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At Bank of America's recent corporate treasury and Financial Institutions client events in Singapore, finance leaders explored how faster decisions, cleaner data, stronger controls, and deeper partnerships can turn volatility into action.
This evening, we unpack the day's market movements with an independent financial analyst, examine a high court precedent recognising bitcoin as money and capital with Werksmans Attorneys, explore how capital flows are taking centre stage at the Islamic Economic Summit with the Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions, discuss Standard Bank's response to growing demand for Shari'ah-compliant dealership funding, look at business efforts to help fix the City of Johannesburg with Business Leadership South Africa, and, in our SMME feature, explore how Gcwalisa is disrupting traditional retail culture. SAfm Market Update - Podcasts and live stream
Joyce talks about the report that American financial institutions have quietly been implementing Sharia law practices. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, Craig LaChapelle is joined by VantageScore's Jeff Richardson and TransUnion's Matias Petersen to unpack the growing importance of credit score choice. They discuss how market volatility, competition and regulatory shifts are driving adoption across lending segments, from mortgage to auto and cards. The conversation highlights practical considerations — from model performance and governance to operational rollout — while outlining how lenders can test, validate and scale new scoring approaches to improve portfolio outcomes and expand access. The information discussed in this podcast constitutes the opinion of TransUnion, and TransUnion shall have no liablity for any actions taken based upon the content of this podcast.
Stupid News 8am 5-26-2026 …75-Year-Old Woman Attacks Tim Horton's Employee and then Drops Dead …They were keeping 24 dogs in a car …CEO of a Major Financial Institution Made a Huge Mistake
This podcast has returned to modern slavery three times now. Lisa Kristine showed us its face through her photography. Bruce Ladebu described what it actually takes to pull children out. And Matthew Friedman, in Episode 76, gave us the architecture: thirty-five years working across Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, the UN, and eventually the Mekong Club. That first episode opened with the story of an 11-year-old Nepalese girl in a Mumbai brothel who ran across the room, wrapped herself around Matt, and begged him to save her. He couldn't, that day. He came back with police and she was gone. This second conversation picks up in a deglobalising world. The USAID cuts have gutted sixty years of global anti-trafficking infrastructure. The $400 million available to address modern slavery has been halved. HIV clinics, maternal health programs, girls' education initiatives are all gone. And as Matt makes clear, the line from those cuts to a new trafficking victim is not abstract. It runs through hospitals, through debt, through desperation.This episode also goes somewhere I'm afraid I didn't communicate that well, the points of cultural judgement and critique. There's a story of a sixteen-year-old Bangladeshi girl, rescued after two weeks in a brothel, who was turned away at her own front door by a father who loved her because the shame she carried would make her siblings unmarriageable. That story sits at the centre of the hardest question in this conversation: when the cultural machinery enabling trafficking runs this deep, what can the outside world actually do about it? It's a delicate subject, I regret not treating it as such. $238 billion modern slavery generates annually flows through the same offshore plumbing this podcast has covered with Oliver Bullough and John Christensen. Matt explains how banks are already tracking it and how the Mekong Club is working with Interpol, crypto companies, and social media platforms to find it and cut it off.It's a pleasure to welcome Matt Friedman back to the podcast. ResourcesWalk Free Foundation's Global Slavery Index - https://www.globalslaveryindex.org/U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report - https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/Makon Club - Anti-Human Trafficking Organization - https://makonclub.org/USAID Human Trafficking Programs - https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment/human-traffickingInterpol Human Trafficking Unit - https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Operations/Operation-ScorpionChapters00:00 The Impact of Deglobalization on Modern Slavery02:50 Statistics and Resources in the Fight Against Modern Slavery05:54 Consequences of USAID Cuts on Global Health and Safety08:38 Understanding Human Trafficking and Legal Responses11:40 Cultural Attitudes and Enforcement Challenges14:12 The Role of Vulnerability in Exploitation17:23 Identifying the Most Egregious Examples of Modern Slavery20:02 Cultural Change and the Role of Awareness23:22 Internal vs. External Approaches to Addressing Modern Slavery33:12 The Impact of Fiction on Awareness36:24 Taking Responsibility: Individual Actions Against Human Trafficking38:27 Creating Compelling Content: The Role of Film in Activism40:47 Cultural Sensitivity in Addressing Trafficking43:28 The Urgency of Addressing Human Trafficking50:08 Financial Institutions and Their Role in Combatting Trafficking57:47 The Power of Business in Addressing Human Trafficking59:52 Finding Hope: The Starfish Parable
