/3PsqPUDBmO8
In This EpisodeGiving credit when credit is due is always appreciated and a good thing to do. In this case, it is also a solid base for a fintech, one that is socially responsible and financially inclusive. Meet Kashable’s Co-Founder and CEO, Einat Steklov, as she speaks with host Brett King about Kashable making its mark in financial services with low cost loans for employees, those with low or no credit scores. With its data models and ability to create new risk profiles and open up access to credit, Kashable underwrites consumers for unsecured loans based to a large extent on employment information. With Kashable’s ability to offer access to low cost credit, economic mobility, as an employee benefit with easy repayment — embedded financing — everyone benefits.
Then, Breaking Banks is delighted to introduce Social Currency, Provoke.fm‘s latest podcast powered by Sunrise Banks that will introduce you to some of the most innovative changemakers in finance, tech and ESG, and how they are dismantling barriers and reshaping their industries for a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable future. Spotlighting those at the forefront of positive change through social entrepreneurship, Social Currency unveils the stories behind the revolution that is propelling us toward a world where everyone has equitable access to opportunities. In the first episode, Ahead of the Curve, Strategic Foresight, Tyler Seydel, Chief FinTech Officer at Sunrise Banks and co-host Eric Schurr, Chief Strategy Officer, Sunrise Banks and certified practitioner in strategic foresight, get into just that, Strategic Foresight, how organization can solve market opportunity challenges using provocative questions to look at future challenges in new ways, reimaging opportunities. A planning oriented discipline related to futures studies, you’ll be surprised as new tools and this new way of future thinking begins to infiltrate projects and everyday work.
https://youtu.be/B0iLiO6Sy54
In This EpisodeSXSW is a safari to the future according to Todder Moning, Lead Futurist at U.S. Bank. But, as Mike Bechtell, Chief Futurist at Deloitte, pointed out in his Fintech House fireside last year: futurists are always wrong.
Why attempt to predict the future if you are likely to be wrong?
This year Todder and Eric Schurr, Chief Strategy Officer at Sunrise Banks and host of the Social Currency podcast at Provoke.fm, have a fireside chat with Dara Tarkowski, Founder of Actuate Law and host of the Tech on Reg podcast, about which rules to break and which to keep when thinking about the future. From large bank to small, both use the tools of Foresight to gain a competitive advantage when thinking about a future, even when it is likely wrong. Listen in to learn how to break out of your current mindset and preconceptions, including Todder’s favorite: Future Safaris.
https://youtu.be/VJ5OvH-f-00
In This EpisodeWhat happens when two financial futurists get together? They chat about money of the future and related topics worthy of debate.
This week, host Brett King connects with Chris Skinner, author, influencer, The Finanser blogger, and advisor to leading organizations, governments and firms across the world to talk about Chris’ new book, Intelligent Money, due out this summer. Lots of great banter and thought provoking discussion as they look at cross border payments, smart wallets / super wallets that act as an agent on your behalf, embedded intelligent financial services and payments, and of course AI, to name just a few of the topics they get into. What’s your vision for Main Street 2034? Is the need for growth at the heart of some of our problems? Enjoy the debate!
https://youtu.be/DC03x1pySWg
In This EpisodeWhat’s your legacy? Host Brett King connects with the 695th Lord Mayor of London, Michael Mainelli, who is the first American born Lord Mayor of London. A scientist, economist and accountant, as well as a self-proclaimed space junkie who studied aerospace at Harvard (fun fact his father was at one time involved with the Apollo capsule for Boeing), the Lord Mayor shares some of the key initiatives that will keep him busy during his mayoralty — climate change, space debris removal, a smart economy networks project, and most importantly that London is a partner when it comes to solving global problems, it is a solutions center for technology, science, engineering and finance.
Then, a new podcast Beyond Banking by CBD Talks! from the Commercial Bank of Dubai. Beyond Banking by CBD Talks! delves into trends that drive the UAE, middle east, and global economies. In the first episodes host Brett King has welcomed phenomenal guests, and covered topics from climate and sustainability to unicorns and the future of money and banking, while spotlighting leaders shaping financial services and the UAE, Frank Bisignano, CEO, Fiserv and Her Excellency Raja Al Mazrouei. Learn about the UAE and other regions by downloading Beyond Banking by CBD Talks! via Amazon, Apple, or Spotify. From digitization to decarbonization, through the evolution of AI, and the advent of smart economies, listen as we foster conversations Beyond Banking, with an eye towards the future. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-banking-by-cbd-talks/id1711240163
https://youtu.be/G_jql0YSqE4
In This EpisodeIn this next episode of our special series, Killing It!, hosts Jason Henrichs and Alex Johnson sit down with Matt Harris, current coach, consultant, advisor and Bloom Credit (credit data solutions) co-founder. Starting a company is hard, at any age, Matt was 22 when he began his journey. It’s not just having an idea for your startup, financial backing, energy and good people around you, as most know, it’s all the hurdles and discoveries of everything you need to fix and do, that affects your idea, along the way. The journey, and roller coaster, comes with lots of stressors and takes its toll. It can be difficult to step away or step aside. How do you process? How do you separate your identity from the company after investing so much of yourself in it.
The founding journey is hard but doesn’t have to be. Accept what is. ‘Failure’ (whatever that may mean, and it’s different for everyone) is not the end of the story. This candid discussion is a master class for startup founders; coaching founders, rather than just investing in their businesses, has become an impactful and authentic way for Matt to make even more change in the world.
https://youtu.be/4_FzT8ff0Ms
In This EpisodeThis week host Jason Henrichs hears about all that he unfortunately missed at Bank Director’s annual AOBA (Acquire Or Be Acquired) conference for bank senior leadership from Bank Director rock stars and conference session and track leaders, Emily McCormick, VP of Editorial & Research and Kiah Haslett, Banking & Fintech Editor. They cover it all from banking sector challenges, innovations, and market outlook to enthusiasm for balance sheets (yes!), deposits, and necessity of tech adoption for growth and the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBBVrehJ3Yg
In This EpisodeYou heard it here last week, a new series from Breaking Banks, 'Killing It' with co hosts Jason Henrichs and Alex Johnson, Fintech Takes. In this first episode we feature a candid discussion with Shamir Karkal, Alliance for Innovation Regulation, Co-founder and CEO of Sila, formerly Co-founder of Simple (BankSimple), America's first neobank which operated 2009 - 2021. A FinTech pioneer, he shares learnings, successes, failures and some of the tough decisions made along his 'simple' journey while reflecting on what it means for him today.Then, Brett King connects with DIVINE, Victor D. Lombard, CEO & Founder, Solvent with tag line, The Future is Freedom. You may remember DIVINE from 2022 when we interviewed him about a venture with AWS' Impact Accelerator. Today he is joined by Brent Chandler, CEO and Eric Lapin, President of FormFree to talk about their new partnership aligned around their missions to empower underserved demographics. The focus is lending, specifically the mortgage space, with new products to help underserved individuals get access to credit and a new two-sided marketplace, FormFree Exchange, connecting lenders and borrowers -- helping credit invisibles get loans and institutions to lend without bias. Tech for good, who doesn't love that!https://youtu.be/xhY6_rHjU4g
In This EpisodeDrumroll...it's a new series from Breaking Banks, Killing It, candid discussions with entrepreneurs sharing lessons, failures, successes and some of the tough decisions they had to make. From VCs to unicorns, it's a high stakes game with high rates of failure. Not everything goes up and to the right, and success looks different for everyone -- you can grind away and do all you are supposed to do, and get to the point that you have to deliver terrible news to your cofounder and employees who believed in you. There are lots of stories from awesome people who have been knocked to the mat multiple times and gotten back up. It's not uncommon, but how do you bounce back and what does it take to walk away from it. Listen as hosts Jason Henrichs and Alex Johnson bring these stories to life.Then, investing in the next frontier, we turn to Greg Palmer, host of sister podcast Finovate as he speaks with Tamara Steffens, Managing Director, Thomson Reuters Ventures, about her perspectives on what’s on tap for fintech and the funding ecosystem this year. Enjoy the show!https://youtu.be/2mcKIL3PNnE
In This EpisodeDoes BaaS go boom, and other predictions and projections for the year. Listen as host Jason Henrichs connects with hot takers Alex Johnson, Fintech Expert & Workweek Creator and Jason Mikula, Managing Director, Fintech Business Weekly about what they've been seeing and what they hope to see in our industry. For those that like analysis they jump into the current state of BaaS, theories on implications for the rest of the year not to mention any projections they think they might need a mulligan for and which are proving true!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoYKt1b0Zo0
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks, Money in the 21st Century, a special episode from sister podcast Breaking Banks Asia Pacific. Listen as Breaking Banks Asia Pacific host Charis Palmer sits down with economist and professor of economics Richard Holden to chat about his new book: Money in the 21st Century and why he believes that the US Fed needs to get going with a 'Fedcoin'. They also cover the global economics of #crypto #cbdcs #mobilemoney and #cheapmoney, and how we’ll all transact in our future cashless world. Enjoy the episode!https://youtu.be/q0uNPddxiDo
In This EpisodeExcitement over new technologies, new capabilities, new business models, and new companies often turns to hype, but what goes up, must come down. We seem to be working through hype cycles faster and faster, but what’s on the other side is rarely a return to the status quo. In this episode, Simon Taylor, Fintech Brainfood, Jim Marous, The Financial Brand and Theo Lau, Unconventional Ventures join hosts Brett King and JP Nicols to share insights and debate what upward and downward forces will most impact fintech and banking in the next 12 months, and what that new reality looks like.https://youtu.be/V-7Mo6x9rpE
In This Episode2023 was the hottest year on record in terms of temperature. ESG, sustainability, clean tech / green tech and corporate responsibility have been hot topics. Are we at war with climate? This week we feature Brett King's recent sit down in Bangkok, Thailand with former banker, fintech investor and now venture capitalist, Paul Ark, with The Radical Fund, an early-stage VC fund investing in founders who are delivering climate resilience for Southeast Asia. Where are investment dollars going? Climate mitigation (how to prevent the world from getting warmer) and climate adaptation (dealing with a warmer world) and what it means for infrastructure resilience and food insecurity, to name some areas of concern, are top of mind. Climate is a complex systemic issue and requires a buffet of technologies to address, improve and help us reclaim our environment. It's an enlightening conversation with The Futurists!https://youtu.be/o2C0X1E8oEw
In This EpisodeShould you increase your social media savviness to sell products? With digital acquisition reshaping financial services it's certainly something to think about for your organization's benefit. In this episode, host Brett King speaks with Dr. Robin Kiera, Founder and CEO, Digitalscouting about his book, Attention Hacking: The Power of Social Media Selling in Insurance and Finance. Listen as Dr. Kiera delves into the topic and shares industry examples, opportunities and his belief that you need to position yourself and your organization as influencers among your target market.The premise is simple, you need to be where your customer is.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uGvauRU2s4
In This EpisodeIdentity, and the future of it, continues to be a hot topic as digital adoption increases in all aspects of our lives. When you are verifying your identity, you want to do it with as little friction as possible and expect it to be fast, secure and compliant. In this episode, host JP Nicols speaks with Incode Technologies' Domingo Guerra, EVP of Trust, and industry veteran with a strong background in cybersecurity and data privacy, about the latest innovations in verifying identity. User expectations are bigger than ever. Positive user experiences and biometric acceptance can make what once seemed scary less so, but are all biometrics created equal?https://youtu.be/pDr66sLB8Jw
In This EpisodeIceland is a small country doing big things in fintech, but also in healthtech, renewable energy, gaming, and the ocean-based blue economy. Few countries fared worse during the 2008 global economic crisis, which had a profound impact on the country’s financial system, currency, and overall economy. The economy gradually recovered, and by the 2010s, Iceland experienced steady economic growth. Today Iceland has a high standard of living. Its citizens enjoy access to quality healthcare and education with a relatively low level of income inequality, and it is the global leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion. JP Nicols visited Reykjavik to meet with some of the people innovating to drive these outcomes, including the country’s First Lady who is proud of her country’s achievements, yet declares that “good enough, is not good enough”.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atOEvLoB8dQ
In This EpisodeDoes financial services ever have an off-season? Is now the time to update your playbook? . Today, host JP Nicols tackles a few of these questions and then speaks with James Anderson, Paze's Managing Director, about a new launch on track for early next year. Paze is a new digital bank wallet from Early Warning Services, the fintech company that brought us Zelle several years ago and is owned by some of the largest banks in the US. A completely separate venture focused on e-commerce payments, Paze no doubt benefits from learnings in creating Zelle.The US payments world is complicated, Paze aims to be ubiquitous on both consumer and merchant sides, the piece in the middle connecting financial institutions, providing better outcomes, and making purchases more convenient and secure. Launching with more than 1,000 banks, Paze is 100% online payments focused, offered by participating banks and credit unions, built to simplify and secure checkout by tokenizing credit and debit card numbers so users never have to enter card data, usernames or remember passwords. A new product, a new year and the next era of banking just around the corner.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJYx8wG_5fs
In This EpisodeThis week we begin our episode with the third in our special series on fintech visionaries reimagining the future of finance. Brett King is joined by Jayesh Patel, CEO of Wio Bank, and Thomas Kuncheria, EEMEA Senior Vice President for Advisors Client Services at Mastercard. Wio, the UAE's first platform bank with a mission to transform banking in its region, is focusing on three core capabilities -- digital banking applications, embedded finance and BaaS. Through partnership with Mastercard, Wio is helping customers thrive in this digital world, offering personalized features and seamlessly integrated services with a goal to make banking simple, transparent and secure, offering customers access to tools to manage their finances effortlessly and at lower cost than other alternatives. It's another interesting piece in the series spotlighting the benefits of partnership and empowering partners to disrupt and revolutionize.Then, are non-traditional loan underwriting criteria -- i.e. market, environmental, community data -- important when painting a picture of a SMB loan applicant? JP Nicols speaks with serial entrepreneur Ron Benegbi, Founder & CEO of Uplinq Financial Technologies who believes so, and whose latest venture, a global credit assessment platform for SMB lenders, has built, in part taking a page from his own personal story. a platform to empower lenders to distill different kinds of data and information for credit decisioning that might enable SMB lenders to approve and manage risk on loans that they might have otherwise declined based on traditional loan underwriting criteria.https://youtu.be/ikalSI19V6A
In This EpisodeOpening Minds and changing legacy behaviors can be challenging. This week JP Nicols connects with Jim Perry, Senior Strategist, Market Insights about new perspectives young cohorts bring to money in the digital age, not just in practice but in ways the industry can better align its leadership with today's general demographics. Rechanneling, retooling and meeting customers where they are today, to better represent our ecosystem, across the entire spectrum, can make for a more engaged workforce and help financial institutions stay relevant. By setting the bar where it needs to be, bringing value through DEI and sharing different perspectives, financial institutions can also increase stickiness in customer relationships.Then, JP continues the thread of new perspectives and ways of doing things in his recent conversation with Brandon Spear, CEO, TreviPay. When it comes to trade credit for business customers, and the associated complexity that is inherent in the B2B space with multiple stakeholders, applying some B2C principles to B2B can make for a better payment experience, easing and expediting business across geographies, systems and risk profiles.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2lxAgRFtVU
In This EpisodeWant to wow your family over the holidays with your fintech and banking knowledge? We offer a helpful primer for Thanksgiving table conversations as Breaking Banks' Jason Henrichs gathers with industry notables and friends Kiah Haslett, Bank Director; Alex Johnson. Fintech Takes; Jason Mikula, Fintech Business Weekly; and Mary Wisniewski, Cornerstone Advisors to talk banking turkey, give thanks, and share the nerd things they'll be talking about around their dinner tables.Happy Thanksgiving from Breaking Banks!
In This EpisodeRegulators are bringing it, market pressures are adding to it and Jason Henrichs and Alex Johnson are jumping right in on Open Banking US with the Ghost Pepper hot sauce. Listen as the dynamic duo decipher the proposed 1033 ruling from CFPB, what it means for financial institutions and consumers, who owns transaction data, how it can be used, and how the sharing of data lakes would enable mutual relationships and better financial decisions. Efforts are underway to bring clarity to the market and while Open Banking US applies to financial institutions, it will also affect big tech with all the data and information they have on us (i.e. Amazon and Apple), and anyone who offers a credit card and digital wallet. How does BNPL fit into the mix? It's another hot take from Breaking Banks.Then, JP Nicols interviews Kevin Hart, CEO of Green Check, about the challenges for banks and credit unions to compliantly and profitably serve cannabis-related businesses (CRBs). Cannabis is legal in nearly half the states, so CRBs have lots of dollars looking for a home, and are popping up in more and more locations. Cannabis is not legal at the federal level, so banking these businesses involves understanding sticky details in licensing requirements, state guidelines, and state specific programs the require extensive monitoring.https://youtu.be/ukr4LtdM-dM
In This EpisodeThis week join Brett King as he discusses the latest research from a newly released study on expectations vs reality in financial services. It's an enlightening conversation with DeAndre Jones, Chief Client Officer, FIS Banking Solutions and John Stuckey, Senior Director, Product, FIS Retail Solutions exploring the priorities of consumers when choosing financial services providers, the priorities of financial services executives in where they are investing for future innovation, and the points of alignment and misalignment between the two populations.Then we learn how Clear is expanding beyond the airport and into fintech, just to be 'clear' airports are where they proved out their thesis around secure identity and what it does to unlock experiences, now they are bringing learnings into the digital space. Digital identity is a hot topic, and financial services is a great space in which to play. It's an interesting segment with host JP Nicols and Derek Gottfrid, Chief Product Officer, there's definitely a 'clear' opportunity (sorry, couldn't resist) in financial services.Enjoy the episode!https://youtu.be/6bl5fC-cBMc
In This EpisodeJoin Jason Henrichs as he speaks with Matt Wilcox, President, Digital Payments and Data Aggregation, Fiserv; Raja Chakravorti, Universal Access Lead, Plaid and Aly Yarris, Financial Access, Partnerships at Plaid about Open Banking today, how banks might want to approach it. Our guests give a quick lay of the land in digital finance right now, talking about data, data sharing and privacy, ownership, the importance of secure connectivity, access points and APIs, Addressing growing consumer demand to access their financial information when, where and how they want, Fiserv and Plaid recently announced an agreement to enable secure connectivity to allow consumers to do just that -- share their financial information with the third-party financial apps and services of their choice working with established connections and key infrastructure. It's an informative segment with relevancy for banks of all sizes.Then JP Nicols connects with Scarlett Sieber, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer at M20/20 to talk about themes and highlights from this year's gathering. The duo, and the event, cover a wide range of topics from AI (no surprise!) to RegTech,specifically Open or Connected Banking under the CFPBs 1033, Digital Wallets and Small Business Payments while touching upon keynotes and fireside chats with Regulators, ex-Regulators and Senators. Another epic event!Be sure to move this episode to the top of your list!https://youtu.be/0Q17TGMhl10
In This EpisodeThis week we feature the second of a three part series focusing on fintech visionaries reimagining the future of finance. In today's first segment, Brett King and JP Nicols are joined by Solana Cozzo, Head of Mastercard Advisors Business Development for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Mariana Franza, Chief Operating Officer at Ualá. Ualá, an Argentine fintech company, partnered with Mastercard to offer users an innovative and integrated digital experience with convenient and lower-cost services than other alternatives. Argentina has a large unbanked and underbanked population, and Uala has quite a story to tell with 5.5 million customers in 5 years and the ability to meet customers where they are and how they want to engage. It's another interesting segment in the series spotlighting the benefits of partnership and empowering partners to disrupt, revolutionize and grow with agility and speed where there is need. Smart decisions with positive outcomes.Then we travel with Brett to Kazakhstan, the ninth largest country in the world, to hear from one of their fintechs, Wooppay, and its Chief Compliance Officer, Yuliya Salekhova about what Wooppay is doing to drive innovation forward in the country. The first in mobile financial services in Kazakhstan, Wooppay has an unique place and story. Listen as Brett and Yuliya discuss Wooppay's wallet ecosystem and the future of payments.Innovators from around the world reimagining the world of financehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFXypoFG4Ww
In This EpisodeIt's Fintech on Fire, and more Hot Takes from MX's Money Experience Summit in Las Vegas. This episode features three bold panelists eager to tackle hot questions and even hotter wings! For every question and hot take, our panelists Mary Wisniewski, Editor-at-Large, Cornerstone Advisors; Neff Hudson, Trusted Leader in Transformation Change, Castle Hills Consulting, retired USAA veteran (pun intended); and Wes Hummel, CTO, MX will join host, moderator and spice aficionado Jason Henrichs in eating progressively spicier chicken wings. The discussion is hot and the sauces bring out some honest and entertaining reactions. It's another Hot Takes hot session as they look to the future and work up to MXtreme's secret sauce!https://youtu.be/ymHut7J6cIc
In This EpisodeIn this week's episode of Breaking Banks, Brett King engages in an informative and dynamic discussion with Jonathan Anastasia, EVP, Crypto & Security Innovation, Mastercard and Mike Coscetta, Head of Revenue at Paxos Trust Company about why financial leaders should be investing in blockchain now. It's a watershed moment for stablecoins and an opportunity to extend the benefits of blockchain technology to the realm of traditional finance and everyday transactions while ensuring integrity and security for customers. The trio cover it all -- the state of the market today, the volatility, regulatory outlook and crackdown, international trends vs that in the US, growth in crypto in LATAM & other regions -- and then dive in to their partnership, Crypto Source, sharing their vision for crypto in banking, what it means for the industry and how easy it is for banks to turn on, safely and compliantly, while being in control. With banks unlocking crypto, what does it mean for the future of finance? Listen to find out, now's the time!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK1pUXA_2Nw
In This EpisodeJennifer Sertl, Founder Agility3R, hosts a dynamic panel at SIBOS 2023 with the dream team of Dr. Leda Glyptis, #LedaWrites; Tom Zschach, CIO, SWIFT; and Brett King, certainly no introduction needed here!, sitting in the panelists seats for Innotribe's Future of Money. We're in the midst of a transition, money historically has been the universal medium of exchange, a unit that signifies worth. As we venture deeper into the 21st century, the notion has been broadened and reshaped with tech advances, decentralized finance and other digital assets changing the concept of money and challenging the essence of value exchange. This transition extends to how value is perceived, created and distributed. It's the last of its class ... next year it's the Future of Value!https://youtu.be/r7dNA12VmyA
In This EpisodeThis week we feature the first of a three part series focusing on fintech visionaries reimagining the future of finance. In the first segment host Brett King connects with Mariam Ogunbambi, Chief Client Officer at Engine by Starling, the technology arm of Starling Bank and Bronwyn Francis, SVP, Advisors Business Development, Mastercard. Starling Bank, as many of you know, is Britain’s first digital bank, a true fintech success story. Engine is the platform that powers Starling and is now being provided to banks globally as a Software-as-a-Service solution to help them innovate, digitally transform or launch new digital offerings in their own markets, offering the opportunity to keep up with the pace of change and chance to replicate some of the Starling Bank magic. It's an interesting first segment in this special series!Then, it's time for some more Hot Takes! This time, Fintech on Fire live from MX's Money Experience Summit in Las Vegas. We have three bold panelists eager to tackle hot questions and even hotter wings. For every question and hot take, our panelists Mary Wisniewski, Neff Hudson and Wes Hummel will join Jason Henrichs in eating progressively spicier chicken wings. These hot sauces are guaranteed to bring out some honest and entertaining reactions. It's another Hot Takes hot session!https://youtu.be/c2rTN9sQiCY
In This EpisodeThis week we start with a special segment as we head to SIBOS 2023 in Toronto and prepare for a panel discussion for the Future of Money. We look back over 10 years, pulling clips from prior Future of Money panels, the flagship session for SWIFT Innotribe for many years. Next week we will bring you the highlights from this year's Future of Money panel. It's a two-parter, so stay tuned! Spoiler alert: as we look back there wasn't much that the various panelists got wrong, in some cases the timing was off, but in most they were spot-on as they discussed the digitization of the banking sector and the explosion of banking through the world. Then host Brett King connects with award-winning author and tech investor Alex Tapscott to discuss Alex's new book Web3: Charting the Internet's Next Economic and Cultural Frontier. Referred to as an essential introduction and guide to navigating the next internet revolution, the book and discussion covers everything from the metaverse and NFTs to DAOs, decentralized finance, and self-sovereign identity. The Web and the Internet are entering a new age where individuals own their own identities and can securely trade assets like money, securities, intellectual property and art peer to peer. Web3 promises to shake up business, it is the internet's new frontier.Enjoy the episode!https://youtu.be/MlrixyFaD2w
In This EpisodeIt is always exciting when one can do good by combining personal experience, knowledge, need and work to create something for the benefit of many. This is exactly what Citizens Bank of Edmond President and CEO Jill Castilla did with Roger (think military term indicating message received). Listen as Jill and Jason Henrichs discuss how the bank launched a digital bank for military recruits -- entry-level recruits many of whom enter basic training without bank accounts. The lack of an account can delay training start date and a recruit's first paycheck, and financial stability, predatory lending and financial literacy can be threats to military readiness. It's a fascinating success story.Then, as it is FinovateFall, we feature a Finovate conversation between 'MC' Greg Palmer and Elizabeth McCloskey, TruStage Ventures, where they cover the fintech funding landscape specific to Credit Unions and DEI Initiatives.https://youtu.be/8G7zuQFBzj0
In This EpisodeWhen does a fintech become what they set out to disrupt?
