Fintech Business Podcast
A monthly-ish podcast hosted by Jason Mikula, the writer behind Fintech Business Weekly, covering news and analysis in fintech, banking and crypto. Episodes alternate between news recaps done together with Alex Johnson of Fintech Takes and interviews with leaders and executives across the industry. The show focuses on the business side of financial technology, including regulation, funding, product launches and competitive shifts. It is published independently via Substack rather than by a traditional broadcaster.
Episodes
What Getting a Trust Bank Charter Does and Doesn’t Change, with Modern Treasury’s Matt Marcus and Sam Aarons
Hey all, Jason here. In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Modern Treasury cofounder and CEO Matt Marcus and cofounder and CTO Sam Aarons. We had the chance to discuss:* Unpacking the basics of a national trust bank charter: what it is and what it isn’t* How obtaining a trust bank charter will integrate with and enhance Modern Treasury’s capabilities* Examples of how customers are leverag
How to Win the Future of Fintech with Current CEO Stuart Sopp
Hey all, Jason here. In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Current cofounder and CEO Stuart Sopp. Stuart and I had the chance to discuss:* Current reaching EBITDA profitability and what has driven its continued growth* How Current intends to remain focused on its core demo, which are the over 150 million Americans living paycheck to paycheck* How providing the most product value for this
How Revolut’s Data Breach Puts Crypto Whales’ Lives In Danger
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* Whop, which launched a feature letting users create their own neobanks in just 15 minutes. What could go wrong?* The Revolut data breach that is putting crypto whales’ lives in danger* Chime’s proposed acquisition of its partner bank, Stride* And, as always, what Alex and I can’t let go ofA reminder, if you’re enjoying this show, please follo
Fighting Fraud in the Age of AI, with SEON’s Tamas Kadar
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Tamas Kadar, cofounder and CEO of fraud prevention & AML platform SEON. Tamas and I had the chance to discuss:* How fraud vectors have changed over SEON’s nearly 10 years in business* How AI is reshaping fraud and how financial institutions fight it* The challenges of dealing with the consequences of widespread data breaches and the creation of synthe
Interview: Brooking’s Aaron Klein on Faster Payments, Consumer Credit & the Fed
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with the Aaron Klein, the Miriam K. Carliner Chair and senior fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution.Aaron and I had a wide-ranging discussion on consumer payment and consumer credit regulation and public policy, including:* Why, despite the existence of The Clearing House RTP and FedNow, U.S. consumers don’t have widespread free or low-co
Are Fintech Standards Fit For Purpose?
Hey all, Jason here.Something the banking industry has been struggling with since the emergence of fintech is how to evaluate, onboard, and manage fintech partners, particularly those that are early stage, often unprofitable startups.As bank-fintech partnerships multiplied, so did the problems, eventually gaining mindshare with regulators, leading to more than a dozen fintech-related consent order
Fintech Recap: What Can We Learn From Coastal’s Earnings Miss?
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* How a fintech lending partner drove Coastal Community Bank’s Q2 earnings miss, and what we can learn from it* The reports that the FDIC is working with bank and fintech trade associations to create a “standard setting organization”* A quick update on the bank charter pipeline, including the OCC’s rejection of Wise’s and bunq’s applications* A
Interview: Agentic Finance, Partnering with Visa Direct & More with zerohash's Edward Woodford
Hey all, Jason here.In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Edward Woodford, founder and CEO at crypto, stablecoin, and tokenization infrastructure platform zerohash. Edward and I had the chance to discuss the company’s many recent announcements, including:* Partnering with Visa Direct to enable prefunding and stablecoin payouts* Working with card issuer Marqeta to enable stablecoin-powered
Interview: Katie Perry, Author of Ticker Shock
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Katie Perry about her recently published book, Ticker Shock. Katie currently serves as chief marketing officer at crypto and tokenization infrastructure platform zerohash and previously led marketing and partnership for brokerage Public.com. Katie and I had a wide-ranging conversation, discussing:* How corporate communications and investor relations h