Asset tokenization and digital money, including stablecoins, are moving from the margins of finance toward the core of market infrastructure, spurring banks and other market participants to adapt their approach to blockchain technology. In this episode of Credit Currents, we explore why trust and regulation are central to adoption of tokenized assets, and how a gradual move in this direction could reshape payments, settlement and credit markets. The conversation explores both the promise of faster, always‑on transactions and the practical challenges that will shape how quickly digital finance takes hold. Host: Greg Sobel, Vice President, Senior Credit Officer, Moody's Ratings Guest: Donald Robertson, Managing Director, Financial Institutions, Moody's Ratings Related Research: Financial Institutions – US: Tokenization will change US transaction flows; less likely to remove intermediaries,11 May 2026 Financial Institutions – US: US financial markets envision an inevitable shift to tokenized assets and digital money,12 May 2026 Digital Economy – Global: Growing stablecoin use highlights policy, liquidity and price vulnerabilities,13 May 2026 © 2026 Moody's Corporation and/or its licensors and affiliates. All rights reserved. Go to www.moodys.com/pages/globaldisclaimer.aspx for complete legal terms and conditions governing use of Moody's information made available in this video. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
402-521-3080In this episode, Dylan Yeomans and Rebecca Saunders interview Molly Champion, a certified anti-money laundering expert, to explore how financial transactions can reveal human trafficking activities. They discuss red flags in banking, the evolution of money laundering, and how law enforcement and financial institutions collaborate to combat financial crimes.Key TopicsRed flags in financial transactions for human traffickingThe role of money laundering in criminal activitiesCollaboration between law enforcement and financial institutionsThe evolution of money laundering methodsPreventative measures and financial literacySound Bites"Financial crime has a devastating domino effect.""Your email account is the key to your digital kingdom.""Scammers often build trust over months to exploit victims."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Financial Crime and Human Trafficking02:06 Understanding Red Flags in Financial Transactions07:41 Collaboration Between Financial Institutions and Law Enforcement11:13 The Role of Conferences in Financial Crime Prevention12:16 The Frequency of Financial Crimes14:52 The Impact of Financial Crimes on Individuals15:59 Legislative Changes Needed for Financial Accountability20:38 Protecting Yourself from Financial Scams28:46 Trust and Relationships in Financial Decisions30:32 R&R Outro.mp4Support the showEveryone has resilience, but what does that mean, and how do we use it in life and leadership? Join Stephanie Olson, an expert in resiliency and trauma, every week as she talks to other experts living lives of resilience. Stephanie also shares her own stories of addictions, disordered eating, domestic and sexual violence, abandonment, and trauma, and shares the everyday struggles and joys of everyday life. As a wife, mom, and CEO she gives commentaries and, sometimes, a few rants to shed light on what makes a person resilient. So, if you have experienced adversity in life in any way and want to learn how to better lead your family, your workplace, and, well, your life, this podcast is for you!https://setmefreeproject.nethttps://www.stephanieolson.com/
Welcome to Insurance Covered, the podcast that covers everything insurance.In this episode, Peter is joined by Ben Phillips of Euclid Financial & Professional risks, who shares his expertise on insurance for financial institutions, covering a broad spectrum of topics including FI insurance types, hot topics like private credit and vehicle finance scandals, and future trends in the industry.We hope you enjoyed this episode, if you did please subscribe to be notified when new episodes release. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"41% of the construction workforce is retiring in 5 years. Half the people on the biggest jobsites have less than a year of experience. Nobody has a plan."That stat from Mallorie Brodie at Bridgit is the one we keep coming back to.This week on Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, We sat down with Mallorie to unpack the 2026 Construction Workforce Benchmark Report, then brought on Chase Gilbert and Chris DeVito from Built Technologies to talk agentic AI, payments, and what's actually slowing projects down right now.Tune in to find out about:✅ The "rookie ratio" — and why it's already at 50% on the biggest jobs✅ Why banks are buying AI faster than GCs✅ How Built is collapsing draw cycles from days to minutes✅ The new bottleneck no one's talking about — powerListen on Spotify and YouTube.#aec #bricksandbytes #bricksbytes #construction #bricksbucksandbytes #constructiontech #vc #aiOur Sponsors:BreadCrumb- 50,000+ projects globally. All running safer, faster, with Breadcrumb. - breadcrumb.coAphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comChapters00:00 Intro01:38 Introduction and Overview 07:08 Interview with Mallory Brodie 24:39 Insights on Workforce Planning and Industry Trends 26:16 Introduction to Roles in Construction Management 27:40 Navigating the AI Era in Construction 29:58 AI Adoption in Banking vs. Construction 32:51 Impact of AI on General Contractors 36:15 Building Trust with Financial Institutions 40:58 Current Market Conditions in Construction 47:15 Transforming Construction Processes with Technology 55:04 The Future of Construction Financing
As AI adoption accelerates across financial services, banks and credit unions face a critical challenge: how to innovate without compromising trust, transparency, or regulatory compliance. In this episode of Ahead of the Curve, we sit down with Danny Piangerelli, Chief Technology Officer at Abrigo, to explore how Abrigo is building and scaling AI responsibly within highly regulated environments.Listen in to learn how explainability and auditability are embedded into AI-driven solutions, why “human-in-the-loop” design remains essential, and how Abrigo's agentic framework—including AskAbrigo—is transforming how financial institutions securely interact with their data. Danny also shares how AI is reshaping software development, empowering teams through an “Iron Man” approach, and what fintech leaders should consider as they navigate the balance between innovation and stability.About the guest:Danny Piangerelli is Chief Technology Officer at Abrigo, where he leads the company's technology strategy and innovation efforts across AI, data, and software development. With decades of experience building scalable, compliant solutions for financial institutions, Danny focuses on delivering secure, transparent, and high-performing products that meet the evolving demands of regulated environments. He has been instrumental in advancing Abrigo's AI capabilities, including the development of explainable machine learning models, agent-based frameworks like AskAbrigo, and modernized development practices that accelerate product delivery while maintaining rigorous standards for auditability and trust. Helpful links:AskAbrigo: Secure AI-powered knowledge and data interactionBold intelligence: AI's expanding role in AML & fraud5 Common lending challenges and how lending software can helpCU AI strategy: From adoption to operational advantage - Abrigo