- Is it when they start offering bank-like products?
- Get a banking license?
- Is it when they go all-in and buy an actual bank?
In this episode sister pod, Breaking Banks Asia Pacific, asks whether this is good, bad, or something else for competition. The Asian Banker founder Emmanuel Daniel says fintechs struggle to maintain their innovative edge when they get sucked into the bid to become a bank, and Wise’s Surendra Chaplot believes you can be bank-like and still forge a path that is sensitive to customer needs. What do you think?
In This Episode
This week FinovateFall Master of Ceremonies Greg Palmer and host of Provoke.fm's Finovate podcast gives a taste of things to come as he shares two conversations with FinovateFall keynoters Luke Williams, NYU Stern School of Business Professor and Author of Disrupt, and Manas Chawla, Founder of London Politica. No spoiler alerts here, so you'll need to listen to the episode and come to FinovateFall NYC September 11 -13th to hear Luke talk about Disrupt and Innovation, and Manas talk about Geopolitical Risk and Gray Rhinos.
https://youtu.be/eg34z-Cfizc
In This Episode
John Pitts, head of Policy at Plaid, and Jason Henrichs were recently talking about open finance and the Interagency Guidance on Third Party Due Diligence -- no doubt these are hot topics in your house like they are in ours -- and the idea to record some Hot Takes came to life. In the time it took to ship out Breaking Banks hot sauce, the Federal Reserve Bank decided to do its own hot take and create a supervision program for “Novel Activities.” Jonah Crane, partner at Klaros Group, former regulator in residence at the Fintech Innovation Lab and longtime regulator at the US Department of Treasury joined in on the fun and Dara Tarkowsi, partner at Actuate Law and host of Provoke.fm's Tech on Reg podcast accepted the challenge to co-host with Jason for the first half.
Then, if that wasn’t hot enough, in the second half, Frank Rotman, co-founder of QED Investors, 5x Forbes Midas Touch investor and Jason talk about building in the upcycle vs. building in the now cycle. Frank brings the heat and great insights!
https://youtu.be/hHK1Ey_v7OA
In This Episode
The Metaverse Economy: How Finance Professionals Can Make Sense of Web3 is Arun Krishnakumar and Theo Lau's new book. Listen as Brett King connects with Theo Lau, frequent guest and Founder, Unconventional Ventures. The metaverse is evolving, the way the metaverse is now, is not close to where it will be. The book is designed to equip fintech professionals with an in-depth understanding of the emergent economic models in the Metaverse and across Web3, and also understand the risks associated with the Metaverse and help these professionals prepare for what lies ahead in this immersive environment. The concept of community in the metaverse is important, we don't want to leave people behind.
Then Brett and Jason Henrichs shift the subject to talk about recent fires in Greece (sadly we can also add Maui to the list), the Impact of these fires and the EU response to climate change with author and influencer Dr. Leda Glyptis. July 2023 just scattered the record for the hottest month, per NASA, since 1880. There is no denying that climate change is here. Some of these extreme events are naturally occurring, others man-made, but the number and extent of these occurrences is increasing and there are concerns of irreversible desertification.
Banks and regulators need to be front and center, and take more of a stance. In natural disasters the financial system sometimes breaks down -- financial inclusion and financial access are concerns. Major systemic banks in Europe are asking themselves the hard questions, not just taking superficial steps. The cost for these extreme weather events is growing exponentially, economics are in play. Covid made people realize there are no boundaries, it's everyone's problem. Climate change also doesn't stop at borders, a similar degree of focus and urgency is needed. Will Europe lead?
In This Episode
Rising interest rates caught many by surprise. We saw some banks fail, Fintech venture funding dropped 50% year over year. IPOs were pulled. M&A for banks and fintechs are in limbo.
Many say this is nothing short of an innovation nuclear winter unlike anything we've seen before. For others, this state of the world seemed vaguely familiar before a decade plus of Zero Interest Rate Policies. Except, it isn't just a reversion to the mean. There are many structural differences from 2008 and 2000 before that. It feels familiar, but are we really entering the Twilight Zone of Fintech? Is it a dystopian future or will there be an unexpected twist?
Listen as Jason Henrichs hosts another HOT (yes, we added some spice!) episode with Rahul Baig, Managing Director, Head of Venture Capital Coverage at Wells Fargo, Sarah Hinkfuss, Partner at Bain Capital Ventures, and Amias Gerety, Partner at QED investors. There was plenty of hot sauce to go with the Hot Takes and debates. Amias even shares his secret recipe for the homemade sauce he was sipping.
In This Episode
This week Brett King and JP Nicols are joined by the infamous Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors and Forbes' Author of Fintech Snark Tank. Listen as they talk about Ron’s latest Forbes articles that have created some buzz! From The Checking Account War Is Over (And The Fintechs Have Won) to The Banking Crisis Has Only Just Begun, they have lots to discuss before they get into what banks need — is it Innovation or is it Invention or Just Growth?
Then Greg Palmer host of Provoke.fm's Finovate podcast begins his FinovateSpring Best of Show winner spotlight series with a conversation on the future of biometric payments with Deepak Jain, Founder & CEO, Wink. Additional best of show interviews can be found on provoke.fm/show/finovate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XZUToGk7Q0
In This Episode
Welcome to this week's episode of Breaking Banks where we feature pieces from cohosts and Provoke.fm sister podcasts NextGen Banker and Tech on Reg.
First, David Reiling, host of NextGen Banker, interviews Sheel Mohnot cofounder of Better Tomorrow Ventures, discussing Sheel's first foray into the fintech world with a non-profit and why he’s dedicated his career to making the consumer experience better. Spoiler alert, they also talk about his recent viral wedding in the Taco Bell metaverse.
Then we shift to Biometric Signatures: The Digital Dotted Line, and Dara Tarkowski’s conversation with Matthew Gibson Co-Founder of Syngrafii. From virtual signing rooms to remote pens and more, they cover the digitization and compliance of signatures and the changed landscape of biometric signature capabilities.
In This Episode
Live from Guatemala, Brett connects with execs from Plus TI at the Monitor Plus Conference to talk about financial crime and how AI, data sharing, real-time monitoring and the balance of human and machine learning can prevent fraud, boost bank business and benefit customers.
Then, close to 90% of the world’s carbon emissions come from coastal and marine ecosystems, but there is ambiguity on how exactly to measure, manage and take advantage of its protection towards the creation of credits. In this segment from Breaking Banks Europe, host Roberto Capodieci connects with Cerulean Ventures Co-Founder, Jahed Momand. Listen as they talk carbon credits and dive into unlocking the blue carbon credits marketplace.
In This Episode
Today we feature a special anniversary episode of Breaking Banks with hosts Brett King, Jason Henrichs and JP Nicols looking back over 10 years and 500 episodes of Breaking Banks. Listen as the team reflects on highlights and their favorite moments, throughout you’ll hear from some special guests and hosts. Thank you to our loyal listeners for helping to make us the #1 global fintech podcast. Here’s to 500 more and continuing to chronicle fintech innovation around the globe. Cheers!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoQf1UNN4ac
In This Episode
Host Jason Henrichs gets spicy, and sheds a few tears, with industry experts Alex Johnson, Creator, Fintech Takes and Amy Radin, Author and Executive Advisor to Enterprises and ScaleUps in this episode of Breaking Banks.
The wings are spicy and so is the conversation as they cover current economic challenges, the crypto meltdown, BNPL, value creation, down rounds for neobanks, and everything next! This episode is HOT!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1IU9A0n8vY
In This Episode
This week on Breaking Banks a crossover episode from The Futurists featuring the dynamic duo of Robert Scoble and Brian Roemmele — prior Breaking Banks guests, tech evangelists, sought-after specialists, and highly regarded futurists. Listen as they dive into the implications of Apple’s Vision Pro with hosts Brett King, Katie King, and Brian Solis. They riff and discuss what it all means for computing, experiences, even detailing the experience of wearing the Vision Pro, the breakthroughs Apple had to make to get this far, and what likely comes next.
In This Episode
Meet Breaking Chains Crypto, a new podcast In the Breaking Banks/Provoke.fm family of podcasts that is hosted by Yield App. BreakingChains Crypto covers the news, rumors and developments in Crypto, DeFi, Web3 and what makes the industry tick. Breaking Chainsbrings an insiders perspective on the true secrets and developments, what really makes a difference in the industry, and how the most exciting coins, tokens and verticals to emerge from the industry will change the world.
In this episode, Rhys and Lucas Kiely, Yield App’s Head of Web3 and CIO, along with Ajit Tripathi, strategic advisor at Polygon Labs, discuss the current landscape and share reasons why they think the battle of the L2s is only just starting, how Chat GPT – whileincredibly useful – has striking similarities to a Big 4 consultant, and why South Korea has shown evidence that it is fertile ground forproducing some notable degens.
In This Episode
This week it's a Breaking Banks and FInovate podcast mashup as fintech luminaries opine on Finovate Spring (San Francisco). Listen as respective hosts Brett King and Greg Palmer, also VP and Director of Fintech Strategy, The Finovate Group dish with Mary Wisniewski, Editor at Large, Cornerstone Advisors; Alex Jimenez, Managing Principal, Financial Services Consulting; Theodora Lau, Founder, Unconventional Ventures and Deva Annamalai, Founder/CEO of RightFrame Consulting, a Bespoke Fintech Payments Consulting firm, and talk trends, highlights, surprises, opportunities and make a few predictions along the way.
Then Brett speaks with KakaoBank CEO Daniel Yun. KakaoBank, a South Korean neobank, is one of the most successful challenger banks out there today. Started in 2017 with a small team and through joint venture, it had 1 million customers within its first few days. Today, KakaoBank has 26 million customers and is one of the most profitable challenger banks globally. There's much to celebrate as it looks to the future and ways to innovate, expand and continue its success.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vIgzqN13Sc
In This Episode
With 80% of Americans never defaulting on a loan but less than half having a prime credit score, today we spotlight an episode of sister podcast and NextGen Banker host David Reiling's conversation with accidental banker and Leaders in Lending host, Jeff Keltner, also SVP Business Development at Upstart as they talk about using AI or predictive algorithms to improve access to affordable credit with less risk to banks, and how this technology uses larger sets of data to help understand the real risk. Tech doing its magic and continuing to make an impact.
Then we turn to another Provoke.fm podcast and Finovate host Greg Palmer's conversation with Jacqueline Baker, author, podcast host and leadership consultant, about her recent book, The Unexpected Leader: Discovering the Leader Within You. To lead it's imperative to see yourself as a leader right out of the gate. There are of course always headwinds, but everyone can be a leader, and with four levels of leadership there are many opportunities. Interestingly many of the best leaders are those that have leadership thrust upon them. You may be our next great leader! Enjoy the episode!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQkLUwOrblc
In This EpisodeSociety has grown more complex and polarized, with this comes an increased likelihood of complicated disputes. How is the legal industry evolving to deal with a hyper connected society? Dr. Cain Elliott, Head Legal Futurist, Filevine and advisor to chatbot and generative AI platforms connects with The Futurists hosts Robert Tercek and Brian Solis to delve into the legal issues around AI, not only regulatory but inside corporations with respect to how AI should be managed. With the profession digitizing to move faster and operate more efficiently, AI will have a significant impact from automation of legal functions to smart contracts. Listen as they cover the broken business model of legal services, the political and regulatory barriers to change and the transformative potential of legal tech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsZJAdYNBII
In This EpisodeThis episode begins with a special Breaking Banks mashup as Brett King and Breaking Banks Europe’s Matteo Rizzi connect with Andres Perez, Co-Founder and Director, Fintech Association of South Africa, a young non-profit born from the race to digitization, not a battle between banks and fintechs. The three year old association is dedicated to promoting and supporting the growth and development of fintech in South Africa, and is enjoying nice traction. A population of 43 million, South Africa is in a unique position with 96% of its population financially included. Recent investments and strong support indicate that there’s opportunity to be had in South Africa’s unique ecosystem. Finasa.org.za is helping champion responsible innovation, and the ability to make more of an impact through collaboration. while developing and upholding best practices and standards that prioritize consumer needs and data privacy.
Then Brett turns the focus to LatAm with a model problem that will be increasingly looked at around the world as he speaks with Yoel Gavlovski, CEO and Co-Founder, QUASH.ai, a Miami-based startup and Fintech Americas winner that is focused on an alternative approach for credit scoring and lending targeted to emerging economies. For financial institutions seeking to increase credit origination to the underserved who have thin credit files, or low to no credit reference information, Quash.ai is finding different ways to get more information on clients, transforming data and using advanced analytics to turn these clients into low risk creditworthy borrowers. Prediction as a Service, adding capacity for FI’s for better lending, using large learning models, has increased inclusion for many who would previously have been rejected. How’s this for a stat: in performance analysis, since implementation, 20% of the people who previously would have been rejected, have now been included with no added risk to the lending institutions.
https://youtu.be/3IPFWvk2QRA
In This EpisodeRelationships are important, in all aspects of life. The nature of relationships is changing — trust is a big factor in any relationship. Just like with partnerships one needs to be reliable, consistent, relatable, and credible, and there needs to be interest from all parties. In this episode, Brennan Andrews, Marketing Director, Dart Bank and James White, General Manager, Banking, Total Expert speak with Jason Henrichs about relationships in banking. They touch upon how during this downturn banks may need to rely on things like relationship lending & pricing to keep customers loyal. What is old is new again. Banks need to get back to building strong relationships with their customers, a solid relationship can be a competitive advantage and knowing your customer makes it easier to provide personalized financial wellness. It’s time to be proactive and predictive, unlocking the power of data to rethink value and how best to deliver it. It’s back to basics and competing on more than just rate. Personalization, if wrong can be worse than doing nothing, it all comes down to solid relationships!
Then, vendors can be great partners, an opportunity for financial institutions is the optimization of these relationships. In our second half, Jason connects with Cyrene Wilke, Horicon Bank’s CIO and Patricks Sells, True Digital Co-Founder on the topic of vendor selection and partnerships. You may be surprised to hear that success is not always about picking the right partner, sometimes it’s as simple as progress over perfection as no one benefits from analysis paralysis. Traction is good. Risk and compliance do of course factor into vendor selection. Banks need to be innovative, but aware of the rules. You can do great things but need to do it in a safe manner. The number of vendors banks work with, transactionally and symbiotically, adds to complexity, but the network effect can be beneficial as banks aim for best in breed and look to approach things from different perspectives. Relationships are key and banks also need to collaborate and learn from each other. It’s a delicate dance.
https://youtu.be/opww89WAXic
In This EpisodeThis special episode of Breaking Banks begins with a mashup interview with the new Lord Mayor of London, Nicholas Lyons, Brett King and Emerge Everywhere host Jennifer Tescher. The Lord Mayor of London is the mayor of the City of London and the leader of the City of London Corporation, a municipal governing body covering the historic center of London and the location of much of the United Kingdom’s financial sector. As ambassador for the UK’s Financial & Professional Services, and accorded precedence over all individuals except the sovereign, he retains traditional powers, rights and privileges, and some ceremonial duties. Look for the Lord Mayor of London at the coronation of King Charles III.
As a top global financial center, The Lord Mayor of London wants to help companies grow, scale, and stay in London and the UK. With London’s fintech success, he’s focusing on tech innovation across the board — green tech, biotech, life sciences, renewable tech — encouraging start-ups and looking to create more investment from the UK system as well as access to funding. He’s thinking 30 years ahead, framing options for the growth economy, and looking at the painful divide in society and widening gap in numeracy, financial literacy and financial inclusion — initiatives he’s working hard to address in his mayoralty. Part of the answer lies in fintech, with London all about building bridges and partnerships.
Then Brett continues the investment theme with a conversation with Alex Sion, Managing Director, Motive Partners, mentor of hundreds of start-ups and lecturer on innovation, fintech and digital strategy having co-founded a neobank himself and having led innovation efforts at Citi and JP Morgan Chase. They discuss current challenges for banking and what has happened in the startup world particularly in fintech where Silicon Valley Bank was a big supporter and validator, and what the next chapter looks like. It’s all things fintech from a VC perspective.
In This EpisodeHow many closed loop city transit cards do you have lying around? If you are a traveller you have lots of these souvenirs as every city has its own transit card or way of doing things, Can open payments and better payment systems improve public transportation and bring the unbanked into the financial ecosystem? Aaron Klein, Senior Fellow, Policy Director, Center for Regulation and Markets, Brookings Institute, not to mention former US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and US Dept of the Treasury, and Gillian Gillett, Program Manager, California Integrated Mobility, California Dept of Transportation (CADOT) think so. Listen as they share latest research and interesting insights, to include California’s adoption of new payment rails for urban transport, with host Brett King. The faster the payment, the faster we move, with implications for EVs and business. Digital inclusion remains important as is reforming how we charge for micropayments.