Fintech Recap: ALT5 Sigma, Increase & Fed Master Accounts
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* The convoluted tale of ALT5 Sigma, MSwipe, Stradacarte and “no KYC” cards* Middleware provider Increase announcing it is launching a bank* The weirdness of Fed master accounts, which are back in the headlines* And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go ofAnd a reminder, if you’re enjoying this show, please follow, rate & review on your
The Role of AI in Compliance in a Rapidly Changing Regulatory Environment
In this episode, I had the chance to speak with Wael ElSahhar, cofounder and CEO at MidLyr, and Kirsten Muetzel, founding principal & CPA at KLM Advisory. We discussed:* The role of AI in compliance in a rapidly changing regulatory environment* The differences in how fintechs, technology service providers, banks think about risk* Key lessons from what the industry has seen unfold in banking as a s
Taking Cashflow Analytics Beyond the Underwriting Decision
In this episode, I had the chance to speak Brian Reshefsky, founder and CEO of EDGE, the cashflow bureau helping lenders use bank transaction data across the consumer credit lifecycle, and Zuben Matthews, cofounder and CEO of consumer financial management and credit building app Brigit.We had the chance to discuss:* How they think about cashflow-based scoring and underwriting, from both a B2B and
Interview: Maple Cofounder Joe Flanagan
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts | SpotifyHey all, Jason here.In this episode, I had the chance to speak with Maple cofounder and executive chairman Joe Flanagan. We had the chance to discuss:* Building in the crypto space over seven years of ups & downs* Increasing institutional adoption of cryptocurrency and stablecoins* Maple’s new partnership with Robinhood* And more!A reminder, if you’r
![Interview: Cross River's Chief AI Officer Pravesh Rijal [Exclusive]](https://substackcdn.com/feed/podcast/95427/post/204652946/65b2cab9524f15910a68270fdc55795a.jpg)
Interview: Cross River's Chief AI Officer Pravesh Rijal [Exclusive]
In this episode, I had the chance to speak with Cross River Bank’s chief AI officer, Pravesh Rijal, following the bank’s announcement earlier this week of its expanded partnership with Stripe to support agentic commerce. Pravesh and I had the chance to talk about:* Cross River’s announcement this Wednesday of its expanded partnership with Stripe to support card issuing for agentic commerce* What a
Fintech Recap: What Can We Learn From A Fintech Credit Card's Collapse?
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* What industry stakeholders — fintechs, banks, and debt capital providers — can learn from the abrupt collapse of SMB credit card startup Parker card* Prediction market grab bag: Polymarket allegedly ran fake ads, Meta plans to launch “Arena,” the CFTC proposes a rule* The debanking debate just won’t go away* And, as always, what Alex and I ju
Exclusive: Neobank Current Raises $80M Series E
In this episode, I had the exclusive chance to chat with Current’s CEO Stuart Sopp and CTO Trevor Marshall on the company’s $80 million Series E, led by Springcoast Partners, announced earlier today. We also discussed:* Current’s expanded product suite and impressive 70% growth for the third year in a row* The role AI has played across the company’s business and how Stu and Trevor think about cost
Fintech Recap: Everyone Wants To Be A Bank
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* Why seemingly every bank, crypto, and stablecoin company wants to become a bank (and what it could mean for their valuations)* A return to BaaS Island: CFSB’s consent order, and how it compares to those of other fintech partner banks* President Trump’s fintech- and banking-related executive orders* And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t l
Interview: zerohash's Founder & CEO Edward Woodford
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Edward Woodford, the founder and CEO of crypto, stablecoin, and tokenization infrastructure platform zerohash. Edward and I had the chance to talk about:* Why zerohash is applying for a national trust bank charter* How the CLARITY Act (crypto market structure legislation) may impact the U.S. crypto industry* What Edward is hearing from non-financial i
Interview: Knot CEO Rory O'Reilly
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with merchant connectivity platform Knot’s cofounder and CEO Rory O’Reilly. Rory and I had the chance to discuss:* Rory dropping out of Harvard to start his first company* How Knot became the industry’s go-to solution for card switching* Expanding from its initial card switching product to building the merchant connnectivity layer, and how Knot complements
Fintech Recap: Is AI the Unlock PFM Has Been Waiting For?