Our connect theme continues as we look at Fintech as a Service (FaaS) and Brett catches up with NayaOne, CEO, Karan Jain, former Westpac exec. NayaOne is helping transform how banks bring new products to market. They need only ‘Connect Once’ as the platform enables FI’s, fintechs, regulators, and industry bodies to collaborate with a pre-vetted fintech marketplace. A 2020 PwC global study showed that 75% of banks are investing in developing a more customer-focused business model by collaborating with fintechs. Banks want these partnerships, but not everyone realizes innovation the same way. Banks need to be fintech friendly and ready. Culture is important and action needs to match words if banks want to be at the leading edge and make an impact for their customers.
https://youtu.be/Ens-lMdv0AQ
In This EpisodeToday’s episode checks in on the embedded finance story, how software platforms are embedding payments and financial services into their software offerings. Listen as Brett King speaks with Becky Kopplin, Payment Strategist and Product Leader at Qualis Partners and Matt Downs, Group President, Worldpay for Platforms, FIS about what software-led, embedded payments are and how they compare with other integrated payment models. The trio cover the difference between embedded finance and embedded payments and how they affect banks, how cloud business management platforms make deeper payment workflows so attractive and where trends will take us next. The ability to offer embedded payments in context and at the moment when you need it, making it as easy as possible are key elements of success (and experience), and will help banks become increasingly more relevant in this digital age.
Brett closes by interviewing New York Times best-selling author Diana Kander about her latest book, Go Big or Go Home. In today’s hyper competitive and rapidly changing world, to succeed Kander and co-author Tucker Trotter suggest creating memorable experiences to help you land business and to ensure you are not instantly forgettable and regretfully mediocre. Whether a start up, established brand, or something in between, thoughts will be provoked.
For more information, visit FISglobal.com/WorldpayPlatforms
https://youtu.be/mCt9_hHH71o
In This EpisodeArtificial intelligence offers both risks and rewards for business leaders. On the one hand, AI has the potential to improve business operations, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and drive innovation. AI can be used to automate repetitive tasks, analyze vast amounts of data, and provide valuable insights that can inform strategic decision-making.
However, there are also risks associated with AI, such as the potential for biased or inaccurate decision-making, the possibility of job displacement, and concerns around data privacy and security. Leaders must carefully consider these risks and rewards when implementing AI in their organizations and ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to mitigate potential negative impacts.
Is there more to it than that? After all, that introduction was actually written by the AI-powered chatbot called ChatGPT, so maybe it had some built-in bias.
To dig deeper host JP Nicols speaks with a human, Al Cowger, who is an attorney and author of the book One Nation Under Algorithms: The Threats of Algorithms and AI to Civil Rights, Legal Remedies, and American Jurisprudence.
Al has a new article coming out in a technology journal at Case Western Reserve University entitled Corporate Fiduciary Duty in the Age of Algorithms, where he looks at the growing use of algorithms and artificial intelligence and the potential threats and new liabilities they may create for business managers and board members.
In our second half, the promise of conversational AI has so far been a disappointing series of chatbots helping banks reduce cost but doing little to inspire customers or improve the service experience. Can ChatGPT help the sector do better? Breaking Banks Asia Pacific hosts Rachel Williamson and Simon Spencer, resident AI expert, tackle the subject, ask ChatGPT, and offer a use case of a Singapore-based insurtech firm that is using big data and AI to help deliver their products.
In This EpisodeNo matter your sector, innovation is transforming the financial world. The impact is hitting fast and hard. At times, innovation may seem like a nice to have, especially in an uncertain market environment, but it’s clear that innovation is having a significant impact on businesses around the world.
In today’s episode of Breaking Banks, host Brett King speaks with Melissa Cullen, Global Head of Strategy, Product and Commercialization at FIS Banking Solutions; and Tony Warren, Global Head of Strategy and Solutions Management at FIS Capital Markets Solutions about findings from FIS’ 2023 Global Innovation Report. Listen as they discuss what the world’s leading financial institutions and companies think about Embedded Finance, ESG and DeFi, as well as implications of Generative AI.
Innovations are appearing faster than ever. With so much disruption — and opportunity — the industry must be all the more agile to turn the change to their advantage.
Shownotes: The full report can be accessed here: www.fisglobal.com/global-innovation-report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEwKBgI3R94
In This EpisodeIt’s another spicy episode of Breaking Banks featuring Jason Henrichs and custom hot sauce fans Kiah Haslett, Managing Editor, Bank Director and Alex Johnson, Creator, Fintech Takes. The three are back at it and always game for taste testing and discussing hot issues in financial services. Along with the sauce, we offer an entire episode on
Deposits. Are they hot or not!? Every bank wants and needs deposits, there are several types of deposits, some riskier than others. Banks need to update deposit strategies and determine their value proposition. With tech making it easy to move deposits, and every bank competing for them, lack of strategy can be dangerous. Deposit strategy and betas are coming up in discussion around SVB and
Silvergate…deposit strategy, it’s something every institution needs to think about.
Enjoy the deep dive!
In This EpisodeToday’s special episode of Breaking Banks comes to you live from Fintech House @SXSW. Listen as guest host Dara Tarkowski, Managing Partner, Actuate Law and host of Breaking Banks’ sister podcast Tech on Reg speaks with Mike Bechtel, Chief Futurist at Deloitte Consulting and David Reiling, Chairman and CEO, Sunrise Banks; Author, Fintech for Good; and host of Provoke.fm‘s NextGen Banker. These are wild times, it helps to have a futurist with a background in anthropology to put things in perspective. Where are the opportunities in evolving technology, what’s hype and nonsense? At times we are so busy wondering if we can do something, that we don’t always think if we should. Intentionality and mindfulness are good things, and mild chaos is where opportunity lies, where niches and new angles can be discovered.
In 2013 there were 2.7 billion unbanked people in the world. Today the number stands at 1.3 billion. Huge strides have been made in the last decade vs. the last hundred years. Listen as Brett King connects with Kosta Peric, Deputy Director, Financial Services for the Poor, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the second half of the show. It’s important for everyone to be part of the economy — an economy that includes everyone benefits everyone. Listen as they discuss global advances in banking and payments, digital public infrastructure, and the importance of mobile wallets and identity. Game changing innovation at work!
In This EpisodeThe banking industry is entering a perilous new phase, and new developments are happening quickly so we’re dropping this episode early. The second largest bank failure in history came suddenly with Silicon Valley Bank being shut down by regulators on March 10. This comes just two days after Silvergate bank announced it was closing “voluntarily”.
Joining our resident recovering banker and host JP Nicols are Kiah Haslett, managing editor at Bank Director, and John Maxfield principal at Maxfield on Banks, who has written extensively on the history of banking and bank failures. They examine where this all fits in the history of bank closures, why it happened, and where the risks and opportunities are from here. John argues that while scarcity is the primary constraint in most industries, for banking it’s abundance. Was a decade and a half of low to zero interest rates too much of a good thing? What’s the role of Fed interest rate hikes?
JP and John debate if banks being too boring is riskier than being too “innovative”, Kiah muses about the role of faster money movement, and she’s ready for more hot wings after all of these hot takes, but we’ll save that for a show that Jason hosts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whKMyNynkBI
In This EpisodeFinancial health is a composite of an individual’s financial life, whether they are spending, saving, borrowing and planning in ways that enable them to be resilient and pursue opportunities.
In today’s episode we look at finhealth from a different angle. Listen as Jason Henrichs speaks with two leaders bringing financial health, financial services and healthcare, to the next level. MA-based, non-profit, About Fresh and its Co-Founder and CEO, Josh Trautwein and Jennifer Tescher, President and CEO, Financial Health Network and host of Provoke.fm‘s Emerge Everywhere. Cool things are happening at the intersection of fintech, healthcare and food accessibility all with the goal to provide better health outcomes for everyone. Today we spotlight About Fresh’s Fresh Connect, a platform that enables healthcare providers to connect patients to the food they need to be healthy. With the help of a debit card, doctors prescribe free fruits and vegetables. Once enrolled in the program, the debit card enables the patient to purchase produce and healthy items at stores, farmers markets, mobile marts and online where they already shop. HIPAA compliant, the system recognizes eligible healthy foods at checkout, covering the cost. This tech enabled food prescription program is helping to transform patient care, improve health outcomes — healthcare teams can measure impact via frictionless payment technology –and provide access to healthy foods, overcoming challenges of food deserts and even branch deserts. Good things are happening in FinHealth!
https://youtu.be/CV9poQ5iS4o
In This EpisodeThis week on Breaking Banks we feature sister podcast Breaking Banks Europe as they take a sneak peek at Finovate Europe, March 14th and 15th in London. As with other Finovate conferences, get your votes ready! There will be demos aplenty, listen to learn about this year’s enhancements, stellar all-star panels, conference sustainability efforts and different networking opportunities, startup booster and… “HOT OR NOT?”
Curious? Breaking Banks Europe host Francesca Aliverti connects with Greg Palmer, VP and Master of Ceremonies, Finovate conferences, not to mention provoke.fm’s Finovate podcast host, and Theodora Lau, Unconventional Ventures, who started her speaking career several years back on the stage at Finovate. Make plans to attend in London….if we don’t see you there, make sure to listen here!
In This EpisodeThe personalization of finance is here. Listen as Brett connects with Emmanuel Daniel about his book “The Great Transition” where Emmanual, founder of The Asian Banker and global thought leader in the future of finance, outlines the transition that the finance industry will go through from its platform stage today into the personalization of finance. Personalization will have a profound effect on how institutions, markets and society will function in the network age. He introduces the term ‘financialization of everything’ to describe how entire economies will interact with cryptocurrencies, blockchain and new trends in gaming to shape the personalization of society. Predicting the future of finance.
Then, in 1992, John Hope Bryant brought a bus full of largely White corporate leaders to witness the disinvestment in South Central LA. This was the first big move for Operation HOPE, Inc., a nonprofit that John, Chairman and CEO, founded to empower underserved communities through financial literacy. In this episode from sister podcast Emerge Everywhere, John Hope Bryant and Jennifer Tescher, President and CEO, Financial Health Network, discuss everything he’s learned in the 30 years since that first bus tour – including the importance of financial inclusion and building Black wealth.
https://youtu.be/b_Y–fSi8uw
In This EpisodeMaking lemonade out of a lemon….being sued is not necessarily a bad thing, in this case it spurred the development of a personal financial management tool that is helping many clear debt and learn to budget. Gone are spreadsheets and lessons from our elders on how best to budget. It sometimes takes a village and a community, as users share tips and stories so that everyone wins. Listen as Jason Henrichs connects with Carmen Perez, CEO and Founder, Much, about her journey and inspiration in creating a budgeting app to help others win with money management. Much is changing the way people think about money and helping users take control of their financial journey.
Then we spotlight sister podcast NextGen Banker. The digital banking world is no doubt convenient. Delicia Hand wants to make sure it’s fair, too. David Reiling, host of NextGen Banker, speaks with Hand, the director of financial fairness at Consumer Reports, who helped put together a framework that evaluates how well digital financial products are working for consumers. Delicia talks about the framework — which includes principles like privacy, inclusivity and transparency — as well as how working on Capitol Hill during the Great Recession framed her perspective on developing financial policy.
In This EpisodeDreams becoming reality. This episode spotlights champions leading the way forward towards an inclusive financial ecosystem for the Black community.
In the first segment, Jason Henrichs connects with Kenya McKnight-Ahad, the CEO and Founder of Black Women’s Wealth Alliance, BWWA. BWWA resulted from combining Kenya’s background in economic development with her desire to engage with Black women about how to empower themselves financially. Kenya’s focus on improving the lives of others by illuminating and encouraging the creation of generational wealth, as well as her passion for entrepreneurism and community building, has created health & wellness opportunities for Black women, providing wealth education, business support services, small grant program, career services, and a building, ZaRah where Black women can flourish. Kenya worked with Mary Stoick, SVP Director of Tax Credit Lending, Sunrise Banks to make ZaRah happen. Sunrise Banks is truly more than just a bank, it helps in fulfilling dreams. BWWA is well on its way with its new incubator space and furthering of Black community building.
Then meet Damon Jenkins, SVP and Regional Market President, Twin Cities for First Independence Bank and Bryan Toft, CRO, Sunrise Banks. First Independence Bank’s mission is to deliver financial services with an affinity for under-served and minority communities, and Sunrise Banks is focused on creating financial empowerment for all as a socially-responsible community bank. Together they discuss how banks have fallen short of true inclusivity. Banks need to be close to their community and not tone deaf to how their practices affect the people they serve. The trust gap is real and everyone’s experiences are different. Connection is important for trust, banks need to both meet people where they are and do a better job communicating how banking can be beneficial for building wealth. In building cultures of inclusivity, there is the need to understand the issues, problems and how best to solve them, this is important inside the bank and out. Social responsibility and banking on values can create partnerships, opportunities to combine resources and help more people faster, creating systemic change, building futures and equitable outcomes, The future of Black finance is bright.
In This EpisodeLive from AOBA (Acquire or Be Acquired Conference)! As bank leadership and executives focus on strategy & growth, explore paths to creating more value and the evolving competitive landscape, Jason Henrichs, Alex Johnson and Mary Wisniewski take time out to gather around the firepit to problem solve and offer up some spicy takes and take-outs.
Banking is complex, redflag those that don’t recognize that. Competition, economic challenges and friction can garner results, leading to business opportunities and new business models for those looking to differentiate and innovate. As banks continue to fight for deposits, the trio cover fintech partnerships, affinity groups, fees – those that cost and the idea of subscription, debt – both a trap and tool, and how some critical parts of banking are just plain squishy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH-OwqRhlTs
In This EpisodeRising competition, changing customer expectations, and the fight for talent are top of mind these days. With possible regulatory changes and economic fluctuations, it’s essential that banks remain focused and agile. Brett King, Jason Henrichs, James White, Banking Industry Principal, Total Expert, and Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer, Cornerstone Advisors and Forbes’ Fintech Snark Tank author engage in a lively discussion on the value of agility in banking. Tomorrow’s winners will be proactive, finding innovative ways to remain nimble, to make sure that their financial institution stays on the right track.
Then meet Breaking Banks’ newest sister podcast, Breaking Banks Asia Pacific and host Rachel Williamson as she looks at open banking in India. Open banking is opening the door for millions of people to take part in the formal banking sector, be it an individual opening a bank account or a small business getting a loan. Rachel and Smita Aggarwal, Global Investments Advisor, Flourish Ventures, with 30+ years experience as a banker with some of India’s biggest banks, discuss how new business models are being built in a region of empowered citizens who are more data rich than economically rich. #opportunity #financialinclusion
https://youtu.be/YSmJ4r_xl3g
In This EpisodeRising competition, changing customer expectations, and the fight for talent are top of mind these days. With possible regulatory changes and economic fluctuations, it’s essential that banks remain focused and agile. Brett King, Jason Henrichs, James White, Banking Industry Principal, Total Expert, and Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer, Cornerstone Advisors and Forbes’ Fintech Snark Tank author engage in a lively discussion on the value of agility in banking. Tomorrow’s winners will be proactive, finding innovative ways to remain nimble, to make sure that their financial institution stays on the right track.
Then meet Breaking Banks’ newest sister podcast, Breaking Banks Asia Pacific and host Rachel Williamson as she looks at open banking in India. Open banking is opening the door for millions of people to take part in the formal banking sector, be it an individual opening a bank account or a small business getting a loan. Rachel and Smita Aggarwal, Global Investments Advisor, Flourish Ventures, with 30+ years experience as a banker with some of India’s biggest banks, discuss how new business models are being built in a region of empowered citizens who are more data rich than economically rich. #opportunity #financialinclusion
In This EpisodeThe U.S. can be a tough and complex regulatory environment. Listen as Brett catches up with Peter Hazlehurst, Co-Founder and CEO, Synctera. Peter’s background with Uber Money, consumer payments at Google and experience creating financial products for banks, fintechs, and large tech companies has helped create an end to end platform to enable fintech builders to create products with embedded banking and card issuance. Aside from the need for regulatory clarity, they cover KYC, global identity verification and portability (can Apple and Google help?) and some interesting specialized neobanks.
Then, Brett King and his The Futurists co-host Robert Tercek, connect with payment tech expert David Birch, author of “Before Babylon, Beyond Bitcoin”, “The Currency Cold War”, and “Identity is the New Money” about all things identity and digital assets…it all gets very interesting indeed!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Dy3RDuUzA
In this Episode:
As the costs of meeting customer expectations and competitive pressures continue to rise, more banks are considering mergers and acquisitions to gain scale and stay relevant, but there are deep structural regulatory constraints that can often be an impediment. Everything from the way geographic boundaries are defined, to the way competition is measured to the way products and services are evaluated have mid-twentieth century origins that don’t seem well-suited for today’s financial services landscape.
As we lead up to Bank Director’s Acquire or Be Acquired (AOBA) conference, Kiah Haslett, Managing Editor for Bank Director magazine, joins us to walk through some of the increasingly outdated modes of analysis, some of the ways regulators are planning updates, and what “good” and “bad” mergers look like. We also debate whether it’s all enough to achieve the stated goals of maintaining competitive markets for the good of the public, and Kiah draws on her experience as a soccer referee to show a few yellow cards to the industry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTAPar8eNZo
In This EpisodeIt’s an epic episode as Breaking Banks kicks off its 10th year. This week we offer you a megamix and extended play as Jason Henrichs, Brett King and JP Nicols chat with 10 industry all-stars about what is next in financial services. Big predictions from big names! Henri Arslanian, David Birch, Leda Glyptis, Theo Lau, Liz Lumley, Jim Marous, Ron Shevlin, Paolo Sironi, Chris Skinner and Mary Wisniewski. Cheers to 2023!!
https://youtu.be/A73dCMkoPYA
In This EpisodeFor the last show of 2022 we end the year by looking back at how we started it. Brett, Jason, and JP made some 2022 predictions, listen to find out just how clear their crystal balls were.
Spoiler alert: None predicted the crash in crypto prices or bankruptcy filings by some of the biggest platform players, global price spikes, or Twitter being taken private by Elon Musk, but we did get a few things right.
The hosts all agreed on the need for financial institutions to better vet and manage fintech partnerships and the need to have a viable strategy beyond traditional M&A.
Jason saw fintech valuations coming back to earth, a slow down of the fintech funding frenzy, and some early cracks in the foundations of interchange. Brett was looking forward to advances in AI, AR and VR. All were cautiously optimistic on the sufficiency and efficacy of the technical and compliance infrastructure to support the global growth of crypto and defi.
Join us next week for a forecast megamix for 2023 and a celebration…2023 marks 10 years of Breaking Banks!
https://youtu.be/V_9qozsCGnc
In This EpisodeBanking leaders aren’t confident that they have the tools in place to effectively serve Generation Z customers, those born between 1997-2012. David Stillman, Founder of GenGuru and co-author of Gen Z @ Work says this lack of confidence is well-founded. He draws on his decades of research to talk about the challenges of meeting the needs of five different generations of customers, why Gen Z doesn’t want work/life balance, and how Gen Xers can avoid making the same mistakes with Gen Z that the Boomers made with Millennials.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjcG-AtPy3k
In This EpisodeIn venture timing is everything, it can make you or crush you. Listen as host Amber Buker speaks with former entrepreneur, CEO, current investor, active board member for public companies, and General Partner, Ken Denman, Sway Ventures about his varied career. He thoughtfully shares executive, strategic and operational insights from his experiences, and touches upon his love of looking around corners. In a tough market like today, you need to give yourself a runway (24 months may be the new 12 months!), figure out the North Star and keep your eyes wide open as to what the future holds. Great companies are built in downturns.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAhORmw3yNo
In This EpisodeRegulatory scrutiny as it relates to banks and fintech partners is starting to get hot as regulators get more vocal. This week on Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs covers this and more with his guests Kirsten Muetzel, Chief Risk Officer, Fundid; Keith Evans, VP, VMO, First Northern Bank; and Clayton Mitchell, Principal, Crowe LLP. Listen as they discuss the regulatory complexity of creating fintech partnerships, vendors as partners and the value of these partnerships as financial institutions work their way down the Yellow Brick Road.
Then, Dara Tarkowski, host of Provoke.fm‘s Tech on Reg speaks with Resolver’s Amanda Cohen, Director of Products about Reg-Tech and risk management. Resolver is changing the landscape of risk management by analyzing risk data in context to use risk as strategy in business development. By leveraging this type of tech, modern businesses are now able to keep a pulse on the regulatory market and transform into risk-intelligent entities.
https://youtu.be/Sbl6LHkAlKY
In This EpisodeHost Jason Henrichs kicks today’s episode off with song — it’s not to be missed and neither are the conversations with Michael Kitces, Nerd’s Eye View and then Theodora Lau, Unconventional Ventures. The markets are a bit frightful and there is strain on individuals and financial service providers. Our guests address the role of technology and empathy.
Michael covers the role tech plays in financial planning. Much has been said of robo-advisors but there are parts of the process and the trusted advisor relationship that can’t be digitized. Tech makes you efficient but advice delivery, expertise and deep financial advisor relationships can’t be automated. Tech doesn’t supplant the human, it augments the human relationship, the right combination changing individual trajectories.
Money is emotional and current situations have people stressed. Theo addresses empathy. People need help managing money; many don’t have the right data, tools to take action, and lack discipline. Debt is going up and, with record inflation, savings are dwindling. A recent Tik Tok trend shows younger generations budgeting the way the Greatest Generation did…a.k.a. the envelope method. How do we help people understand implications before it’s too late? We need to keep learning, Tech and empathy– opposite ends of the spectrum — are they at odds?
https://youtu.be/zNPN51DXchE
In honor of Native American Heritage Month and Day (11/25) we have an incredible episode hosted by Amber Buker and Jason Henrichs. First, Amber speaks with Dawson Her Many Horses, SVP & Head of Native American Banking about Wells Fargo's new report on Indian Country’s Once-In-a-Seven Generation Opportunity. Wells Fargo is a leading provider of capital for the native american and Alaska native markets banking 4 out of 10 federally recognized tribes in the US, equating to roughly $3B in credit commitments and $3.9 billion in deposits. Incredible but often invisible opportunities exist to partner with tribal economies.
Then Jason sits down with Amber to talk about what inspired her to start Totem. You need only listen to the founding story and Amber's interest in aligning opportunities with mission to understand. What better way to help others than by starting an identity-focused bank! Totem, a truly mission driven company, supporter and advocate for native culture with a goal to create pathways to financial inclusion for Native Americans through digital banking — closing gaps in service in this market, taking friction out of the system and creating value. Banking by and for Native Americans, the fastest growing racial demographic on the 2020 census (160% population jump vs. 2010).
Yakoke (Thanks in Choctaw) for listening, enjoy the episode!
https://youtu.be/-LUp03vgM4M
The party goes on....or does it? Are we back to normal before things went crazy? Jason kicks this episode off with a conversation with Jason Mikula, Fintech Business Weekly. They dive into one of JH's favorite topics....interchange! Listen as The Jasons discuss payments, rewards, mobile wallets and the rise of commerce players (Walmart and Amazon) becoming more fintech focused with what they do.
Then JP connects with Nick Chandi, CEO and Co-Founder, Forward AI created to solve SMB cash flow problems. It's difficult for small businesses to share their accounting data with banks and other financial players to speed access to secure financing. Forward AI’s API enables SMBs to connect in an easy way to share data and bridges a gap for financial institutions, lenders and other fintechs to help SMBs stay financially healthy.
This week JP Nicols continues exploring the risks and opportunities in the global economy and how to balance fraud and friction with these live recordings from Money 20/20 in Las Vegas.
We start in Latin America, with Sergio Almageur. Founder and CEO of Yaydoo, which simplifies finance with its B2B payment automation tools and helps small businesses manage invoices, payables, receivables, and cross-border payments.
Then we connect with Misha Esipov from Nova Credit and discuss how they’re addressing the challenges of immigrants and expats getting credit in the U.S. Listen to learn how to unlock opportunities for those historically excluded from the credit system and companies looking to serve them, and how Nova Credit recently partnered with HSBC to provide the bank with global access to its cross-border credit data product.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyWWHTLViIo
This week JP Nicols continues exploring the risks and opportunities in the global economy and how to balance fraud and friction with these live recordings from Money 20/20 in Las Vegas.
We start in Latin America, with Sergio Almageur. Founder and CEO of Yaydoo, which simplifies finance with its B2B payment automation tools and helps small businesses manage invoices, payables, receivables, and cross-border payments.
Then we connect with Misha Esipov from Nova Credit and discuss how they’re addressing the challenges of immigrants and expats getting credit in the U.S. Listen to learn how to unlock opportunities for those historically excluded from the credit system and companies looking to serve them, and how Nova Credit recently partnered with HSBC to provide the bank with global access to its cross-border credit data product.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyWWHTLViIo
If you want to play the game, learn the players. Listen as Amber Buker records live from the MoneyPot podcast booth at M20/20 with Kelsey Weaver, a Founder, Investor, Bank Board Member and Philanthropist, and Siya Vansia, SVP, Chief Brand and Innovation Officer, ConnectOne Bank. The OG Fintech Girl Gang members share insights on what fintechs need to do as investment dollars tighten and how bank investors are creating new paradigms that recognize value is not the same as valuation.
Then, futurist and humanist Gerd Leonard joins Brett King and Robert Tercek to talk about a positive future, one that is inclusive, sustainable and purpose driven. What kind of world do we want? As talk turns to putting things in action and global perspectives, they cover tech & reboots, regulation, NFTs and crypto.
https://youtu.be/Gp2e4ZsRo94
If you want to play the game, learn the players. Listen as Amber Buker records live from the MoneyPot podcast booth at M20/20 with Kelsey Weaver, a Founder, Investor, Bank Board Member and Philanthropist, and Siya Vansia, SVP, Chief Brand and Innovation Officer, ConnectOne Bank. The OG Fintech Girl Gang members share insights on what fintechs need to do as investment dollars tighten and how bank investors are creating new paradigms that recognize value is not the same as valuation.
Then, futurist and humanist Gerd Leonard joins Brett King and Robert Tercek to talk about a positive future, one that is inclusive, sustainable and purpose driven. What kind of world do we want? As talk turns to putting things in action and global perspectives, they cover tech & reboots, regulation, NFTs and crypto.
https://youtu.be/Gp2e4ZsRo94
Everyone talks about reducing friction, but could there be too much of a good thing? New research shows that in processes like account opening making it too easy actually reduce’s the customer’s confidence. Today’s theme is about balancing fraud and friction in the global economy… in identity verification, onboarding, payments, payroll, and more. First JP Nicols talks with Michael Ramsbacker, Chief Product Officer from Trulioo, then Eynat Guez, Cofounder and CEO of Papaya Global joins the show.These are the first of several interviews from Money 20/20 in Las Vegas, where we’re recording live. In coming shows you’ll hear more interviews from Jason Henrichs. Amber Buker, and Chloe James with other experts and entrepreneurs.
https://youtu.be/xMZx8qVbeps
A boutique bank with a big vision! Seattle Bank's Josh Williams, EVP Chief Banking Officer and Head of Partnerships speaks with Jason Henrichs about Seattle Bank's forward-leaning approach and how they are leveraging tech to guide BaaS partnerships. Call it BaaS' second era, they talk about the next iteration of BaaS, embedded finance, and what banks have to get right if they want to compete in the space. Seattle Bank is keeping its eye on the puck and where it's going as they continue to solve client and market problems.
Then, "Deep Tech" is transforming every industry. Tricia Martinez, Managing Director Techstars, Industries of the Future Acceleratorcovers Deep Tech. What is Deep Tech? Tech that addresses deep engineering and science driven problems such as AI, biotech, quantumcomputing...tech with potential to revolutionize industry and problems our world is up against. As an example we connect with Spiky.ai’s Co-Founder Furkan Eris. Spiky.ai powers and increases the engagement of forward thinking companies with the goal to use data to empower everyone. Trust and human connection is so important in financial services, as things go more digital, how do you ensure effective communication, improve management and assessment, and make the most of your team, with the goal to get the best out of everyone? Forward-thinking tech!
https://youtu.be/9us83y5WjZ0
Work practices have changed. Attracting and retaining talent is more critical than ever. There are three pillars in helping generate meaningful work behavior -- character, leadership and culture -- all three so important. Listen as Brett King speaks with Making Meaningful Work authors Daniel Szuc and Jo Wong about how these pillars and soft skills are needed to make work more human. With digital nomads adopting different working styles, how do you create culture? The three M's will help with that!
Then, sustainability and climate are key initiatives for our global community. David Reiling, host of Provoke.fm's Next Gen Banker, covers these in the second half of the episode as he speaks with Marilyn Waite, lead of the Climate Finance Fund, a $75 million philanthropic platform covering the markets of China, Europe and the United States. Fintechs can play a key role in these initiatives, they'll get into that as well as positive change, Carbon Accounting Financials and hopes for tomorrow's banker.
https://youtu.be/faJE0CA9m60
Back to life, back to reality . Or at least back to "in real life." Conferences are back. Finovate had its largest show ever in New York City and the Provoke team is crisscrossing the globe to speak, record and fight. That's right, fintech fight club made another appearance at Finovate with Lindsay Davis of Atomic squaring off against Mary Wisniewski from Bankrate. The best fight yet and it's available at provoke.fm
This week far fewer punches but Jim Marous, Chloe James and Jason Henrichs talk about all things Finovate. One of the key takeaways from the return to in person is the awkward "how do I end this conversation" in real life vs. online. Jason demonstrates how much easier it is online by hanging up on Jim! Then Chloe connects with Sam Kilmer, Cornerstone Advisors and Robert James Lay, Digital Growth Institute. WIth current volatility what wins deals and how has deal-making changed? New patterns, new approaches and opportunities to transform banking for good.
We hope to see you in person soon too!
https://youtu.be/hEP2L3wHw68
Opportunity abounds for those willing to go after things differently. Being a fast follower doesn't work, fintech is compromising the model and traditional infrastructure is being pushed on. It's time to solve hard problems!
After crisscrossing the globe to speak at industry events, meet with leaders and record, the Breaking Banks hosts are all at their mics to talk about global trends in innovation, fintech and broader tech, and the effect on incumbent banks and challenger banks. They offer a mix of insights and perspectives on what they're seeing, where they think things are going and what industry leaders should do as we head into the 4th quarter and strategic planning season for 2023 and beyond!
https://youtu.be/0OPEeYxkKJY
Opportunity abounds for those willing to go after things differently. Being a fast follower doesn't work, fintech is compromising the model and traditional infrastructure is being pushed on. It's time to solve hard problems!
After crisscrossing the globe to speak at industry events, meet with leaders and record, the Breaking Banks hosts are all at their mics to talk about global trends in innovation, fintech and broader tech, and the effect on incumbent banks and challenger banks. They offer a mix of insights and perspectives on what they're seeing, where they think things are going and what industry leaders should do as we head into the 4th quarter and strategic planning season for 2023 and beyond!
https://youtu.be/0OPEeYxkKJY
Some like it hot and that would include the regulators. The acting comptroller of currency has been very public about unseen risks and unintended consequences that can disrupt the financial system. Kiah Haslett, Managing Editor at Bank Director and Alex Johnson, creator of Fintech Takes and host Jason Henrichs break it down while eating hot wings. This episode is hotter than the Trinidad Scorpion sauce that almost made Jason cry.
https://youtu.be/vQlJ-HB8OLM
Building trust with those who never opted-in and those who opted-out of the system is central in today's conversation with three founders from two neobanks that are making a difference, Obsidian Bank's Damon Kirk and Steven Farrar, and Totem’s Amber Buker. Each neobank has it's unique needs and challenges, but there is commonality. Obsidian Bank serving the Black Community and Totem the Native American community. The segment is enlightening, each is an active participant in the community they serve, For Us By Us!
Then, Jason Henrichs connects with Asra Nadeem, Draper University -- it's not a college or university -- it's an accelerator for entrepreneurs. They talk about Draper's mission, programs and success as well as Draper Startup House's participation in Fintech Islands (Barbados, startup event), spotlighting founders of a diverse group of early-stage fintechs. The fintech ecosystem in the Caribbean is relatively new but evolving rapidly, the islands representing a substantial market opportunity and an attractive environment for building new fintechs and the expansion of existing companies globally.
https://youtu.be/rcwnFZxtmdg
Interested in both a positive, beneficial relationship with information and excelling at work and other ventures? Listen as Ross Dawson and Brett King discuss Ross's latest book, Thriving on Overload, and cover topics like flourishing in an accelerating world. Achieve superior outcomes in all aspects of your life by developing 5 powers that together enable extraordinary performance: purpose, framing, filtering, attention, and synthesis. Become an information master!
But first, fresh from Fintech DevCon, Jason Henrichs speaks with Jared Jones (Ecosystem Lead, Moov) about the importance of vulnerability, even for developers in our space, and the need to humanize tech.
https://youtu.be/45oOSa0fVRI
In Episode 444, we feature a segment on what makes Australia a great environment for fintech innovators. Our series continues with this episode’s focus on payments.
First, Brett connects with Paul Byrne, CEO of Zai, a paytech company boldly transforming the future of financial services, powering mid-market and enterprise level business customers, and automating payment workflow so executives can focus on running their businesses. Then Brett speaks with Damian Kassabgi, Head of International Public Policy at Block, parent company of Afterpay, a phenomenal Australian success story. Damian’s business acumen and strong grasp of public policy offer a valuable combination that makes for an insightful conversation.
Finally, Brett connects with Henri Arslanian at Consensus 2022 to discuss Henri’s latest book, The Book of Crypto: The Complete Guide to Understanding Bitcoin, Cryptocurrencies and Digital Assets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xl4nS74UVQ
Learn about 5 practical strategies to unlock innovation, connect with customers and grow. In this week's episode Jason Henrichs and Jim Marous, The Financial Brand, interview Allison Netzer and Liz High about their book Think Like A Brand Not A Bank. Maybe you don't necessarily put the customer first. Great brands get great returns every time.
Then Brett King takes over the mic with his The Futurist co-host Robert Tercek as they speak with Glenn White about the Metaverse as a Branding Statement. In the digital domain, marketing is technology. Glenn White builds advertising systems for brand managers inside game worlds. In this segment, Glenn explains the complex strategic decisions that govern how brand advertising will evolve in the Metaverse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCCtHLUatNI
In This Episode
In this episode, host JP Nicols connects with Greg Palmer of Finovate about new entrants in the fintech space, companies spotlighting new launches who are eager to share their tech and what they can do for our industry at Finovate Fall. Finovate is all about showcasing cutting-edge banking and financial technology, supporting new companies and new ideas, particularly those not exactly in the mainstream now but looking to tackle upcoming challenges.
We finish with Fintech Fight Club Cage Match Edition with MC Greg Palmer, referee JP Nicols, and fintech fighters Wade "Moov and Groove" Arnold, Lindsay "Knockout" Davis, Ambika "The Bay Area Bruiser" Sharma, and Ron "The Shiv" Shevlin. It's a battle of ideas and perspectives...pros and cons...an entertaining and thought-provoking format. Enjoy the match!
https://youtu.be/ZsGpvKXgB9g
In This Episode
In this week’s episode Brett King and Robert Tercek, Brett’s The Futurists cohost, interview two-time presidential candidate, entrepreneur, journalist and futurist, Zoltan Istvan. We dive into how the species might evolve to adapt to living with AI, a changing climate and even to life off-planet. It's controversial, dynamic and the philosophy and ethics of humanity are front and center in the debate. We’ll see you in the future!
https://youtu.be/8ocmx8IS33o
Today, Brett King and David Birch connect with two executives from FIS about bank board-level conversations they are having. Listen as Himal Makwana, SVP Head of Product Strategy & New Initiatives and Fiaz Sindhu, VP Mid-tier and Community Banks cover discussions andstrategies for banks to be competitive in the crypto space, how bank clients are engaging with crypto today, and how banks can be moreinvolved in the sweeping changes that crypto and blockchain are having on tradfi.
Then Amber Buker speaks with Parker Graham, CEO of Finotta, a fintech helping banks personalize their mobile experiences with financial journeys that take the friction out of cross selling. Parker's background as former tackle with the Baltimore Ravens and then aprivate banker provides a colorful backdrop to his founder story. Parker formed Finotta after a sharp pivot from wealth tech, reemergingjust months later with a key customer and new funding.
https://youtu.be/jHOPz7iKXa0
This week on Breaking Banks hosts Jason Henrichs and Brett King catch up with DIVINE, Victor D. Lombard CEO & Founder, about his new startup Solvent, an AIO financial empowerment and wealth building platform for the system impacted, and Denise Quashie head of AWS Impact Accelerator for Black Founders, with Solvent one of 25 in this cohort, where black founders get the resources, training, tech and support needed to scale their startup faster, the accelerator works with startups in and out of the fintech space.
Then Jason connects with Ben Borodach -- Co-Founder and CEO, April Tax and Ronen Assia, Managing Partner, Team8 Fintech on ways to make taxes, well, less taxing.
https://youtu.be/SRoP-Px0Leg
Techcrunch reports fintech accounted for 21% of all venture capital dollars raised in 2021. When things go up, they also have a Newtonian way of coming down. The same article says that 10% of all layoffs in Q2 came from the fintech sector. Neobanks such as Chime, Nubank, Klarna and Revolut were rocketships that now have pulled IPOs and taken massive valuation haircuts. Does this signal the end of neobanking? Ron Shevlin, Chris Skinner and Jason Henrichs debate what's next for the neos. In the second half, Amber Buker, former partner at Alloy Labs where she led strategic insights, decided a global economic meltdown was the perfect time to start, wait for it, a neobank. Tune in to hear it isn't crazy as it sounds. She even convinced Alloy Labs Alchemist fund to invest. That's both a disclosure and vote of confidence. This week on Breaking Banks - is it the end or the end of an era?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRREcQRMxqQ
This week we have a particularly spicy guest... Simon Taylor, writer of Fintech Brainfood, one of the best weekend reads on all things fintech, formerly head of ventures at 11FS and now Head of Strategy and Content for Sardine. Despite the time difference, Simon and Jason Henrichs dig into some real brainfood with some Hot Wings and Hot Takes on the future of fintech, why Web3 matters and why the intersection with KYC and risk management practices could completely upturn traditional finance.
In the second half, Chrissy Oelke who spearheads UX at Horicon Bank and Jason talk about Horicon’s journey towards personalization. The genesis of this conversation was a panel Chrissy and Jason did for Total Expert. Here Jason takes the opportunity to understand Horicon Bank's why behind the decision to embark on a user experience overhaul, the challenges they've faced and the road ahead.
https://youtu.be/dw6jBkyZNpQ
In Episode 444, we feature a segment on what makes Australia a great environment for fintech innovators. Our series continues with this episode's focus on payments.
First, Brett connects with Paul Byrne, CEO of Zai, a paytech company boldly transforming the future of financial services, powering mid-market and enterprise level business customers, and automating payment workflow so executives can focus on running their businesses. Then Brett speaks with Damian Kassabgi, Head of International Public Policy at Block, parent company of Afterpay, a phenomenal Australian success story. Damian's business acumen and strong grasp of public policy offer a valuable combination that makes for an insightful conversation.
Finally, Brett connects with Henri Arslanian at Consensus 2022 to discuss Henri's latest book, The Book of Crypto: The Complete Guide to Understanding Bitcoin, Cryptocurrencies and Digital Assets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xl4nS74UVQ
Host Jason Henrich's gets spicy, and sheds a few tears, with industry experts Alex Johnson, Creator, Fintech Takes and Amy Radin, Author and Executive Advisor to Enterprises and ScaleUps in today’s episode of Breaking Banks.
The wings are spicy and so is the conversation as they cover current economic challenges, the crypto meltdown, BNPL, value creation, down rounds for neobanks, and everything next! This episode is HOT!
https://youtu.be/SOao88VCeIk
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a press release on April 25th that it was invoking a dormant authority that allows it to examine nonbank companies posing risks to consumers. That’s pretty broad and seems pretty scary. Listen to Dara Tarkowski, host of the Tech on Reg podcast, and Jason Henrichs break down the legal realities and implications in the first half before being joined by Lindsay Davis of Atomic and Alex Johnson of Fintech Takes to riff on the potential industry impact.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkSzt6M8a4k
In today's compelling episode host Jason Henrichs speaks with Alyona Mysko, CEO and Founder of Fuel, a Ukrainian company. Fuel, a cloud-based financial department, helps startups by acting as their finance function, navigating what can be tough waters, so CEOs and CFOs can focus and make smart business decisions and projections. Figuring a scalable business model is hard enough - now imagine being a fintech company figuring the business for scaling Saas and ecommerce startups while in an actual - not metaphorical - warzone, with the attendant real worries of keeping team members and family safe.
Then, what do faster payments mean for the future of fintech? Greg Palmer, host of sister podcast Finovate, speaks with Dwolla's CEO, Brady Harris about open banking, innovations and developments in payments, quicker access to funds, and A2A. How we move money continues to evolve.
https://youtu.be/mdRDb6Dgueo
In this episode Brett King returns to his roots to explore investment opportunities in and from Australia, how Australian capability can act as a launch pad for global innovations and investments within the fintech and insurtech ecosystems. Our guests Simone Dossetor, Insurtech Australia, CEO; Ben Smith, Railsbank, Chief Operating Officer (APAC) and Christie Downs, CEO & Co-Founder, handdii, cover how the rise of embedded solutions creates new financial services distribution models in the fintech and insurtech markets. Listen as Railsbank, which expanded into Australia, and handdii, an Australian claim fulfillment and property repair startup that expanded into the U.S., share their journeys.Then Brett interviews Chris Skinner, CEO of the Finansier and independent commentator on the financial markets about his latest book, Digital for Good: Stand For Something or You Will Fall. The book focuses on how technology and finance can work together to address the environmental and social issues we face today and make a better world.
https://youtu.be/uBMQtr4EQsM
In this weeks mashup Breaking Banks and The Futurists podcasts interview pioneering technologist Brad Templeton. In a discussion ranging from the creation of the commercial internet, the battle for our future, to ethical AI and the likely roll out of autonomous vehicles, we cover a lot of ground. But at the heart of this discussion is how technology is reframing society and why those looking to the past are likely to be left behind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thGkxyVLpxc
In today's episode of Breaking Banks, we feature two of our sister podcasts, each with an eye to the future.We start with Jennifer Tescher's EMERGE Everywhere. Jennifer sits down with Shamina Singh, Founder and President of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, to discuss the quest for a more sustainable and equitable future, and how she's developing solutions to make the global economy work for everyone.
Then, we introduce you to the newest podcast in the Breaking Banks' family, The Futurists with hosts Robert Tercek and Brett King, as they take you into the future with renowned thought leaders who are creating the future of tomorrow. In this piece we spotlight PJ Manney, a leading thinker focusing on the impact of artificial intelligence in respect to ethics and how humanity will adapt. See you in the future!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwPaUcP1c7Q
Businesses founded by women deliver high revenue, and it's no secret, closing the gender equity gap would lead to an increase in GDP. There are a lot of economic reasons to support gender equality, but what exactly does it mean, and how can leaders go about creating change so that we can all reap the benefits of elevating women? Host Amber Buker dives into this and more in today's episode.