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* If there’s one idea fintech founders can’t quit, it’s solving personal financial management. There’s a new wave of AI-powered tools. But can they solve some of the fundamental challenges that have prevented a breakout company from emerging in the category?* Bolt, the one-click checkout turned financial “super app,” is in headlines, again, wit
Fintech Recap: Bilt's Rocky Transition
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* Rent rewards and neighborhood loyalty startup Bilt’s rocky transition from Wells Fargo to Column and Cardless* The “graduation problem” in banking-as-a-service* The New York legislature’s decision to* And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
Interview: Tyler Allen, Unit21's Chief Operating Officer
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Tyler Allen, the chief operating offier at Unit21. We had the chance to discuss:* How fintech, financial crimes compliance, and software engineering have evolved since Tyler joined Unit21 back in 2019* The limitations of addressing compliance challenges by throwing bodies at them* How regulators are thinking about agentic AI* What an AI-first approach
Interview: Aliya’s CEO and Co-Founder, SP “Wije” Wijegoonaratna
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with S.P. “Wije” Wijegoonaratna, the cofounder and CEO of Aliya Financial Technologies. We had the chance to discuss:* The challenges different segments of consumer lenders are facing today* How AI-powered infrastructure is fundamentally reshaping how financial institutions think about making decisions* How Aliya is thinking about its go-to-market approach
Fintech Recap: Cash App Plans To Sell Proprietary Credit Scores To Others
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* Block’s plan to sell access to its proprietary Cash App credit score* So-called “no KYC” crypto cards* Stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge’s apparent derisking* The brewing internecine fights over regulating prediction markets* And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusiness
Interview: Modern Treasury's Matt Marcus & Matt Janiga
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Modern Treasury cofounder and CEO Matt Marcus, as well as the company’s recently joined lead counsel, Matt Janiga. We had the chance to discuss:* Modern Treasury’s newly launched payment service provider offering* What kinds of companies can benefit from payment orchestration* Use cases driving the explosive growth of stablecoins* How Modern Treasury
Fintech Recap: Shorting Tender, Crypto Market Structure & More
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts | SpotifyHey all, Jason here.Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* The HBO drama “Industry” tackles banking and fintech and i
Interview: Castellum.AI's Peter Piatetsky
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Castellum.AI’s cofounder and CEO, Peter Piatetsky about what has undeniably been one of the hottest topics in fintech, banking and compliance: agentic AI. Peter and I had the chance to discuss:* How compliance leaders should approach evaluating agent-based solutions.* What regulators are signaling when it comes to adoption of AI agents and how to turn
Fintech Recap: Kontig-uh-oh. Are Stablecoins Speed Running BaaS?
Alex Johnson of Fintech Takes and I had the chance to discuss the WILD story of Y Combinator- and Coinbase-backed Kontigo:* Some context setting and clarifications on the difference between AML vs. sanctions and the impact of sanctions on the everyday people of the countries they’re enforced against* Explaining Kontigo’s retail user service and its value proposition* Talking through what also was
Fintech Recap: Wrapped. A Look Back at 2025 and Ahead to 2026.
In this year-end episode, Alex and I took a look back at major themes and stories from 2025 and look ahead to 2026. We had the chance to discuss:* The major shifts in the US banking regulatory landscape* The explosive growth of interest in stablecoins* Open banking’s setbacks* Why everything seems to be gambling now* Fintech IPOs* Our predictions for 2026, such as they are* And, as always, what we
Fintech Recap: Open Banking Latest, Apple's Digital ID, Green Dot Goes Private
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* The latest developments in the “do over” of the CFPB’s open banking rule* Apple’s fledgling Digital ID* Green Dot going private* And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
Fintech Recap: 1033 Comments & Lord of the Rings (IYKYK)
Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.This episode is brought to you by Cross River Bank, the bank behind the bold.In this abbreviated episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss:* The 14,000 or so comments on the CFPB
Interview: Oscilar's Neha Narkhede on Building Real-Time Risk Systems for Financial Institutions (Live from Money20/20)
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts | SpotifyHey all, Jason here.In this episode recorded live in Las Vegas this Tuesday during Money20/20, I had the chance to talk with Oscilar cofounder and CEO Neha Narkhede. We had the chance to discuss:* Neha’s background as co-creator of Apache Kafka and cofounder of Confluent, which eventually scaled to a $10 billion IPO* How Oscilar is helping both finte
How Tech Is Really Reshaping The Lending Landscape
Hey all, Jason here.In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Brian Reshefsky, founder and CEO of cashflow analytics platform EDGE, Timothy Li, cofounder and CEO of orchestration platform LendAPI, and Vincent Zhang, chief growth and strategy officer at Braviant Holdings. We had the chance to discuss:* How different stakeholders across the lending value chain are driving change* What goes into
Interview: Unit21's Head of Product Kunal Datta
In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Unit21’s head of product Kunal Datta. Kunal and I had the chance to discuss:-The recent guest post Kunal published in Fintech Business Weekly-The new fintech playbook: eliminating work instead of just streamlining it.-How fintechs use AI to differentiate by solving for frequency instead of friction.-How fintechs, banks, and credit unions are using AI
The Game of Bank Bargains (2025 Edition)
In this episode, I was joined by Charles Calomiris, Henry Kaufman Professor Emeritus of Financial Institutions in the Faculty of Business and Professor Emeritus of International and Public Affairs at Columbia Business School, Stephen Haber, A.A. and Jeanne Welch Milligan Professor, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Professor of Hist
How Modern Lenders Leverage Cashflow Analytics, with EDGE & MX
This episode was recorded live during last week’s MX Money Experience Summit in Park City, Utah. During the event, I had the chance to sit down with Brian Reshefsky, founder and CEO of cashflow analytics platform EDGE, and Matt West, chief revenue officer of open banking infrastructure company MX. We had the chance to discuss:* What makes EDGE unique among cashflow analytics platforms, including i
Fintech Recap: Open Banking's Fee Fight
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Hey all, Jason here.Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.This episode is brought to you by Fintech NerdCon, the fintech event by operators, for operators. Use promo code FBW2
Interview: Hummingbird's Joe Robinson
In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Hummingbird cofounder and CEO Joe Robinson about the AI-powered compliance platform’s latest product news. Joe and I had the chance to discuss:* The launch of Hummingbird’s new customer screening and transaction monitoring capabilities* How financial institutions can move beyond disparate platforms and siloed data to more effectively mitigate financia
Fintech Recap: Open Banking's Do-Over
In this episode, Alex and I discussed:* Open banking’s do over: parsing the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking* Rescue ships head for BaaS Island, but what precedent does the first-ever fintech bail out set?* The GENIUS Act, legislation to regulate and license permitted payment stablecoin issuers, is already the law of the land. Why are bank trade groups pushing back now?* And, as always, what
Fintech Recap: Open Banking Breakdown
In this episode, Alex Johnson and I discussed:* The revelation that JPMorgan Chase intends to begin charging third-parties, including aggregators like Plaid and MX, to access consumers’ data rocked the U.S. fintech landscape last week. Alex and I unpacked what it could mean.* Since we recorded this last week, a group trade associations, including the Financial Technology Association and the Americ
Fintech Recap: Will Depositors Be Rescued from BaaS Island?
In this episode, Alex Johnson of Fintech Takes and I discuss:* FICO launches new scores that incorporate pay-in-four buy now, pay later data. But will it make a difference?* The CFPB files a statement of interest in the Synapse bankruptcy, potentially setting up a backdoor bailout to make out-of-pocket depositors whole. Does it set a bad precedent?* A brief word on crypto mortgages.* And, as alway
Interview: BILL's Mary Kay Bowman
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple PodcastsHey all, Jason here.In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Executive Vice President and General Manager of Payments and Financial Services at BILL’s Mary Kay Bowman. Mary Kay’s career has spanned roles at Amazon, Square, Visa, and now financial operations platform BILL. We had a chance to discuss:* BILL’s evolution from accounts payable and recei
Interview: Luke Voiles, CEO of Pipe
In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Luke Voiles, CEO of embedded financing platform Pipe. Luke and I had the chance to discuss:* How Pipe has evolved over time* The kinds of platforms Pipe partners with* Pipe’s embedded card capabilities* Pipe’s relationship with its bank partner* And more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
Interview: Trent Sorbe, Chief Payments Officer at First International Bank & Trust
In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Trent Sorbe, Chief Payments Officer at First International Bank & Trust. Trent and I had the chance to discuss:* The different waves of bank-fintech partnerships and the popping of the BaaS bubble* What some investors and bankers got wrong about the first wave of BaaS* What’s different about First International Bank & Trust’s payments platform, Kotapa