First, Amber explores investing through a gender lens with Heidi Patel. Heidi began her career in traditional finance and did a tour in corporate VC before finding her passion in impact investing. Heidi serves as the Managing Partner for Rethink Impact, a fund that supports women-run companies in sustainability, ed tech, digital healthcare, and economic empowerment.
Then, Amber is joined by gender economist, Katica Roy. Katica is CEO and Founder of Denver-based Pipeline Equity, an award-winning SaaS company that leverages artificial intelligence to drive economic gains through gender equity. Katica shares compelling statistics and some Incredible insights you won’t want to miss.
https://youtu.be/GNc7kxnFfdc
Today Jason Henrichs speaks with Fintech Futures about their first ever Banking Tech Awards USA, to celebrate the outstanding achievements and successes of the US' best and brightest in the financial technology sector. He goes in depth with independent judges, Mary Wisniewski from Bankrate and Lisa Moyle, VC Innovations UK about what they noted as they judged the various categories. It will come as no surprise that the list of categories has grown, and with that overall entries. It isn't just startups that are leading innovations, there are lots of established banks, community banks, and new banks coming in hot!
It's an engaging episode with so many delivering at pace, and with greater personalization and understanding of the needs of consumers. Innovation is indeed evolving!
https://youtu.be/8xqr8a9TzfU
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a press release on April 25th that it was invoking a dormant authority that allows it to examine nonbank companies posing risks to consumers. That's pretty broad and seems pretty scary. Listen to Dara Tarkowski, host of the Tech on Reg podcast, and Jason Henrichs break down the legal realities and implications in the first half before being joined by Lindsay Davis of Atomic and Alex Johnson of Fintech Takes to riff on the potential industry impact.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkSzt6M8a4k
In today's episode, Jason Henrichs connects with Jo K Jagadish to discuss TD's innovation journey. As EVP, Head of Corporate Products, Services and Innovation, Jo centers TD product design efforts on customers, even corporate customers, figuring pains, gains and jobs to be done, rather than finding solutions and looking for a problem. Design thinking is leading the way and enabling TD to think small and then scale large to benefit customers and the financial institution.
Then, host Amber Buker shares an engaging conversation with one of Forbes' 30 under 30 (Venture Capital 2022) and co-Fintech Girl Gang member, Jillian Williams. Jillian is a Principal at Cowboy Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm where she applies her deep expertise in fintech and SaaS startups. Jillian started on the fintech investing path via a stop at Barclays before fintech was cool! Listen as she shares her journey and the intellectual rabbit holes she's falling down lately thinking about the future of finance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-jlkH17QGA
In this episode, Breaking Banks host Amber Buker speaks with Keri Cain, SVP at Regent Bank. Personal experience shapes us all, but Keri's experience and unique perspective is helping many and also Regent Bank build a new business line as architect of Regent's multi-state cannabis banking operation. It's a compelling episode, her background in retail, unique perspective and personal experiences having shaped how she leads the way forward at this not-so regional bank in Oklahoma.
https://youtu.be/cKXg8wrq_8o
In this week's episode of Breaking Banks host Amber Buker speaks with James Turgal, VP Optiv. As a former Assistant Director of the FBI Information and Technology Branch he's worked it all. Cybersecurity and ransomware are top of mind, learn how collective defense and one act of collaboration can have an exponential effect on combating cyberthreats. Thereafter, we take a deep breath and connect with Lisa Warner, President, AMP Creative who from the Learning & Development space shares how mindfulness is the cornerstone of a human firewall. Combine the practice with full body decision-making and you will make it difficult for cybercriminals to hack your brain!
https://youtu.be/dUhGuRD_8aw
In this special presentation from Breaking Banks, a very comprehensive report on China's Central Bank Digital Currency trial. With global experts including Richard Turrin, Henri Arslanian, Ruth Wandhöfer and Dave Birch, interviews of citizens using the digital currency on the ground and recent coverage across mainstream media, this is the single most important episode on CBDC development we've ever attempted. We hope you enjoy this special production from the team at Breaking Banks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvhpowbmHjA
The key to deep relationships and customer success? Host JP Nicols and Joe Welu, CEO and Founder, Total Expert have an insightful conversation. CRM and the process are often misunderstood but done properly can lead to an incredible customer journey and deep relationships that help customers, while also enabling you to cross-sell the right offerings to give customers what they need — offering the right products at the right time. Cross-selling can be an ugly word, but banking and lending platforms working together to better understand the customer, and vision into the information, can deliver the perfect customer journey and a lifelong relationship enabling customers to accomplish goals, meet needs and important life milestones. Human first, not product first. Improve communication and engagement. Data to insights to action leads to outcomes.
In our second segment we look at NFTs. Non-fungible tokens are presently all the rage, they were a hot topic at SXSW. Is this newest blockchain application the future of collection and distribution of digital assets or just more hype? Blockchain professor, Lamont Black, of DePaul University joins Breaking Banks' sister podcast Tech on Reg host Dara Tarkowski to discuss just that. What is an NFT? What do you actually own? How will the regulators treat this new asset? Commodity? Security? Substituted value? It depends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kujIQQAQLkY
We start this week's show with a PSA for those unable to make it to Austin and SXSW. You need only listen to host Jason Henrich's recap to feel the energy and understand the value of looking at fintech through a different lens, the chance to discover burgeoning tech startups, and rethink opportunities for financial services.
In our second half, host Amber Buker connects with top leadership from First Federal Bank, Matt Deines, CEO and Christopher Riffle, COO/CDO, for a compelling interview about First Fed Bank's wild ride since converting from a thrift in 2015. The PNW bank has undergone big transitions over the last several years, from a leadership change and brand refresh to developing new lines of business and a unique joint venture with Quin, a digital wellness platform that offers benefits like "lifestyle protection." Study the bank's culture and DNA for take-aways and ideas that banks, and anyone, needing to pull off big transitions should consider.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhj7Y3psPfE
Host Brett King begins this week's episode with a conversation with Jim Johnson, President of Worldpay, FIS' Merchant Solutions arm. They discuss insights and ways to fuel the potential of every business around the world, enabling smarter commerce by focusing on key take-aways from Worldpay's Global Payments Report, an annual report which analyzes consumer behavior online and in-the-store in over 41 countries. Worldpay, serves more than a million merchants around the world – including the biggest brands you can think of. It accepts over 300 payment methods in more than 125 countries across markets covering 99% of the world’s GDP. The report is all about trends and how consumers are paying for things in their home country. Buy-Now-Pay-Later was ID'd as the fastest growing payment method online and in-store, and with the return to the store, the point-of-sale market has grown 13 percent globally in 2021, rebounding from the impact of COVID-19 more rapidly than expected. You can find the report, which covers other trends such as crypto, CBDCs, embedded finance and real-time payments, at fisglobal.com/gpr. Learn where the industry is now and where it is headed.
Brett ends this week's show with a conversation with Penny Crosman, Executive Editor, Technology at American Banker, who joins Brett to talk about the current situation in the Ukraine, what's happening with respect to fintech and share examples of what companies and leaders are doing, raising money and rising to the challenge. There's a huge developer community in the Ukraine, hear how industry colleagues are supporting those still working. There are wildcards to consider but the industry does take care of its own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqTgc0a-Msg
Just as red wine is said to be good for the heart, this episode is good for the industry. With a glass of fine red wine, host Jason Henrichs raps with Lindsay Davis, Forbes Contributor and Head of Markets, Atomic about where the fintech industry is, among other things. Money and investment continue despite the various challenges of working in a hybrid world. All validation of the fintech space and this industry near to our heart. If it takes money to change money, you need only look to JPMC which has increased fintech investment from $1B to $7B in just a few years...it has its own blockchain, a virtual branch, continues to add branches and is looking at the metaverse. Business models are changing, as is Jason's drinking vessel to a red solo cup. Solo GPs (General Partner) are on the rise, what does that mean? Spray and pray, will there be a flurry of funding and innovation?
The thirst-quenching episode ends with a view of the future and discussion on untapped markets, you'll need to listen to hear what's been identified. You’ll find Jason at SXSW, grab him for a beverage and look at your digital roadmap 7 to 10 years out, bring sneakers and a water bottle!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IATRIdD_--E
Today we feature two episodes from our Provoke family of podcasts. We start with Jennifer Tescher, host of EMERGE Everywhere and her special guest, Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. In this segment we hear about Her Majesty's passion for financial inclusion which began as a child in Argentina, navigating the impacts of hyperinflation on families and desire to act. In her role as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), she champions access to affordable and safe financial services for communities around the world, especially underserved groups. Through close collaboration with public and private sector partners, her work has driven real progress for financial health.
In our second segment, NextGen Banker host David Reiling speaks with Deloitte's chief futurist, Mike Bechtel. Mike makes predictions about the future based on current trends, but in making predictions about tomorrow, grounds himself in the past. Listen to learn how companies can prepare for the future while also tempering their expectations based on experience. He gives insights into what he feels will drive the technology of tomorrow – “going beyond the screen,” and how corporate leaders can devise a plan to keep up. The banker of the future will “lead with need.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN5NhUGOwfw
This week on Breaking Banks host Brett King interviews the 693rd Lord Mayor of the City of London, Vincent Keaveny. With his mission to invest in a better tomorrow, the head of London Corporation discusses his role in supporting Fintech in the U.K., driving investment, ESG (with his personal emphasis on the S), COP26/27, and his special role in the service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It’s an engaging piece from across the pond.
Thereafter JP Nicols and Brett speak with author, advisor, and regular commentator on digital financial services David Birch about the modern face of fraud. With Razzlekahn con, a $500 Walmart gift card helped unravel a $4.5 billion crypto money laundering scheme that challenged investigators for years. The face of fraud now has many visages and the devil truly is in the details. Enjoy the episode!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1A1Rvsd49A
What is a DAO? Brett King kicks things off this week by interviewing Marcello Mari, CEO, SingularityDAO. DAOs (Distributed Autonomous Organizations) are gaining traction as the industry looks at company mechanisms and operations and tries to heavily automate them in the blockchain and crypto world, Think of corporations as elements of computer code built from the ground up vs. prior classification as legal institution and you are on your way.
Then, host Jason Henrichs squares off with Kate Fitzgerald, Senior Editor, Payments, American Banker and Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer, Cornerstone Advisors and Forbes Contributing Editor about Fraud & Friction and PayPal's recent admission of 4.5 million bogus accounts sitting on their books. With fraud on the rise, listen as the panel discusses the role of marketing incentivizing account growth, bots, synthetic accounts, and handmade fraud. Are SuperApps a solution?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCqVjUCyEtg
Leading edge execs Ginger Baker, Plaid's Head of Financial Access and Adam Blue, Q2's CTO chat Open Finance, platformization and the opportunity that Plaid-Q2's recent partnership offers to smaller regional banks and tens of millions of customers with host Brett King. The pandemic increased awareness of problems associated with inequality and amplified the need to expand services and access to more diversified accounts and people. Open Finance is helping to bring solutions for inclusion and access to credit for the underbanked and those less well-served, with banks as the primary, recognizing that people's responsible behavior may not always look traditional. Lean in to learn how these partners are working to land their universal access initiative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcPGtasd39M
In today's episode, Brett King starts us off with an interview with Auriga's Mark Aldred about next gen branches. Branches need to continue to adapt -- change their nature and the economics in parallel with offering better mobile and digital engagement. The in-branch journey is more than design, the bank of the future right sizes and incorporates behavior and technology -- inside and outside -- to be smarter and better as banks rethink branch role. Economics are important, listen to Italian bank, Banca Carige, who has lowered operational cost 38%. Customers can have their desired journey, physical and digital, and branches can be brand embassies.
We follow with Amber Buker's fast-moving conversation with Robert E. Siegel, Lecturer in Management at Stanford Graduate School of Business about the Industrialist Dilemma. What is the Industrial Dilemma? It all boils down to the need for a mix of both digital and physical products, and how leaders can innovate to combine the two and create a more holistic customer experience. Even digital natives need physical presence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvJTyGSyMAc
Everyone is talking about CHUCK. But who or what is CHUCK? CHUCK is none other than the newest payment method collaboratively developed by a consortium of community banks, for community banks, mid-sized institutions and credit unions, yes, credit unions!
Listen as Amber Buker speaks with DJ Seeterlin, CIO, Chesapeake Bank and Julie Thurlow, CEO, Reading Cooperative Bank, two stakeholders who had a hand in creating CHUCK, and Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer, Cornerstone Advisors, as they introduce CHUCK to the banking market.
Community banks want a more active role in P2P, CHUCK will allow just that! P2P is the first use case, other solutions planned, and CHUCK comes with a light lift and economic feasibility for adoptive banks. It's not a winner take all situation with other payment networks. Customers benefit from more choice and bank reach will help to cover the digital divide. Use CHUCK through your trusted bank app and connect to a variety of disparate payment systems -- no need to worry about shadow balances. fintech wallets or payment rails. Get your bank back into the payment ecosystem and help customers get a clearer understanding of money in accounts and apps. Nice to meet you CHUCK!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDgOaEzn7IM
BankProv's EVP and COO Joe Mancini speaks with host Amber Buker about innovations at this nearly 200-year-old MA-based bank which is anything but traditional—it is helping lead the industry forward with its tech first approach and focus on emerging markets supporting crypto currency, offering full-service banking to crypto-related businesses, BTMs, BaaS and alternative energy. But first, JP Nicols continues our look back to look forward with an informed conversation with Greg Palmer, VP Finovate, Director of Fintech Strategy, Informa Connect and host of Finovate podcast. With $1 out of every $5 of VC funding going into Fintech we now have herds of unicorns. As things become more top of mind, there's opportunity and the increased competition will only drive innovation and solutions so everyone has a better financial future. Listen as they cover embedded finance, back-end and core solutions, customer experience and services to make customer life better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZoNqScB3ds
What drove the explosive growth of fintech in 2021, and can 2022 top it? Brett King, Jason Henrichs and JP Nicols think so, and they have some ideas on how. From M&A to SuperApps to Defi to emerging markets, here are the things leaders need to pay attention to in the coming year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5x9Z7YLTgM
Three visionaries leading payments and financial services forward are spotlighted in today's episode with hosts JP Nicols and Amber Buker. Hany Fam, Founder and CEO, Markaaz whose mission is to connect every small business on the planet with a game changing platform that protects and helps businesses grow with a trusted network of suppliers so small business clients can focus on THEIR mission -- growing customers and revenue. Then John Sun, Founder, Spring Labs, who is looking to a future of secure data exchange to unlock data's value for a more inclusive, efficient and secure global financial ecosystem for all, to include 'thin file' or 'credit invisible' consumers, by creating incentives for institutions to provide data not previously factored into the credit reporting ecosystem. Finally, Itamar Jobani, Co-Founder, PayEm, a spend and procurement platform designed to take the pain out of monthly reimbursements, managing requests and invoices, while billing and sending payments globally and in a wide variety of currencies. A little something for everyone to start the year off right!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URxg0S_iBNQ
As 2021 comes to a close we share recent conversations with several innovators filling unique needs. Nathaniel Harley from MANTL and Jesse Wedler from Capital G, a growth stage fund backed by Alphabet, on modernizing bank infrastructure and digital account opening in 3 minutes or less, started for neobanks but pivoted to fill a void for larger, established financial institutions. Jimmy Chen, Founder & CEO of Propel on its new app to help low-income Americans better manage government benefits and take control of their financial health. Last, Javier Rodriguez Soler, Global Head of Sustainability and President of BBVA USA on BBVA's recent partnership 500 Global, a platform to identify disruptive and sustainable technologies for financial services, as BBVA continues its focus on ESG. Opportunities abound as we head into the new year!
https://youtu.be/9XQU7FQ_NAQ
Fintech is a digital business and Covid has helped propel change and adoption. In today's episode we do a deep dive into Embedded Finance Experiences, the next phase of growth for embedded finance with host Brett King and industry leaders and innovators Nigel Verdon, Railsbank, CEO and Co-Founder; Steven McLaughlin, FT Partners, Founder and CEO; and Amit Siwal, Sezzle, CPO EU. Listen as they discuss deeper and richer financial experiences, from their different perspectives, that can seamlessly be part of your brand's customer journey. Consumers are increasingly interested in accessing credit, loans or investment from brands they love and trust, not necessarily tradfi and legacy finance. Listen as these leaders chart the future and figure how you'd like to engage!
https://youtu.be/qjwJ-elXHbc
In today's episode host Brett King connects with Ajit Tripathi. our key correspondent on all things crypto and DeFi, and Donna Parisi, Shearman & Sterling to paint a picture of the current DeFi landscape and opportunities for business. There's work to be done but opportunity to be seized as DeFi offers everything TradFi does with less cost and more inclusivity for all institutions and customers.
Jason Henrichs closes out the episode with a conversation with Sanjiv Kalevar, OpenView as he details a future where banks have full choice and more flexibility in the financial infrastructure market, and discusses innovation in financial services through product lead growth, a simple concept, but hard to come by, where the product makes the customer (think enduser) successful.
https://youtu.be/ARl93AA4qLE
Everyone is betting on an Open Banking future, they are no longer resisting. Consumer behavior supports this with Fintech now having more users in the US than Netflix! In today's episode we check in with our friends from Plaid, John Pitts, Global Head of Policy and Raja Chakravorti, Financial Institutions Mid Market Lead. It's been a fantastic year in the digital ecosystem, the year when for big players Open Banking and digital financial services went from being a question to an answer. Next step is to make sure everyone benefits from digital transformation, from the biggest banks to smallest customers at the smallest institutions, it needs to work for everyone. The wave has crested. Listen to learn what's ahead for financial institutions, consumers and policy watchers!
https://youtu.be/383tHGuG210
Listen as Breaking Banks delivers more insights from Money 2020 when JP Nicols interviews Curt Queyrouze, CEO & President, TAB Bank. TAB has a unique origin story offering banking services to a highly specialized community. They were doing "mobile banking" before it was a thing.Next, Roger Gu, Co-Founder, GM of Cards and Rebecca Sheehan VP Solutions Strategy Travel & Mobility from Emburse share ways banks can better compete by offering virtual corporate cards to humanize and simplify expense reporting and proactively help customers manage spend.Finally, Phillip Ashley Klein, CEO & Co-Founder, FinLync addresses new opportunities within corporate financial services based on the understanding that treasurers and CFOS are consumers too! Discussing how real-time business data and cash visibility can immediately benefit customer credit limits and put working capital to good use for corporations.Enjoy the show!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYrBO0J5CHg
Today, Host, Entrepreneur and Author Brett King sits on the other side of the Breaking Banks microphone and discusses his latest book, The Rise of Technosocialism: How Inequality, AI and Climate Will Usher in a New World which is co-authored with Dr. Richard Petty, Policy Advisor, Entrepreneur and awarded Academic with guest hosts Amber Buker and Ron Shevlin, author of Fintech Snark Tank, Forbes. The 21st century is going to be the most disruptive, contentious period humanity has ever lived through. It will challenge our most sacred ideologies around politics, economics and social constructs. It will force humanity to adapt in ways we can't yet imagine. Brett King, Futurist once dubbed the King of Disruption, talks about 4 possible futures, three futures chaotic and divisive, with one possible outcome, Technosocialism, an inclusive, planned and emerging society where broad prosperity is possible. Listen to this provocative interview. Humanity is at it's best when we work together!Food for thought this Thanksgiving!
https://youtu.be/UughdQMjgo4
Financial inclusion, micro-finance, climate change and sustainability - hot topics these days - are aptly covered in today's episode when Jason Henrichs interviews Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women's World Banking, the NGO that wants to use financial innovations to get bank accounts for 1 billion unbanked women around the world; and JP Nicols speaks with Arnaud Auger, Deputy Head of BNP Paribas C.Lab Americas (BNP's Innovation lab) as he shares insights on fintech for climate change and how to empower BNP Paribas’ clients on this challenge and their journey to sustainable finance. Is it possible to measure your carbon footprint via your banking app? Automatically align your portfolio with your values? Listen to learn more.
https://youtu.be/ZkIf1dkEEAA
Host Brett King leads us off this week with news and a chat with Nigel Verdon, CEO & Co-Founder, RailsBank. Railsbank has some exciting news for consumers. Thereafter we go back to M2020 and learn from industry leaders. David Reiling, Chairman and CEO, Sunrise Bank, a socially responsible bank, and also host of our NextGen Banker, on trends he’s noted at M2020 -- BaaS, Crypto. Real-Time Payments, Identity, Data Privacy, Corporate Responsibility. DEI to name a few. Last, an insightful segment with Matt Wallaert, Head of Behavioral Science at frog on how banks can propel change and adoption with behavioral science. Desire, energy and curiosity are not just for the young and hip, leaders need to to encourage curiosity for change and innovation. All behaviors on table for change. Banks can’t afford to NOT mess up.
https://youtu.be/79xSEI3jNLg
JP Nicols and Amber Buker continue reporting on the latest from Money 20/20 in Las Vegas. Stuart Cook talks about Valley Bank's bold move into providing services cannabis dispensaries and related businesses and why they see that sector as a growth opportunity (pun partially intended). Then Cindy O'Neill talks about BillGO's launch of BillGo Exchange to simplify and speed up the payments process for billers.
https://youtu.be/ymV4FN_6JS4
In this week’s show we look at emerging ecosystems and marketplaces supporting real-time, embedded finance for small businesses. Joining us are Matt Collicoat and Taira Hall from FIS, Derek Sutton from Autobooks and Chris Tremont from Grasshopper Bank, a neo-bank targeting SMEs. Imagine a near future world where your accounting, payroll, predictive credit and banking access are all woven into one. Then JP Nicols starts our coverage of Money 20/20 from Las Vegas with Cody Barbo, founder of Trust & Will, which is seeking to disrupt the very antiquated processes in estate planning and settlement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ5CyHcrGXE
It’s October and just about time for Money 2020 in Las Vegas. We’ll be there next week interviewing some of the speakers and newsmakers, along with some of the attendees to give you a feel for what’s happening in what’s always a whirlwind 4 days. Today Sanjib Kalita, Editor in Chief for Money 20/20 joins us on this special preview episode to give you a sneak peek of what to expect and some perspective on where he thinks we are in the evolution of the fintech ecosystem over the past decade.
Exciting day on Breaking Banks - we have a new regular host - Amber Buker. Now if that name sounds familiar its because she works with JP and I at Alloy Labs as head of insights. Her work is phenomenal and we asked ourselves why we weren't sharing her with the world. Well now we are... in the second half of the show you'll get to hear her first episode. In the first half I talk to Joe Welu, Founder & CEO of Total Expert talk about how picking the right partner is your key to success. Actually, Joe points out that is a myth. Understanding the problems you are trying to solve and investing the energy to evolve what you offer post implementation is what differentiates a partner from a vendor.John Maxfield is a Senior Banking Specialist at The Motley Fool and Executive Director of the Wilmers Integrity Prize. In the second segment, we interviewed John about what he’s termed the fourth era of American banking, what the personal lives of the best leaders have to teach us, and what the analysts get wrong about assessing bank performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUdQZLbzdZs
In this week’s show we talk to head of strategy at Paxos (Walter Hessert) about their newly announced collaboration with Mastercard. Mastercard is currency agnostic, but their new crypto partnership with Paxos brings crypto custody to their global platform. Raj Dhamodharan, EVP, Digital Asset/Blockchain Products & Partnerships, at Mastercard talks about their future plans for Crypto and where stablecoins and CBDCs might fit. When Mastercard joins the fray crypto is definitely going mainstream.
https://youtu.be/NAUCe79cEoo
I'm fortunate to travel the world talking about fintech, banking, regulation and innovation. MX is one of my favorite groups to speak for and not because it usually means a trip to a Utah ski resort, but because of the energy they put into creating an agenda and curating a set of speakers that goes well beyond a trade show or user group. This year's Money Experience was no different. The theme: experiences that power how the world connects, moves, and interacts with money.I did my part to mix things up. Rather than moderating the Great Debate between Ron Shevlin and Jim Marous, the gloves came off and I get to officiate the first ever Fintech Fight Club! After this message, listen to Ron and Jim duke it out. This is just the beginning. Tweet us who you would like to see enter the ring.For more thought provoking content, stay on post-fight club for an engaging interview with Paul Taylor, Thought Machine, about latest news and core replacements here and abroad.
https://youtu.be/Z2UPpdkHTPA
In this week's Breaking Banks we talk to Colin Walsh, Founder and CEO of Varo on their record breaking raise of over half a billion dollars. We also talk to Steven Walcheck, Chief Innovation Officer of FIS and the EVP behind Impact Labs about their successful incubator born during covid, along with the founder of GoCart, Ashleigh DePopas, their latest project.
https://youtu.be/5UawHObcFAo
In this week's Breaking Banks we see Silicon Valley Bank and our old friends Plaid teaming up to try to remove some of the friction of the US ACH bank-to-bank payment rails. Joining us from Plaid are Ian Macallister, and Raja Chakravorti, and SVB's Head of Digital, Shaleen Prakash. We debate how much longer the ACH system will survive and what the smart rails of the 21st century might look like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQN2EtJ1jtU
What is small and what is big? Why do we draw lines and silos in the banking world around small businesses. Small businesses generate 44% of US economic activity, yet are often misunderstood and ping ponged between the consumer and commercial parts of the bank. This week Derik Sutton Vice President of Product and Experience at Autobooks, Allison Netzer, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Nymbus and I talk about the SMB ping pong challenge. In the second half the hosts of BB get together to reflect on the changes in banking as a result of 9/11 and how CoVID might likewise change financial services regulation moving forward.
https://youtu.be/BQC7NWWrJz8
Today Brett and I talk to Nick Elders, fintech provocateur, president and co-founder of SPARK from Ignify Technologie. SPARK is a social mission-driven company whose cloud-based loan origination platform helped them originate $9 billion in aggregate loan activity through over 50,000 loans in the first 2.5 months of PPP. This is not another story of a small business lending platform, however. It is about the power of purpose and the need for intentionality. Networks become powerful amplifiers - of either good or propagating old stereotypes and systemic bias.
Matteo Rizzi, Executive Producer and co-host for Breaking Banks Europe talks with Neville Bourke from Futurus and Drew Graham, former Director of Digital Strategy for Barclays to explore the tensions between talent and infrastructure, and between corporate executives and entrepreneurs. From the corporate inclination to try to explain a future that is unexplainable, to how HR too often serves as a risk management function dedicated to maintaining the status quo, to some of the ways mature organizations get in their own way through policies and practices that filter out the very rebels needed to drive real change from within. Then they look into some groundbreaking models from some of the most innovative financial institutions in the world.
https://youtu.be/0u7O2xfW83g
In this week's Breaking Banks we go 21st century. In the first half host Brett King interviews renowned journalist and personal finance specialist Jean Chatzky on how tech is changing the way we invest and save. Chatzky talks about HerMoney and the work she's doing to help investors of all sorts, but specifically to the underserved community of women investors. In the second half, Brett King is joined by regular Dave Birch to review the book "Crypto Wars: Faked Deaths, Missing Billions and Industry Disruption" with author Erica Stanford. We talk John McAfee, and the true crime story that is Gerry Cotten and the Canadian Exchange Quadriga.
https://youtu.be/y9U__OemIXc
In this episode we return to Nairobi, Kenya to chat with Eddie and Paul Ndichu the founders of WapiPay, a new pan-African cross-border payments startup, mainly focused on payments to and from China for now. We also get an update on how the pandemic has accelerated adoption of fintech across Africa, and we take a quick trip down memory lane to our last trip to Nairobi where Breaking Banks profiled M-Pesa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7DWmEYuaW0
Finovate is celebrating 14 years as the first conference series focused on financial & banking technology innovation, and their 100th episode on Provoke.fm. Host Greg Palmer distills the three golden rules of fintech he’s learned from more than 2,000 demos & presentations by hundreds of companies from all over the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=885zMgOYf9Q
Today’s episode is a deep dive on financial empowerment at a global level. Earlier this year, Finastra commissioned a study to look at how financial institutions can help their customers transform their relationship with money. One of the unique aspects of the study is it took an ethnographic approach to understand how ordinary consumers feel about money, their dreams and concerns, and what they believe about empowerment.
https://youtu.be/cBfcxQP2JxY
When Breaking Banks first aired in May of 2013 the world of fintech was much simpler. PayPal was well established in the payments space with some upstarts like Braintree and Venmo gaining traction. The rest of the fintech world was divided by lenders like Prosper and Lending Club and both pioneer neobanks Simple and Perkstreet were in the process of being sold.Since then, the diversity and depth of fintech has taken hold. As Angela Strange at a16z says - every company is a fintech of sorts.Breaking Banks also evolved, launching the Provoke Media network to address the diversity and depth of topics of relevance to the industry. Today we're featuring the latest addition to the Provoke family: the NextGen Banker. David Reiling, CEO of Sunrise Banks hosts a variety of guests to talk about what the bank and banker of the future will look like. Listen to this episode where he hosts Jo Ann Barefoot to talk about regulation.If you haven't listened to the other podcasts, go to provoke.fm right after you listen to David and Jo Ann!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w2bN83qYlM
Jennifer Tescher is founder and CEO of the Financial Health Network, and host of the Emerge Everywhere podcast on the Provoke.fm network. She talks with Alan Murray, CEO of Fortune Media, on the evolution of capitalism and how CEOs are finding new ways to address large global challenges that go far beyond short-term financial performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOS1z15A7uE
In this episode host Brett King tackles the complexity of how to manage data in an environment increasingly reliant on your personal information, when privacy concerns and aging identity infrastructure clash with the reality of the 21st century. Bob Legters from FIS Ethos Data Solutions Group joins to talk about how FIS is adapting to a cloud and data first architecture. Take your organization’s data to the next level and protect data wherever it is. Go from Flintstones to Jetsons in one move.
https://youtu.be/kKFlfO4tiQw
Today’s guest: Sultan Meghji, the first ever Chief Innovation Officer for the FDIC. Sultan knows the challenges of innovation in banking first as co-founder of Neocova, a fintech providing secure, cloud-native, artificial intelligence-based software for community banks. In addition, he worked on an aid mission to help implement digital banking in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and worked with fintechs and central banks to create peer-to-peer banking solutions for hundreds of thousands of people in underserved areas of Africa and Central Asia. Sultan served as an advisor to the U.S. Treasury, the Group of Seven (G7), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the areas of cybersecurity, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.We discuss the tension between innovation and safety, the challenges of regulation and how the FDIC is responding to the changing nature of finance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggJrUc3Xzrg
Join host Brett King and BBEU host Ajit Tripathi as they interview three leaders moving blockchain and ESG forward. Yuval Rooz, Co-Founder and CEO Digital Asset; Joe Madden, Co-Founder and CEO, Xpansiv, and Marley Gray, Principal Architect, Blockchain Microsoft. These individuals are working on initiatives at the intersection of science, finance and technology, and are leaders in their field. Learn from this dynamic discussion about the current ESG sustainability landscape -- challenges, key industry points and opportunities. Most companies and boards are making carbon pledges with no idea how to get there. Download this next-level episode now and let these leaders help your financial institution catch this critical wave.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3WPktZjt88
This week, join Brett King as he interviews Chris Storbeck, SVP Real Time Payments and Strategic Partnerships from FIS to talk about next gen payments, changing expectations, instant communication and what that means for the future of payments.A lot has been said about real time payments over the years, we’re on the cusp of something exciting, more than ever before. With changing expectations of consumers, especially younger generations, instant communications, payment networks, hear about FIS’ latest developments, realnet, single API, on prem and remote options for increased flexibility and quicker realized payments. Learn where the industry is headed and options for B2B and B2C.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAJkfVqcwOY
If you have any U.S. currency in your wallet right now, there’s a good chance that you have the signature of today’s guest in the lower left corner of the bills. In the first segment, JP hosts Rosie Rios who was the 43rd Treasurer of the United States, serving during the darkest days of the financial crisis. They talk about “Unicorn Hunters”, her business reality show that is on a mission to democratize access to wealth and why visibility and value are the keys to making this happen.
After the break, Jason Mikula joins me from his fintech perch in Amsterdam to talk about fees, the future of fintech business models and my dim future in rapping.This episode is also brought to you by FintechDevcon. In the fintech world, developers often feel overlooked. With hundreds of conferences in the fintech space, there's never been a place dedicated to the brilliant minds building fintech. That is, until now, Fintech Devcon, the first-ever fintech conference for developers, by developers. Join renowned developers from companies like CashApp, Plaid, VISA, Dwolla, Chime, and more in Denver, Colorado, September 8th & 9th. Attendees will experience hands-on workshops, hear technical talks, and actually get to rub elbows with the best and brightest fintech developers. That's Fintech Devcon. Tickets go on sale June 30th. Discounts available for students and pre-series A startups. Visit fintechdevcon.io for more information.
https://youtu.be/-gXgh7VRd2g
What's more interesting than Blazing Saddles? Open Finance. Plaid is Blazing new trails on the the path to open finance. In this episode, Brett and I talk with Plaid, the market leader in freeing data from their silos, and US Bank about their partnership to make open finance a reality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQBaSyL8FzU
In this special episode of Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs was joined by Dino Lewkowicz Director at 4ARTechnologies AG to break down the NFT ecosystem and discuss the impact that NFTs have had on the art world.
Join us for this legendary episode of Breaking Banks! Jason Henrichs hosts two of the biggest names in the industry Angela Strange, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz and Wade Arnold, founder and CEO of Moov, to discuss everything from development to embedded finance. Then stay tuned as Jason is joined by Cokie Hasiotis, Founder & CEO of Lasagna Consulting, and Matthew Harris, venture capitalist with Bain Capital Ventures. The group explores the origin story of BaaS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2mkk5Gd4mE
Welcome to Breaking Banks; this week, we have a hot topic that we will be discussing with leaders in the financial services industry. Recently, California regulators said Chime and other neobanks have to stop using the term ‘bank’ in all advertisements. But if these neobanks aren’t indeed ‘banks,’ what are they?
Tune in as Jason Henrichs and Brett King are joined by friend, regular contributor, and host of Tech on Reg, Dara Tarkowski. Also joining the show is true pioneer Shamir Karkal, co-founder of Simple before its acquisition by BBVA. He is now CEO-CoFounder of Sila; Sila offers ACH, KYC and digital wallet APIs.
Welcome to this very special anniversary episode of Breaking Banks. Don’t miss our 8th anniversary extravaganza to hear friends of the show discuss the greatest moments in Breaking Banks history. A few of the most incredible minds in the industry like Richard Turrin, Jo Ann Barefoot, David Birch, Ron Shevlin, Chloe James, Paul Ark and Jim Marous explore the past, the present and the future of banking and fintech.
Tune in as Brett King hosts Scott Sanborn, CEO of LendingClub, the only full-spectrum fintech marketplace bank at scale, to discuss LendingClub’s decision to buy Radius Bank earlier this year – why it's transformative and how it changes the company. Plus learn why LendingClub went the acquisition route and more.Stay tuned, as JP Nicols hosts Beth Bafford, Vice President of Syndications and Strategy at Calvert Impact Capital and an architect of the new SOAR Fund. That’s S-O-A-R for Southern Opportunity and Resilience, to discuss the fund and learn why a group of nonprofit community lenders in the South have teamed up with national philanthropists, corporations, investors and others to launch a multi-million dollar fund aimed at helping small businesses and nonprofits across the South.
Join us for this epic episode of Breaking Banks! Brett King is joined by Andrea Jung, President and CEO, Grameen Grameen America, the fastest-growing microfinance organization in the United States and Eugene Danilkis, Co-Founder and CEO, Mambu, the core engine powering digital first banking and lending. We are discussing how their partnership has powered each other’s growth and improved the lives of underserved/underbanked customers.
Plus stay tuned for the next segment featuring the honorable Lord Mayor of London, William Russell, exploring the latest in fintech and highlighting the Kalifa report.
Join us for this next-level episode of Breaking Banks, where Jason Henrichs and Brett King host Anil Aggarwal Founder and CEO of Fintech Meetup. What does the collaboration element of the future of events look like? We explore Anil’s latest event and the role it'll play in catalyzing the modernization of payments and banking.
In this episode of Breaking Banks, Brett King hosts Matt Dooley and Benjamin Quinlan. Explore the intersection of comedy and banking as Brett speaks to Ben about his life as a stand-up comedian and a financial services consultant. Stay tuned as they discuss how Hong Kong’s appetite for innovation in fintech has evolved and hear about the report from Quinlan and Associates titled Branching Off: The Outlook for Hong Kong’s Virtual Banks, exploring in detail the outlook for the Hong Kong virtual bank ecosystem in coming years.
In this episode of Breaking Banks, Brett King is joined by Dr. Leda Glyptis, Chief Client Officer for 10x Future Technologies in the co-host chair and special guests Ryan Halstead, Vice President Sales North America for Jumio and Vincent Bezemer, Head of Strategy North American with Backbase. In the first half of the show, we explore the shift in consumer digital banking expectations and highlight why challengers are able to scale more quickly than traditional financial institutions. Then, tune in for the second half to learn about the rise of the buy now / pay later economy and frictionless credit.
Join us for this next-level episode of Breaking Banks, Brett King and Ajit Tripathi are joined by Do Kwon co-founder & CEO of Terra, a price-stable cryptocurrency powering the next-generation payment network and growing the real GDP of the blockchain economy. We discuss why mass adoption of blockchain technology has been a challenge for years, and explore how Terra has achieved user growth in Korea and the rest of Asia.
This week JP Nicols and Brett King were joined by friends of the show Theodora Lau and Bradley Leimer, founders of Unconventional Ventures and authors of Beyond Good: How Technology is Leading a Purpose-Driven Business Revolution. Our guests share advice and inspiration on how to change the power dynamic at a company level, a market level and a world level. Then stay tuned as Jason Henrichs hosts Aaron McCreary, Climate Fintech Lead with New Energy Nexus. Jason and Aaron discuss the meaning of climate fintech and highlight fintech and decarbonization.
In This Episode
In this AI episode of Breaking Banks, JP Nicols hosts Alfred Cowger author of The Threats of Algorithms and A.I. to Civil Rights, Legal Remedies, and American Jurisprudence: One Nation Under Algorithms. JP and Al explore AI and algorithmic models and the intense policy debates surrounding the legality of, and liability for, these advanced machine learning applications.
Then enjoy a special compilation of the best AI moments in Breaking Banks history. We begin with AI and Robots- Brett King hosts Ben Goertzel to learn about Sophia the social humanoid robot. We hear from Greg Cross of Soulmachines to learn how AI can be used for good and are digital humans the answer? To close, we discuss fintech and the Forth age with author Byron Reese to explore smart robots and conscious computers.
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In this episode of Breaking Banks, Brett King hosts Head of Product, Financial Access at Plaid Niko Karvounis, Jess Romano Plaid Exchange Lead, VP of Digital Innovation and Strategy Ben Maxim MSFCU. The group discusses how the newly launched Plaid Exchange enables small-mid and regional banks to meet customers where they are while ensuring connectivity is part of their digital strategy.
Take MSFCU, for example, in an era where an increasing number of bank and credit union customers are digital natives, MSFCU recognized they needed to meet their customer expectations by enabling secure and reliable connectivity to digital tools and services like Venmo, Robinhood, and Betterment.
Our guests today are trailblazing a path forward towards a more financially inclusive and healthy society. Our first segment features the founders of Junior Wallstreeters Kevon Chisolm and 13-year-old Kamari Chisolm. Kevon and Kamari join Jason Henrichs to discuss Junior Wallstreeter’s mission of empowering youth with financial awareness and explore why it’s vital to create a safe and affordable space to learn finances for underserved youth.
Then stay tuned as Jason Henrichs hosts Melissa Gopnik SVP at Commonwealth, a national nonprofit building financial security and opportunity for financially vulnerable people through innovation and partnerships to change systems. Jason and Melissa deep dive into A New Framework for Positive Financial Futures: Money, Mindsets & Social Networks.
You can learn more about our guests here:
https://www.theblackwallstreeter.com/jr-wallstreeters
https://buildcommonwealth.org/about/our_story
https://buildcommonwealth.org/assets/downloads/Positive_Financial_Futures.pdf
In this episode of Breaking Banks, we are going global! Tune in to hear Brett King host Alastair Lukies CEO of Pollinate Networks and Chairman of Fintech-Alliance, as well as Matt Dooley, changemaker and fintech influencer. Our guests discuss the origin story of fintech in Hong Kong and the UK and tell stories of the journey through regulation challenges and fusing the old with the new.
In this week’s Breaking Banks episode, Brett King is joined by Howard Boville, Head of IBM Hybrid Cloud Platform, and Judith Pinto, Managing Director Promontory. Brett, Howard, and Judith discuss how banks can unlock the promise of public cloud and accelerate the pace of innovation,
Then stay tuned as JP Nicols sits down with Judy Samuelson. Judy is the founder and executive director of the Aspen Institute Business and Society Program. JP talks with Judy about Judy’s recently published book, THE SIX NEW RULES OF BUSINESS: Creating Real Value in a Changing World. Hear Judy’s advice to executive leadership on how to pivot during tough times and more.
IBM Cloud for Financial Services™ is uniquely designed to help financial institutions and their ecosystem partners unlock the promise of public cloud and accelerate the pace of innovation, without compromising security and regulatory compliance. It has been designed with the demands of the world’s largest and most complex organizations in mind. It uses the same cryptographic technology that financial institutions rely on.
Data that a client stores on IBM Cloud belongs to that client and can only be accessed by them. Clients can bring their own key that no one else can see—not even IBM—and can build and run core business applications and workloads with single-dashboard visibility and multiplatform portability, and provides:
End-to-end data encryption with extensive controlWorkload-centric security by defaultIBM Cloud Security and Compliance Center
In this thought-provoking episode of Breaking Banks, JP Nicols hosts Amber Buker, Director of Insights for the Alloy Labs Alliance, Casey Christopher, Chief Empowerment Officer at Quontic Bank, and Mary Ann Sculley, CEO of Howard Bank. Join us as we delve into Amber’s recently published research report titled Why Women Innovate: 3 Common Experiences That Create Remarkable Leaders, which explores the correlation between the experiences of women leaders and innovation. You don’t want to miss this episode!