Fintech Recap: For Whom the IPO Bell Chimes
In this episode, Alex and I discussed:* Unpacking Chime’s IPO plans* What the hell is going with 1033?* The GENIUS bill advances in the Senate* And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
Interview: Sunbit CEO & Fintech Veteran Arad Levertov
In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Arad Levertov, cofounder and CEO of buy now, pay later lender Sunbit. Arad started Sunbit 10 years ago — long before BNPL as we know it today exploded in popularity during the early days of the COVID pandemic. Arad and I had a chance to discuss:* What differentiates Sunbit from other BNPL providers in a crowded market* Why distribution is key in lendi
Synapse, One Year Later: A Very Special Episode
In this episode Alex Johnson, of Fintech Takes, and Jesse Silverman, of Troutman Pepper, joined me to talk about:* Recent developments in the bankruptcy case (spoiler: Jesse isn’t a bankruptcy lawyer!)* Who’s to blame for the Synapse disaster* Reflections on some of the regulatory response, including former FDIC Chair Gruenberg’s effort to roll back the 2020 brokered deposit rule and the “Synapse”
Fintech Recap: Increase CEO Wants To Buy A Bank
In this episode, Alex and I discussed:* Alex’s trip to BaaS Island: the founder/CEO of Increase seeking approval to acquire a controlling stake in a bank & the Hatch Bank’s consent order with the California DFPI* Ryan Breslow’s return to one-click checkout / “super app” Bolt* Crypto firms seeking bank charters* And, as always, what Alex and Jason just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Bus
Interview: Michele Alt, Klaros Cofounder & OCC Veteran
In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Michele Alt, cofounder and managing director of Klaros Group and a 22-year veteran of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Michele and I had the chance to discuss:* What the opening of the “charter window” means and how fintechs should think about the opportunity* The de novo process vs. acquiring an existing bank* Michele and Klaro’s recent
Fintech Recap: Tariffs Rain On Klarna's IPO Parade
In this episode, we discussed:* Alex and I recorded this before “Liberation Day” and thus before Klarna chose to delay its IPO; that said, our analysis of Klarna’s F-1 registration statement stands!* A return to BaaS Island: a first-hand account of Mercury and Evolve’s abrupt public parting of ways; what other banks, fintechs, and regulators can learn from the chaotic split.* It’s charter time: a
Interview: CardsFTW Publisher & Totavi Founder Matthew Goldman
In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Matthew Goldman, a true expert in the card space. Matthew has done stints at Green Dot, AT&T, Bankrate, and Apto Payments, as well as starting multiple of his own ventures. Matthew currently published the CardsFTW newsletter and is the founder and managing member of boutique fintech consultancy Totavi.We had a chance to discuss:* Matthew’s thoughts on
Interview: Getting Ledgering Right, With NAYA CEO Sherif Kozman
In this episode, I had the chance to speak with ledgering, reconciliation, and compliance startup NAYA’s CEO Sherif Kozman. We had a chance to discuss:* Why ledgering and reconciliation, especially in fintech-bank partnerships, is so dang difficult (hint: legacy cores, batch payment files & more)* The consequences of poor ledgering and reconciliation* Advice for banks and fintechs struggling to ma
Interview: Current CTO Trevor Marshall & Hillel Olivestone, Cross River's Head of Strategy and Corporate Development
In this episode, I had the chance to speak Current’s cofounder and CTO, Trevor Marshall, and Cross River Bank’s Head of Strategy and Development, Hillel Olivestone. We had the chance to talk about:* Why Current decided to build its own tech stack & what it’s enabled the company to do* How Current and Cross River think about the “buy vs. build” debate* The “jobs to be done” addressed by Current’s B
Fintech Recap: Regulatory Remix
In this episode, Alex Johnson and I discuss:* The chaos in DC. What might in mean for banking, fintech & consumers?* Varo Bank struggles on, with a new CEO and some additional capital.* A grab bag of BNPL topics.* And, as always, what Alex and Jason just can’t let go of. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
Interview: Gigs' Head of Go-to-Market, Rafa Plantier
In this episode, I had the chance to speak to Rafa Plantier, Head of Go-to-Market at Gigs, the world’s first operating system for mobile services, enabling companies, including neobanks, HR and travel platforms, and device manufacturers, to seamlessly embed phone and data plans into their products within weeks. Gigs provides an end-to-end connectivity platform with everything brands need to launch
Fintech Recap: Live From Salt Lake City
Hey all, Jason here.Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.We recorded this ~very special episode~ live during the Fintech XChange event in Salt Lake City, Utah, late last month — and were joined by Alloy Labs Alliance CE
Fintech Recap: Chime IPO, CFPB Sues Walmart & Branch, CBW's CMP
This month, Alex and I had the chance to talk about:* CBW Bank’s fights a $20.5 million civil money penalty that could “imperil” the bank’s existence* Will the IPO window open in 2025? Chime confidentially files to go public.* The CPFB’s parting shots: the bureau files suit against Walmart & Branch (but not partner Evolve Bank & Trust)* And, as always, what Alex & Jason just can’t let go of Get fu
Fintech Recap: Takeaways From A Week in DC
Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap. This month we had the chance to talk about:* Our time in Washington, DC, to attend the American Fintech Council Policy Summit, FinRegLab’s AI Symposium, and a variety of other meetings* What’s been happening on “BaaS Island,” with the Synapse bankruptcy movi
Interview: Affirm CEO Max Levchin
In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with an OG of fintech who really needs no introduction, cofounder and CEO of Affirm and PayPal Mafia member Max Levchin. Max and I had the chance to discuss:* How Affirm designs its systems and processes to mitigate third-party risks, including service interruptions and, yes, data breaches* How Affirm thinks about selecting its bank partners and how it
Interview: Synapse's Ex-CEO Says He Has A Plan To Get Depositors Their Money Back
With the Synapse bankruptcy case seemingly nearing some kind of conclusion, impacted end users are left wondering, will they ever get their money back?While, at this point, Synapse cofounder and former CEO Sankaet Pathak can’t really answer that question, he is able to provide greater context on what happened and why.In this podcast, recorded as a X (formerly Twitter) livestream yesterday, Novembe
Fintech Recap: Return to BaaS Island As FDIC Proposes "Synapse Rule"
Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.This month we had the chance to talk about:* A return to BaaS Island: the FDIC’s proposed “Synapse Rule,” Five Star Bank quits BaaS, and the evolving (ha) economics of partner banks*
Interview: Sinch's James Doherty, Head of Business Development, Financial Services EMEA
In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with James Doherty, the Head of Business Development for Financial Services at Sinch, the customer communication cloud platform that includes mobile messaging, voice, email and other emerging channel capabilities. We had the chance to discuss:* Financial services’ key “jobs to be done” via communications channels, including acquisition, engagement, ret
Interview: Valor Capital's Michael Nicklas
In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with Michael Nicklas, Managing Partner at Valor Capital Group, a Brazil-based cross-border venture fund. Valor’s fintech and crypto portfolio companies include cross-border payment and trade finance network Hamsa, crypto exchanges Bitso and Coinbase, and stablecoin infrastructure company Circle, among many others. Michael and I had the chance to talk a
Fintech Recap: Klarna Balance, Affirm Earnings & Apple Opens NFC (Sort Of)
Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.This month we had the chance to talk about:* The launch of Klarna’s bank account gift card* Affirm’s killer earnings* Are niche neobanks back?* Apple opening up NFC (sort of)* And, a
Fintech Recap: Mercury Cleans House
Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.This month we had the chance to talk about:* Mercury, which partners with Evolve Bank & Trust and Choice Bank, informed users based in or with ties to certain countries, including Uk
Interview: Ampersand's Kelly Brown On Deposit Aggregation, Enhanced FDIC Coverage & More
In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with Kelly A. Brown, Chairman and CEO at deposit management startup Ampersand. Previously, she spent 13 years at the American Deposit Management Company. Kelly and I had a chance to talk about:* What inspired Kelly to get into banking* The sudden attention paid to deposit insurance in the wake of SVB’s collapse* How FBO and deposit insurance pass throu
Balancing Growth With Risk In The Post-ZIRP Era
Frank Rotman of QED, Jason Henrichs of Alloy Labs, and I discussed “Balancing Growth With Risk In The Post-ZIRP Era,” including touching on:* How the extended low-interest rate environment impacted venture capital and fintech* How the evolving regulatory climate is shaping fintechs’ and banks’ risk appetite and strategies* What the next 12 months will look like* And more!Regular programming will r
Interview: Wade Arnold, Cofounder & CEO of Moov
In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with Wade Arnold, cofounder and CEO of Moov, a fintech infrastructure company that enables and simplifies push and pull card payments. Moov also puts on the Fintech Devcon conference, which is August 7th-9th in Austin — more info and tickets here. We had a chance to talk about:* What to expect at (and what I should wear to) Fintech Devcon* Payment and
Fintech Recap: Pirates Invade BaaS Island