In this new episode of Breaking Banks, JP Nicols is joined by friend and regular contributor Jo Ann Barefoot, Chair of the Alliance for Innovative Regulation, CEO of Barefoot Innovation Group, host of the Barefoot Innovation podcast, and former Deputy Comptroller of the Currency to discuss a new era ushering in Joe Biden’s White House. What does this mean for fintech and banking?
Then stay tuned as Jason Henrichs hosts Jacob Haar, managing partner of Community Investment Management, an impact investment firm that provides debt capital to fintech companies to support underserved small businesses. Jason and Jacob explore the role of impact investors, responsible fintech, and public policy in financial inclusion during the time of COVID-19.
You don’t want to miss this episode of Breaking Banks. Jason Henrichs speaks with Jennifer Tescher, President and CEO of the Financial Health Network and Host of the EMERGE Everywhere podcast to explore the relationship between social impact and banking. Then stay tuned as Jason is joined by Nicole Kontrabecki, general counsel at Dreambound, Asya Bradley, Founder & COO of First Boulevard, Ohad Samet, CEO of TrueAccord, and Jimmy Chen CEO OF Propel. Listen as these social good crusaders discuss changing banking for the better through technology and awareness.
For this next-level installment of Augmented Advisors, Jason Henrichs is joined by Dan Egan, Director of Behavior Science and Investing at Betterment. Jason and Dan talk about risk-taking in investment portfolios and discuss how Betterment was one of the first platforms to put a high emphasis on behavioral economics, helping consumers make good decisions easy. Then stay tuned as JP Nicols hosts Greg Palmer VP of Finovate and host of the Finovate podcast, part of the Provoke.fm family. JP and Greg discuss the future of physical events and learn what’s in store for FinovateFall 2021.
We have a stellar episode for your listening pleasure this week! Brett King is joined by regular contributor Ron Shevlin & Johanna Pugh, Managing Director for the North American arm of Mambu to discuss the ever-changing landscape of lending and explore the trends that will truly shake-up finserv in 2021.
Stay tuned to hear from hosts Jason Henrichs, Brett King, and Ajit Tripathi as they sit down with Patrick Sells and Yan Zhao of NYDIG. Learn how NYDIG is accelerating the future of finance and hear what's going on with Bitcoin.
In This Episode
In this episode of Breaking Banks, we are exploring the worlds of benchmarking and procurement. Some would call them “unsexy,” but the real winners know they are necessary and essential to get ahead and stay ahead. Regular contributor Jim Marous join Brett King to sit down with Pawel Oltuszyk co-founder of Frost and Erenia Kontolatou, VP of Business Development at Scientia Consulting, to chat about the competitive advantage of benchmarking. Then stay tuned as JP Nicols sits down with Dr. Leda Glyptis, Chief Client Officer at 10x Future Technologies, and Alexander Barkley, Manager of HSBC Venture Capital, to discuss the role of procurement within the financial services industry.
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4 Futurists Offer Surprising Predictions About The Future of Work and Money
This episode of Breaking Banks is out of this world! Brett King and Miss Metaverse, Katie King, sit down with Futurists Brian Roemmele, Robert Scoble, Ross Dawson, and Mike Walsh to explore the events of the last twelve months and discuss predictions for the future what work and life will look like in the next 50 to 100 years. And why your bank balance might not matter.
After a chaotic 2020, it’s time for humankind to start looking forward. What can we expect for the rest of 2021? Or skipping way ahead, what about 2071?
There’s no denying there’s going to be a lot of change.
“I think 50 years from now, we’ll look back and say, ‘Hey, 2020 — that was when everything changed,’” says Ross Dawson, a futurist and strategy advisor.
We can certainly expect to see a drastic shift in the way we work and, ultimately, the way our economy is structured.
On an episode of Breaking Banks, we connected with four futurists: Brian Roemmele, Robert Scoble, Ross Dawson and Mike Walsh. They share their predictions on the future of work and the economy.
But first, let’s reflect…
2020 Will Be the Year Everything Changed
There’s no denying 2020 was an unprecedented year, but the futurists believe it’ll be the year we all look back on and think: “Wow, that’s when everything changed.”
For Mike — CEO of the consultancy Tomorrow, which focuses on designing companies for the 21st century — the fast pace of medical technology evolution stands out.
“I think, for the first time in 2020, because of this huge moonshot effort [to develop a vaccine], you're seeing the beginnings of precision medicine and pharmacogenomics that we've been talking about for the last decade,” he says.
There was an expedited evolution of mRNA technology to produce a vaccine. Here’s how Mike thinks about it: This technology is essentially uploading code into your body, and, in the future, “new releases of the software” will be released and updated.
On the other hand, Robert, the well-known technology blogger and author, is focused on the experiential service economy. With everyone sequestered inside, tech companies are working hard to tap into this opportunity, creating ways for people to attend a concert or show while sitting in their living rooms with a device on their heads.
“In this new virtual world that we're heading into, we can deliver any experience to you,” he says.
And then, of course, there’s a big shift that occurred in 2020: the restructuring of work.
The Future of Work: What We Can Look Forward To
One hundred years from now, face-to-face business meetings will seem quaint, your great-grandkids will think your work commute is the equivalent of walking to school uphill both ways, and job training will occur through VR.
“I think this is going to be that point where we look back in 100 years where everybody says, ‘People drove to offices? We get into a box and go into another box and then drive back and waste at least an hour?’ That's going to be seen as somewhat ridiculous,” says Brian, a voice AI expert.
What else is around the corner when it comes to the physical workspace and the role work will play in our lives? Here are a few predictions.
The Physical Workspace: Goodbye Open Floor Plans With Bean Bags
The pandemic poured fuel on the work-from-home fire, and the futurists expect that trend to continue. However, Mike warns: “I actually think remote work is a bit of a red herring.”
Right now, remote work is something we can all relate to, so of course everyone is talking about it and feels as though it’s been completely disruptive. But Mike predicts offices aren’t completely going away anytime soon.
“The ability to interact with other people in more creative collaborative spaces, I think, is going to be the way we rethink those hybrid environments,” he says, referring to a trend toward distributed work.
For the final episode of 2020, we pulled out all of the stops! Hosts Jason Henrichs and JP Nicols were joined by regular contributor and host of Banking Transformed Podcast Jim Marous, Lindsay Davis Head of Markets at Atomic, Brain Solis Global Innovation Evangelist at Salesforce, and Jonathan Prince Co-Founder of Finologee, to discuss all things fintech and banking! Brain Solis breaks down Generation N and the Novel Economy, while Jim Marous and Lindsay Davis debate the regulatory framework of open banking. This is no doubt, a must-listen episode!
In this installment of Augmented Advisors, Jason Henrichs is joined by Brian Barnes, Founder and CEO of M1 Finance to discuss the personalization, simplicity and automation of personal finances. M1 combines investing, borrowing, and cash management in one easy-to-use platform.
You don’t want to miss this very special Provoke family episode! We have gathered hosts from each podcast under the Provoke brand to get their thoughts on the economy, finhealth, and much more! Listen as Dara Tarkowski host of Tech on Reg, Matteo Rizzi host of Breaking Banks Europe, Jennifer Tescher host of EMERGEEverywhere, Greg Palmer host of Finovate, Brett King, JP Nicols, and Jason Henrichs hosts of Breaking Banks take a look at what the past twelve months have been like for the financial services industry and explore how they can make the world a better place through the Provoke platform.
In this episode, Jason Henrichs hosts Donna Parisi, partner and Global Head of Financial Services and FinTech at law firm Shearman & Sterling, and Sandra Ro, CEO of Global Blockchain Business Council, to explore CBDC, Defi, and global regulatory challenges. Then stay tuned for a new installment of Women in Fintech. Chloe James hosts Louise Hill. Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer at gohenry and Jill Docherty, Head of Business Development at Visa to discuss tech partnerships and their journeys in fintech. Bonus: Jason Henrichs talks to Wade Arnold and Dan Rosen about Moov’s latest funding round led by Andreesen Horowitz.
As we approach the end of a very disruptive and chaotic year, we can’t help but ponder what 2021 will hold for financial institutions, fintech, and VC. In this episode, we speak to Debbie Bianucci, President & Chief Executive Officer of BAI, to hear her thoughts on the last 11 months and predictions for the new year. For the second segment, Jason Henrichs was joined by Sheel Mohnot and Jake Gibson of Better Tomorrow Ventures to discuss BTVs $75 million raise and having a positive impact on the world by helping entrepreneurs for truly a better tomorrow. Then stay tuned for a quick update, as Brett King hosts Charles Green, Founder, and CEO of RFI Group, to hear about a recent strategic growth investment RFI Group received from Diversis Capital Partners that will allow RFI group to expand their footprint and data services.
In this super special edition of Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs is joined by Wade Arnold Founder and CEO of Moov and Dan Rosen VC at Commerce Ventures.
Jason and our guests discuss Moov’s latest funding round led by Andreesen Horowitz. Then talk what’s next for open source and the future of banking.
For this episode of Breaking Banks, host Brett King is joined by Ajit Tripathi, host of Breaking Banks Europe to explore CBDC on a global scale. Brett and Ajit are joined by Claire Calmejane, Charles d'Haussy, and Olaf Ransome to discuss the concepts and implications of a Central Bank Digital Currency.
In this special Thanksgiving edition of Breaking Banks, we are exploring the wonderful world of flying cars! Brett King and co-host Katie King, are joined by Brad Templeton, Rudi Hiebert, and Evgeni Borisov to discuss the current state of flying cars on a global basis.
In this action-packed Friday 13th episode of Breaking Banks, Brett King is joined by Bryan Clagett in the co-host chair. They speak to Rahm McDaniel, VP Strategic Solutions at Q2, Kesh Talwar, Chief Revenue Officer of Moven, and Casey Christopher, Chief Empowerment Officer at Quontic Bank. Listen as they explore the current state of community banking's digital initiatives and learn how Q2 is partnering with Moven to deliver frictionless financial services.
This week on Breaking Banks, Brett King is joined by Jo Ann Barefoot in the co-host chair as they speak with The Lord Mayor of London William Russell about the incredible VC and FinTech scene happening in the UK. The Lord Mayor discusses the impact that regtech has had on the industry and the Green Finance Initiative, aiming to make London the world leader in green finance. Then stayed tuned for another installment of Women in Fintech, a Breaking Banks initiative with host Chloe James. Chloe chats with Katie Palencsar Venture Studio Lead at Anthemis and Eli Polanco, Founder of Nivelo, about a recent report published by Anthemis, Empowering Female Founders - Moving from a Vicious Cycle to a Virtuous Cycle. Our guests reveal the difference between talk and action and discuss what TRUE change really looks like.
In this episode of Breaking Banks, JP Nicols and Brett King are joined by Nasir Zubari, CEO at the LHoFT Foundation, to explore the current state of finances in Luxembourg and discuss the future of fintech. For the next half, Jason Henrichs sits down with Lindsay Davis, Director of Intelligence at Caliber, and Ksenia Yudina, Founder/CEO of UNest, to talk about the market gap when it comes to family savings and how the industry can fill this gap.
In this episode of Breaking Banks, we explore the world of open finance with Plaid. Plaid is focused on democratizing financial services through technology by building developer-friendly infrastructure and intelligent tools to provide the ability to create amazing products.
Brett King and Chloe James Director of Media and Comms at RFIGroup are joined by John Pitts Head of Policy for Plaid and Ginger Baker Head of Financial Access at Plaid to explore the regulatory framework needed to support the ways consumers want to manage their money now and in the future.
Jason Henrichs is joined by John Prendergast, CEO of Blueleaf, a fintech on a mission to make the best financial advisors available to everyone, and April J. Rudin innovator, change-maker, and Founder of The Rudin Group. They discuss pain-points wealth management is facing and to explore what’s next for the industry.
Then stay tuned as we talk to Scott Lynn, founder of Masterworks and the creator of that wild Punch the Monkey banner ad from the 90s. Scott gives us the details on how he went from internet advertising to fintech to art. Discover how the Masterwork platform gives investors the ability to own shares of famous artwork. See important information: masterworks.io/disclaimer
While companies were preparing for a snow day, what they got was an ice age. I don’t know a single financial institution or fintech whose business continuity plan anticipated the full scope of the pandemic. With so much uncertainty in the world, how can organizations prepare for the next hurdle 2020 throws their way? Enter Lindsay Davis’ Pandemic Playbook; this guide addresses these operational pain points and provides the navigational framework that many leaders need. Then, Jason Henrichs is joined by someone that has helped many financial institutions get out of the stone age. Amy Radin is a trailblazer in the financial services industry, serving as one of the first innovation leaders across several of the largest players in financial services. She packs all of this knowledge and experience into The Change Maker’s Playbook: How to Seek, Seed, and Scale Innovation in Any Company. Amy’s playbook has everything you need to break down barriers within your organization.
On this episode of Breaking Banks, Brett King hosts special guest Barney Reynolds, Global Head of the Financial Services Industry Group at Shearman & Sterling, and Dara Tarkowski, host of Tech on Reg, joins us in the co-host chair. They discuss the state of Brexit and the potential for the US/UK to reach a trade deal. Then stay tuned as Brett sits down with Andreas Zimmer, Head of Ecosystem Strategy for Europe at HUAWEI, Nathalie Oestmann, Chief Operating Officer at Curve, and Krista Korelin, Head of Mobile & Digital Banking with OP Financial Group, at the 2020 Huawei Developer Conference. They talk about financial inclusion on a global basis and explore the growing reliance on digital banking.
Join us for this episode of Breaking Banks as JP Nicols hosts Mark Donohue, Founder and Managing Director of iSky Research. JP and Mark discuss trends in the digital banking user experience and consider what initiatives bank executives should prioritize in the current landscape. Then stayed tuned, JP sits down with regular contributor and the Godfather of Snark, Ron Shevlin. JP and Ron delve into the hurdles banks face in innovation efforts and the rise of checking account openings in digital channels.
For this episode of Breaking Banks, host Jason Henrichs was joined by Wade Arnold, CEO of Moov Financial, and Maria Palma, Principal at RRE Ventures, to discuss the current state of open source and the real need for banks to have a side core. Then stay tuned for the second installment of Women in Fintech, a Breaking Banks initiative bringing females into focus in fintech, with host Chloé James. Chloé speaks to Adrienne Harris, Financial Services Investor and Advisor, as well as Bianca Lopes, Founder of Talle, about the future of travel, fintech, and the world of business. Chloé James is the Group Director of Media & Communications for global insights provider RFi Group.
We explore the world of regulation to learn more about how RegTech can help banks accelerate compliance and cut costs. Hosts JP Nicols and Brett King are joined by regular contributor Jo Ann Barefoot, Nick Cook, Director of Innovation at Financial Conduct Authority, and Mark Chorazak, Partner Shearman & Sterling, to chat about AIR’s recent release of the RegTech Manifesto. Topics of discussion include challenges regulators face in innovation efforts, the importance of making the shift to a digitally native architecture, and how regulators can use sandbox environments to accomplish iterative changes.
This week hosts JP Nicols and Jason Henrichs are taking on the topic of culture. How can financial institutions foster a culture of innovation and bring about the necessary changes needed as we head into 2021? It begins with embracing the risk-takers and rebel talent that seek to disrupt the notion of businesses as usual within your organization. JP Nicols speaks to Matteo Rizzi about his book Talent and Rebels: Dealing with Corporate Misfits. JP and Matteo highlight the struggles that large corporations face when finding a balance between tradition and originality. Then stay tuned, host Jason Henrichs and Mary Lemmer Creator of Improve, explore how interconnecting the worlds of trust, culture, and improv can be used to develop positive internal team building. Mary shares her advice on how to look beyond the boundaries of regulation in order to welcome innovation and improve creativity and culture.
Finovate Fall Digital 2020 kicks off in just a few weeks. Host JP Nicols chats with Greg Palmer, VP of Finovate, about everything set to occur during the virtual event. Next, Janice Diner and Steve Frook from Horizn, Finovate Europe 2020 Best in Show winner, will discuss the importance of self-servicing and product education in digital transformation. Then stay tuned, as hosts JP Nicols and Jason Henrichs discuss strategic planning season and issue a call to action for FIs to get their heads in the game when it comes to initiatives and budgeting.
Chloé James host and group director of media & communications for global insights provider RFi Group is joined by Jo Ann Barefoot, CEO & Co-founder at Alliance for Innovative Regulation and Dr. Leda Glyptis, advisor and author of #LedaWrites for Fintech Futures to discuss women in fintech. Chloé, Jo Ann, and Leda share personal experiences and insights from their time in the fintech/finserv industry.
What are the positive takeaways from the COVID-19 crisis? Why aren’t there more women in our tech? We explore these topics and more!
Then stay tuned to hear from host Jason Henrichs as he speaks to Michael Mueller, CEO of Form3 and Vinoth Jayakumar, Partner with Draper Esprit as they dish on the explosion in cloud-native tech across banks and fintech. Michael and Vinoth also highlight Form3’s recent $33 million in strategic investment from new shareholders Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, 83North, and existing investor Draper Esprit. Sponsored Segment by Form3.
Hosts JP Nicols and Jason Henrichs are joined by regular contributor Ron Shevlin, Director of Research at Cornerstone Advisors and Senior Contributor at Forbes with his Fintech Snark Tank column, as well as Mary Wisniewski: Banking editor and fintech features reporter for Bankrate.com to discuss the current state of banking. They explore if/how traditional banks can win the digital arms race, ponder what the hell a Google checking account is, and discover a few of JP’s quirky things. Key takeaway: Customers’ preferences and needs are transforming, and financial institutions must evolve to win in this rapidly changing world.
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Don’t miss this action-packed episode hosted by Jason Henrichs and co-hosted by Dara Tarkowski host of Tech on Reg. Jason and Dara are joined by Alissa Knight a recovering hacker and Patrick Sells bank innovator extraordinaire to discuss data privacy, cybersecurity in banking/fintech, and much much more. This episode will leave you questioning where you stand on the issues surrounding data ownership and have you wondering if that TikTok dance was really worth it.
For this episode of Breaking Banks, we are setting the stage for a new era of banking experiences and capabilities in the digital payments space. Our guests today are revolutionizing digital payments and paving the way for cashless transformation. Brett King is joined by contributor Brian Solis Global Innovation Evangelist of Salesforce and YandexMoney CEO Ivan Glazachev to discuss Russia’s advancements in payments, mobile wallets, and transfers in the wake of COVID-19. Next, hear from Jun Hasegawa and K. Pitiporn Phanaphat as they chat with Brett King about blockchain technology for fintech applications. With a recent investment round led by SCB10X, the Thailand based fintech SYNQA is poised to spread cashless solutions to businesses across Asia.
This episode of Breaking Banks is a call to action for the VC industry to put their money where their mouths are. Jason Henrichs speaks with Backstage Capital Founder and Managing Partner Arlan Hamilton about her journey from homeless to Investor/A Force to be Reckoned with. Arlan shares her experience in the VC space as a gay black woman and highlights Backstage Capital’s Syndicate program, a program dedicated to investing in under-resourced individuals. Be sure to check out Arlan’s new book It’s About Damn Time and visit backstagecapital.com!
Then stay tuned as Jason hosts Mike Asem, Partner at M25, and board member with BLCK VC. Mike shares his passion for being a good steward in the investment space, to not only advance diversity and inclusion within the VC industry but to truly change the entire landscape. Mike’s insightful and actionable framework for Anti-Racism Ownership can be found at bit.ly/bediverse.
The Guests
Arlan Hamilton / Founder & Managing Partner at Backstage Capital
Arlan Hamilton built a venture capital fund from the ground up, while homeless. She is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a fund that is dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBT. Started from scratch in 2015, Backstage has now raised more than $7 million and invested in more than 130 startup companies led by underestimated founders. In 2018 Arlan co-founded Backstage Studio which launched four accelerator programs for underestimated founders in Detroit, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and London.
Backstage Capital: https://backstagecapital.com/
Arlan's New Book: https://www.itsaboutdamntime.com/
Mike Asem / Partner at M25
As a partner at M25, Mike has participated in nearly 100 investments in early-stage companies across the Midwest. Outside of his responsibilities at M25, Mike is a Kauffman Fellow (Class 24) and a board member at BLCK VC, leading initiatives in the Midwest to connect, engage, empower, and advance Black venture investors. Prior to M25, Mike founded The Anvil, a co-working space and startup incubator on Purdue University's campus, where he helped launch the first Purdue startup to be accepted to Y Combinator. Mike lives in Chicago with his wife, Erikka. In his free time, he enjoys making wine, eating sushi, following Chicago sports, and traveling with his wife.
M25: https://m25vc.com/
COVID-19 has exposed the reliance on long outdated and insecure identity metrics founded on face-to-face interaction, with identity theft and fraud increasing during lock-down. The organizations that had already implemented digital onboarding and identity verification have obviously performed better during the crisis. But where will we go from here? Join Brett King and Dave Birch as we bring in leading identity specialists Jumio and Metro bank in the UK as they talk about their journey to digital.
Breaking news on Breaking Banks: Europe’s Court of Justice has moved to strike down EU-US Privacy Shield. For this special episode, Dara Tarkowski and Ajit Tripathi join Jason Henrichs to discuss the decision and what this means for thousands of companies currently sharing data with the U.S.