This month Alex Johnson and I had the chance to talk about:* Jason’s special news: I wrote a book! The book, Banking as a Service: Opportunities, Challenges and Risks of New Banking Business Models, will be available toward the end of the year — but you can preorder now, and if you order directly from the publisher here and use promo code “BAASISLAND,” you get 20% off!* Pirates invade BaaS island:
Interview: LoanPro's CEO & Cofounder Rhett Roberts
In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with Rhett Roberts, cofounder and CEO of API-first lending and credit platform LoanPro. Rhett and I had the chance to talk about:* LoanPro’s recent announcement of integrating with Visa DPS (and some background for folks who might not know why that’s important!)* LoanPro’s journey from homegrown software to powering some of the biggest lenders in finte
Interview: Current's CEO & Cofounder Stuart Sopp
In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with Stuart Sopp, CEO and cofounder of Current. Stuart and I had the chance to talk about:* What’s change in fintech and banking since the last time we talked in 2023 (hint: a lot)* Current’s new products and features, including its credit builder card and an EWA-style offering* The challenges of state-by-state licensing and importance of compliance* B
Interview: Nicolas Benady, CEO at Swan (Live At Money2020 Europe)
In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with Nicolas Benady, the CEO of French embedded finance platform Swan, live at Money2020 Europe earlier this month. Nicolas and I had the chance to talk about:* embedded finance and banking-as-a-service in Europe vs. the US* what being licensed as an emoney institution enables Swan to do and how it’s different than being or partnering with a bank* why
Interview: John Stuart, GM of Fintech at Apex Fintech Solutions
In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with John Stuart, the general manager of fintech and international at Apex Fintech Solutions, an investing and wealth management infrastructure platform. John and I had the chance to talk about:* What the capabilities Apex provides, including custody, clearing, and execution, enable its customers to build* How Apex scaled its platform across 150 countr
Fintech Recap: What Synapse's Collapse Means For BaaS, Fintech
Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.This month we had the chance to talk about:* Latest on Synapse bankruptcy and what it may mean for banking-as-a-service & fintech (this episode was recorded May 29th)* Visa’s new “cr
Interview: Neepa Patel, Cofounder & CEO of Themis
In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with Neepa Patel, cofounder and CEO of Themis, a compliance collaboration tool for banks and fintechs, on stage at last month’s Empire Fintech Conference in New York. Neepa and I had the chance to talk about:* What “fintech people” misunderstand about regulators* What fintechs should think about when selecting a bank partner* Whether or not tech is (an
Fintech Recap: Synapse's Bankruptcy & Solid Settles With FTV
This month Alex and I had the chance to talk about:* “BaaS Island” is heating up: Synapse files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with TabaPay slated to acquire its assets, and Solid settles its dispute with its former investors, FTV.* Is 2024 going to be the year of “pay by bank”? Alex and I aren’t entirely convinced.* A federal earned wage access bill is in the works (but unlikely to pass anytime soon)
Fintech Recap: BaaS Consent Orders, Trade Groups v. Colorado on DIDMCA
This month we had the chance to talk about:* BaaS drama continues, with Piermont and Sutton receiving consent orders* Chime has HOW MANY customers?* Trade groups vs. Colorado on DIDMCA, or, where is an online loan “made”?* Quick takes on the Visa/Mastercard settlement* And, as always, what we just can’t let go ofIf you enjoy listening to this podcast and find value in it, please consider supportin
Interview: Alloy CEO Tommy Nicholas
In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with Tommy Nicholas, CEO of identity risk solutions platform Alloy, a global, end-to-end identity risk solution for banks and fintechs. Tommy and I had the chance to talk about:* factors impacting fraud risk today, including the growth of real-time payments and the dawn of the genAI age* key take aways from Alloy’s 2024 State of Fraud Benchmark Report*
Fintech Recap: Capital One/Discover, Lineage & NY Fintech Week Preview
This month, we were joined by Jon Zanoff of Empire Startups, and we had the chance to talk about:* The deal of the century: Capital One’s acquisition of Discover* Another trip to “BaaS Island,” to discuss Lineage’s consent order and other developments* A preview of New York Fintech Week & Jon’s Empire Fintech Conference* And what we just can’t let go ofIf you enjoy listening to this podcast and fi
Interview: CapStack's Michal Cieplinski
In this episode, I spoke with Michal Cieplinski, founder and CEO at CapStack.CapStack is the first integrated operating system for banks enabling cooperation across banks and other financial services institutions in order to drive profitability and asset diversification. Michal and I had a chance to talk about:* The importance and challenges of asset/liability management for banks* The risks that
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