Join us for this exciting episode of Breaking Banks! We are introducing the newest addition to the growing Provoke.fm family, the EMERGE Everywhere podcast hosted by Jennifer Tescher President and CEO of the Financial Health Network. Listen as hosts Brett King and Jason Henrichs explore the purpose and passion behind Jennifer’s upcoming launch of EMERGE Everywhere and enjoy an exclusive sneak peek of Jennifer’s interview with Paypal CEO Dan Schulman. Tune in and subscribe to Breaking Banks and EMERGE Everywhere podcasts to stay up-to-date with the latest in fintech with leading industry players.
In this episode of Breaking Banks, host JP Nicols is joined by Dara Tarkowski Attorney and Managing Director of Actuate Law; as well as, the host of the Tech on Reg podcast on Provoke.fm Media. They discuss the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s launch of the pilot advisory opinion (AO) program and challenge banks to take a more proactive stance in regulatory compliance as opposed to the reactive approach of yesterday. Then stay tuned as Brett King hosts Melissa Koide, CEO of the FinRegLab to talk about new research on AI in financial services. They explore how the use of advanced analytical processes can help drive our financial system toward an inclusive recovery.
Let’s begin with a sobering fact: According to the CFP, Blacks and Latinos make up less than 4 percent of certified financial planners in the United States. We will explore this reality and many more in this week’s episode where Jason Hendrichs is joined by Randy Rivera Executive Director at FinTEx, David Clunie the Executive Director of the Black Economic Alliance, and Tyrone Ross the Director of Community at Altruist. Listen as our guests bring into focus what it’s like to be Black and Latino in the world of banking and wealth management. Learn what we must do as a nation to demand greater inclusivity and create a fundamental systemic change for future generations.
In this episode, Chloe James, Bryan Clagett, and James Robert Lay join Brett King to discuss strategic bank marketing during COVID-19 and to explore the importance of finding the right formula to make huge gains in digital efforts. They also take a deep dive into James Robert Lay’s new book Banking on Digital Growth: The Strategic Marketing Manifesto to Transform Financial Brands to get his views on the new wave of digital opportunities available to financial institutions. Then stay tuned to hear a bit from Dara Tarkoski’s Tech on Reg podcast part of the Provoke.fm family. Dara and guests discuss the systematic and institutional challenges of funding higher education for people of color in the US. Dara hosts, A.M. Money, a fintech student loan company that approaches the risk profile for these student populations very differently.
In this week’s episode, we have the return of show regulars Dave Birch (Author of the Currency Cold War), Jo Ann Barefoot (Founder of The Alliance for Innovative Regulation), and Michael J Casey (Chief Content Officer, Coindesk) to talk about the emerging digital currency wars. Will it be Red (China) vs Blue (Libra), or will the US finally step into the breach to defend the US dollar hegemony with their own digital dollar?
Fintech has gone from sideshow to the mainstage. Digital is no longer the accompaniment to soloist. Today on the show - Peter Ramsey just won the American Idol of fintech when he documented the user experience opening 12 bank accounts in the UK. He shares with us the surprises along the way as well as his UX pet peeves. In the second half, Patrick Sells was just named Digital Banker of the year by American Banker. Ironically, 18 months ago he wasn’t a banker at all. How did he drive so much success in such a short time at a community bank? He started with mission and culture.
The novel coronavirus isn’t just a health pandemic, it is highlighting critical social and economic issues. Nowhere is this more apparent than the paycheck protection program. Today on the show we talk about lessons learned from the last crisis, some of the lessons we should have learned but haven’t and how banks, fintechs, and regulators are responding. We have 4 guests today - Zach Warmbrodt, Financial Services Reporter for Politico talking about his view from Washington, Jill Castilla, CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond and Brandon Dewitt, CTO & Co-founder of MX talking about their partnership to help main street and last, Patrick Davis, of Community Reinvestment Fund - a non-profit that acts like a fintech to bring lending to underserved communities. Air Date: Thursday, June 4, 2020 Air Time: 3:00 PM ET Headline: Good Policy, Good Banking Summary: The novel coronavirus isn’t just a health pandemic, it is highlighting critical social and economic issues. Nowhere is this more apparent than the paycheck protection program. Today on the show we talk about lessons learned from the last crisis, some of the lessons we should have learned but haven’t and how banks, fintechs, and regulators are responding. We have 4 guests today - Zach Warmbrodt, Financial Services Reporter for Politico talking about his view from Washington, Jill Castilla, CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond and Brandon Dewitt, Co-founder & CTO of MX talking about their partnership to help mains street and last, Patrick Davis, of Community Reinvestment Fund - a non-profit that acts like a fintech to bring lending to underserved communities. Show Sponsors:HarrysJack Henry & AssociatesShippo Alpharank Show Hosts:Brett KingJason Henrichs Show Guests:Zachary WarmbrodtJill CastillaBrandon DewittPatrick Davis TOPICS DISCUSSED: [2:20] Zachary Warmbrodt says banks have fared better during the COVID-19 crisis than in 2008 during the recession. [4:55] Could the level of inequality we are experiencing in the United States right now lead to a revolution? Will the Federal Reserve play a larger role in this mission? [10:00] There was a lot of concern and chaos around the PPP Program, are policymakers helping smaller banks reach the underserved communities? [12:00] Brett King speaks about financial inclusion and the CRA. [15:20] When are we going to see technology take on a more prominent role in financial inequality. Especially banks and fintechs. [21:00] Will we see a change in the strict regulatory requirements put on financial incumbents in the United States? [32:50] Brandon Dewitt speaks about the nobility of banking. [41:00] Jill Castilla talks about being on the frontlines of the PPP and joining with MX to better serve their customers. [47:14] MX went to community banks and provided open-source software free of charge in order to serve small businesses for the greater good. RESOURCES MENTIONED:MXCitizens Bank EdmondCRF USAPoliticoFederal ReserveTrump AdministrationSmall Business AdministrationFDICGoogleRakutenMark CubanAmazonDana Farber Breaking Banks is the #1 global fintech radio show and podcast, created by Brett King. Tune in for a look at how technology and customer behavior will bring about more changes in banking in the next 10 years, than in the last 200 years. Listen every Thursday at 3pm eastern time, noon pacific on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel. Subscribe at Provoke.fm to hear the show nearly 2 million listeners from 72 countries are raving about. FULL TRANSCRIPTION Show Hosts: Brett King Jason Henrichs Show Guests: Zachary Warmbrodt Jill Castilla Brandon Dewitt Patrick Davis=================================================Brett King (00:06):Welcome to Breaking Banks. The number one global fintech radio show and podcast. I’m Brett King.Jason Henrichs (00:13):And I’m Jason Henrichs. Every week since 2013, we explore the personalities, start-ups, innovators, and industry players, driving disruption in financial services.
Changpeng Zhao, aka “CZ”, CEO and founder of Binance joined us for this special Breaking Banks and Crypto Capsule Collab. Brett King, Henri Arslanian and Ajit Tripathi had an interesting and insightful conversation with CZ about the future of the crypto industry in a post-COVID-19 environment. This is a must-listen episode! Be sure to catch Henri Arslanian’s weekly Crypto Capsule show on LinkedIn where he shares the weekly crypto developments with his half-million followers. Tune in for Breaking Banks Europe to hear the latest in fintech and crypto from Ajit Tripathi. To learn more about Binance, the global blockchain company behind the world’s largest digital asset exchange by trading volume and users, visit Binance.com
In this week's show, regular contributors Robert Scoble and Brian Roemmelle are back, with Robert's co-author on his latest book, Irena Cronin joining us also. Katie King (aka Miss Metaverse) sits in the co-hosting chair as a fellow futurist. We get into smartglasses, sensors, flying cars, autonomous robots, and supply chain, training surgeons on 3D cadavers, and e-sports. All in the domain of a new field of computing called Spatial Computing - and it's going to be YUGE!!
Small Businesses are the lifeblood of the global economy, listen as Michael Abare- Principal Product Manager for Fusion Digital Banking at Malauzai, a Finastra Company explains how the Finastra ecosystem enables financial institutions to reach and assist more small business clients. Then for the second half, Jason Henrichs hosts Derik Sutton VP Marketing of Autobooks to learn how Autobooks has been able to free up more time for small businesses to take care of the more important things in life and the launch of their “Get Paid with Autobooks” initiative.
This week on Breaking Banks Jason Henrichs hosts John Weinkowitz from our sponsor Finastra and Tom Feher from Microsoft to discuss Finastra’s pinnacle core, Fusion Phoenix. Tom and John explore how Microsoft’s Azure Cloud has enabled Finastra to lead the pack in utilizing the cloud to help banks innovate faster and more efficiently. Then, stay tuned as Jason Henrichs speaks to, Sherri Davidoff CEO of LMG Security, about security challenges faced by industries on the bleeding edge of technology. Sherri explains how financial institutions can elevate innovation efforts while also remaining secure.
Show Hosts: Jason Henrichs Show Guests:Sherri Davidoff CEO of LMG Security Tom Feher from Microsoft John Weinkowitz from Finastra Sponsored by Finastra TOPICS DISCUSSED: [3:20] How has Finastra embraced cloud technology and how have they leveraged it to make it easy for banks? [3:50] Why did Finastra go all-in on cloud computing technology? [6:17] Were the bigger banks the first to invest in cloud technology and is the playing field being leveled by fintechs? [10:15] Are we seeing a large number of banks considering migrating to the cloud since the COVID19 crisis? [13:02] Customers are increasingly demanding self-service features from their financial institutions. [17:20] Banks are getting really smart about security as they open up to new opportunities and partnerships. [20:00] Finastra customers are realizing the value of KYI, plug and play technologies, and the importance of actionable data. [23:30] Leveraging data to lower risk and find new opportunities is of value for Finastra clients. [29:43] Jason makes the point just because you can physically touch a server does not mean it’s more secure. [31:20] Sherri explains that the cloud has both the ability to be secure and insecure. It’s important to vet your provider. [36:00] Sherri discusses two-factor identification in detail. [41:45] Would it make sense to have hardware tokens? [42:20] Is regulation keeping up with how banks view cybersecurity and technology? [48:02] Security assessments are valuable in today’s climate for organizations and consumers. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Microsoft Azure Finastra Zelle Lyft UberLMG Security Verizon ATT TMobile Breaking Banks is the #1 global fintech radio show and podcast. Tune in every week for a look at how technology and customer behavior will bring about more changes in banking in the next 10 years, than in the last 200 years. Subscribe at Provoke.fm or wherever you get your podcasts. FULL TRANSCRIPTION Announcer: Financial technology or fintech is one of the fastest growing industries in the world today with New York, London, Tel Aviv, Edinburgh, Singapore, Moscow, and other major cities all buy in for a piece of the action. Welcome to Breaking Banks; the first dedicated radio show that focuses on how this new boom is changing everything from the way we bank to the very concept of money itself. Now, here’s your host, Jason Henrichs. Jason Henrichs: Today on the show, talking about cloud, specifically financial services in the cloud. Now, historically, when we bring up cloud within financial services, the debate can take on religious proportions. Tech evangelists sing the praises of the architecture, compliance departments scream it’s not secure, IT departments feel more scared when they can physically go hug that box that’s running code in the cage. Until recently, I think everyone felt more secure when remote access was locked down. Now, current circumstances can show that if everyone has to come into the bank in order to operate the system, well, there’s just some limitations attached to that. Today on the show, John Weinkowitz, GM of retail and head of product strategy for community markets at Finastra in Palm Bay or West region financial services industry director at Microsoft. Talk about banking in the cloud. Tom, do you have a special fold-out on your card to get that whole ...
On this Special Episode of Breaking Banks we spoke to bankers about why they love what they do and highlighted the importance of purpose in digital advancement.
Show Hosts:
Jason Henrichs
Show Guests:
Mary Kate Loftin of M&T Bank Curt Queyrouze of TAB Bank
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
[2:40] In today’s landscape does digital banking take the humanization out of banking?
[4:50] Mary Kate Loftin talks about looking ahead in innovation and M&T Bank’s partnership with MX.
[6:45] How should banks manage employee happiness during the COVID19 crisis?
[11:52] Mary Kate talks about the increase in usage of Zelle during the coronavirus pandemic.
[14:55] Jason asks Mary Kate does meaning and purpose account for a happier workplace? How do the customers benefit when bankers are happy?
[17:10] What does it take to bring surprise and delight from a banking product?
[25:00] Jason asks Curt Queyrouze why he chose to become a banker.
[30:02] Is there a difference in passion between banks and fintechs?
[33:12] Curt says it’s important to take purposeful risks in technology.
[34:05] Utilizing a jobs-to-be-done mentality can help solve customer problems and issues.
[35:15] How do you get an internal culture to change their mindset around the fear of failure?
[44:00] How important has it become for banks to hire passionate people to be bankers and be able to adapt to change?
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
MX
M&T Bank
Adobe Analytics
Microsoft Teams
Trello
Zelle
Instacart
Docusign
TAB Bank
Jack Henry & Associates
Show Sponsors:
Breaking Banks is the #1 global fintech radio show and podcast, created by Brett King. Tune in for a look at how technology and customer behavior will bring about more changes in banking in the next 10 years, than in the last 200 years. Listen every Thursday at 3pm eastern time, noon pacific on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel. Subscribe at Provoke.fm to hear the show nearly 2 million listeners from 72 countries are raving about.
FULL TRANSCRIPTION Jason Henrichs: Hey, if you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. I have not gone crazy, although if hear that song one more time, I might be going crazy in this pandemic. But today on Breaking Banks, we’re going to be talking with Mary Kate Loftus, Senior Vice President and Director of Digital at M&T Bank, and we’re going to be talking about happiness. Jason Henrichs: Now, the first time Mary Kate and I started this conversation, it was relatively easy to be happy, because we were actually at MX’s Fintech Summit up at Sundance, staring at the mountains and the snow, and everything was good. No one was locked down, spending all this quality time, no one was doing homeschooling. Jason Henrichs: But one of the things, Mary Kate for being… Apologies for saying this, you’re a digital nerd. Which is part of why I like you. But you are so happy about being a banker. And it was actually infectious in that level of how excited you are to be a banker. So maybe to start, why do you love being a banker so much? Mary Kate Loftus: I love being a banker. You’re right. I think it is just an awesome, delightful career. I think it’s because bankers are helping people with one of the most important aspects of their life, which is how to manage their money, and how to achieve their dreams. Jason Henrichs: Has that changed at all? Right now, in the middle of a pandemic, we’ve got a crisis, we’ve got people who are stressed. Has that sense of meaning changed right now? I’m assuming it’s gone up, right? I don’t mean to be leading the witness, but how would you characterize the way it’s changed? Mary Kate Loftus: I mean, I think gone up would be an understatement. I’ve seen people, I’ve seen executives so moved by what is going on,
The impact of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus has been both global and catastrophic, as both a public health crisis and as a worldwide economic crisis. Dealing with the health risks will continue for a while, but what’s likely to last even longer are the economic effects, and those always have a big impact on the financial services industry. We talk about who’s winning and losing today, and over the long run in a dramatically changing world. Show Hosts: JP Nicols Show Guests: Ron Shevlin, Penny Crosman, Jim MarousTOPICS DISCUSSED:[2:30] Are payment processors fairing well during the COVID-19 pandemic? [4:00] Organizations that were further ahead in digital efforts have been able to be more agile in servicing customers. [8:02] Ron Shevlin discusses his latest study regarding small business banking. [13:30] Jim Marous highlights the importance of being a data-first organization. [15:00] We are seeing numerous lawsuits against banks for how they processed PPP loans. [18:05] Should the government have waited 24-48 hours to roll out the PPP platform? [21:08] Many small businesses are struggling with the payroll portion of the PPP program. Will they struggle to get forgiveness? [23:12] Ron Shevlin discusses his article https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2020/05/04/the-looming-paycheck-protection-program-forgiveness-nightmare/#15388a5e2e25 [33:30] What does consolidation in the financial industry look like moving forward? [40:57] Will we see more deployment and resources reallocated to digital experiences post COVID-19? What does this mean for branches? [46:50] What is the potential for ITM’s and virtual assistants in the near future?
RESOURCES MENTIONED: Cornerstone Advisors The Financial Brand American Banker Forbes Stripe Square PayPal True Accord Verizon TD Bank Bank of America
Show Sponsors: ExpressVPN Jack Henry & AssociatesBreaking Banks is the #1 global fintech radio show and podcast, created by Brett King. Tune in for a look at how technology and customer behavior will bring about more changes in banking in the next 10 years, than in the last 200 years. Listen every Thursday at 3pm eastern time, noon pacific on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel. Subscribe at Provoke.fm to hear the show nearly 2 million listeners from 72 countries are raving about. FULL SHOW TRANSCRIPTION Announcer: Financial technology, or fintech, is one of the fastest growing industries in the world today, with New York, London, Tel Aviv, Edinburgh, Singapore, Moscow and other major cities all vying for a piece of the action. Welcome to Breaking Banks, the first dedicated radio show that focuses on how this new boom is changing everything, from the way we bank to the very concept of money itself. Now, here’s your host, Brett King. JP Nicols: Welcome to Breaking Banks, the number one global fintech radio show and podcast. I’m JP Nicols. Today, we’re looking at winners and losers so far in this pandemic era, and as we look forward to a post pandemic world, with three of our regular and most prolific contributors. Ron Shevlin, director of research for Cornerstone Advisors and senior contributor to Forbes, Penny Crosman, executive editor Technology at American Banker, and Jim Marous, publisher of the Digital Banking Report and co publisher of the Financial Brand. JP Nicols: The impact of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus has been both global and catastrophic, as both a public health crisis and as a worldwide economic crisis, and we’re still in the relatively early stages of it as we record this in early May of 2020. The financial services industry is caught in the squeeze as many workers are at risk on the frontline provided much needed access to relief loans, while others are adapting to social distancing directives. JP Nicols: Dealing with the health risk will continue for a while, but what’s likely to last even longer are the economic affects, and those have always had a big impact on the financial services industry.
John McAfee joins hosts Brett King, Miss Metaverse (Katie King), and Dave Birch on the 7th Anniversary episode of the #1 Fintech podcast and radio show. Little did we know back in May of 2013 that this thing would turn into the global phenomenon that it has been. Now, let’s get a little out there as McAfee talks about the similarities between computer viruses and COVID-19. Air Date: Thursday, May 7, 2020 Show Title: 7th Anniversary Special Summary: John McAfee joins hosts Brett King, Miss Metaverse (Katie King), and Dave Birch on the 7th Anniversary episode of the #1 Fintech podcast and radio show. Little did we know back in May of 2013 that this thing would turn into the global phenomenon that it has been. Now, let’s get a little out there as McAfee talks about the similarities between computer viruses and COVID-19. Show Hosts: Brett KingKatie KingDave Birch Show Guests:John McAfee TOPICS DISCUSSED:[2:00] John McAfee discusses politics and government bailouts and the fallout for years to come. [4:15] Brett King asks if there is a disconnect between the economy and stock market performance. [6:00] John McAfee talks about life lessons to be learned about trust, disparity, and capitalism. [9:14] Lower to middle-class households are being hit hard economically and healthwise during COVID-19. [10:12] Should people rely more upon data than the news media? [14:20] Did we fail as a country when it came to risk and pandemic planning? [16:00] John McAfee understands the mathematics of the spread of viruses. [21:03] What do the most heavily locked down countries all have in common? [23:10] What does the mortality rate look like for the U.S.A during COVID-19? [33:02] How will the coronavirus affect the world economies in the distant future? [37:30] Brett King talks about his Boring Co. Flame thrower. [38:30] Will there be a meat shortage post-COVID-19? [44:40] John McAfee says he and Elon Musk have a similar thought process regarding COVID-19. [47:30] John McAfee talks about Monero and Ghost Cryptocurrency. RESOURCES MENTIONED: The Currency Cold WarBoring Company Show Sponsors: ExpressVPNJack Henry & AssociatesShippo Breaking Banks is the #1 global fintech radio show and podcast, created by Brett King. Tune in for a look at how technology and customer behavior will bring about more changes in banking in the next 10 years, than in the last 200 years. Listen every Thursday at 3pm eastern time, noon pacific on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel. Subscribe at Provoke.fm to hear the show nearly 2 million listeners from 72 countries are raving about.
FULL TRANSCRIPTION Show Hosts: Brett King Katie King Dave Birch Show Guests: John McAfee [Intro] Financial technology or fintech is one of the fastest growing industries in the world today with New York, London, Tel Aviv, Edinburgh, Singapore, Moscow, and other major cities all buy in for a piece of the action. Welcome to breaking banks. The first dedicated radio show that focuses on how this new boom is changing everything from the way we bank to the very concept of money itself. Now here’s your host, Brett King. Brett King: Hey guys welcome back to breaking banks this week. It’s our seventh anniversary edition and we have all the gang here. We have with us Dave Birch a long time my cohost and the author of the, let me get this right, the new book that you’ve [00:44 inaudible] “the currency cold war: Cash and cryptography, hash rates and hegemony. Is that right? Dave Birch: That’s clever, right? John McAfee: That’s very clever. Hash rates and hegemony. Brett King: Joining us also is miss metaverse, Katie Schultz. Katie King: Oh hi. Brett King: Thanks for coming back on the show. And of course our special guest this week is John MacAfee. John, welcome to breaking banks. John McAfee: Thanks for having me, Brett. I’m happy to be here. Since I saw everybody’s science fiction background, I know I’m going to be at home here. Brett King: Absolutely. Very good.