Recorded live at the Captive Insurance Companies Association Conference, this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features Victoria Fimea, chief captive analyst with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. Ms. Fimea discusses the continued growth of Arizona's captive insurance program, emphasizing the state's measured, quality-driven approach and its collaborative ecosystem of regulators and service providers. The conversation explores trends in captive formation, including the rise of first-time owners and evolving use cases as captives become more integrated into broader enterprise strategy. Ms. Fimea also outlines what regulators look for in strong business plans, common areas where applicants underestimate governance and operational requirements, and the importance of communication, compliance, and experienced advisers. She further shares how Arizona balances accessibility with analytical rigor and what the future may hold for the domicile's continued development.
Ignacio Jayanti is the Chief Executive Officer of Corsair and serves as Chairman of the Buyouts Investment Committee and as a member of the Infrastructure Investment Committee. He joined Corsair in 1993 when the first Corsair fund was launched and is based in New York. Ignacio is a director of Corsair portfolio companies IDnow and ZEDRA. Prior to spinning off Corsair as an independent business from J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in 2006, Ignacio played a key role as a senior member of the investment team of the predecessor Corsair funds and also was responsible for managing the operations of the Corsair business from 1994 onwards. From 1994 to 1999, Ignacio was also a senior member of the Investment Banking Department of J.P. Morgan, where he headed the Emerging Markets Financial Institutions group. Prior to J.P. Morgan, Ignacio worked at Credit Suisse First Boston in the Financial Institutions group both in New York and London. His investment banking experience includes complex advisory assignments in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Ignacio holds both a B.A. and an M.A. in Economics from Queens' College, Cambridge University. He is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Finance Leaders Fellowship Program and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Ignacio is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hotchkiss School, a member of the RAND Global and Emerging Risks Advisory Board, and a member of the International Advisory Board of British American Business.
Mark Davis dives into the world of tax reform, discussing the pros and cons of a flat tax, sales tax, and tariffs. He's joined by Luke Pettit, Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the Department of the Treasury, who shares insights on the Trump accounts, a new savings and investment plan for children. The conversation also touches on the economy, inflation, and the role of the Federal Reserve. With a mix of politics, finance, and personal stories, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the US tax system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Send us Fan MailA medicine can be proven safe and effective, approved by regulators, and still fail the one test that matters: actually reaching patients in the real world. We sit down with Anish, a deep commercial thinker, to unpack what pharmaceutical commercialisation really is when you strip away the slogans and look at incentives, bottlenecks, and human behaviour. We start with our five value streams model of the pharmaceutical industry and use it to explore a provocative idea: modern big pharma often functions like a financial institution with extraordinary risk tolerance and time horizons. That framing changes how you think about R&D outsourcing, late stage development, pricing negotiations, market access, and the “programme management” required to bring a drug from molecule to monitored use. From there we move into the last mile of healthcare delivery: patient experience, physician capacity, restrictions on direct to consumer communication, and why “patient centricity” is hard in practice. We discuss remote care and digital health, including internet hospitals, plus the safety risks of self medication and the very real problem of adherence, from finishing a course to staying on track with GLP-1 medicines. If you care about pharma strategy, drug launch, market access, and what makes innovation stick, this one is for you. Subscribe for more, share this with a colleague who works on commercial or patient support, and leave a review. What is the biggest barrier you have seen between approval and real patient access?Try the quiz from the show yourself: https://forms.gle/uepGynopoLpguYKw8 Visit Labtolives.com Do you want to try the quiz from this episode? Find the link on our LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/labtolives/ Would you like to join the show as a guest or collaborator? Find out how on our website: https://www.labtolives.com/ Support the show________Reach out to Ivanna RosendalJoin the conversation on our LinkedIn pageVisit www.labtolives.com HostsAlexander Booth aka the MedTech GuyDimitri Borisevich aka the start-up GuyIvanna Rosendal aka the R&D pharma Gal
AML RightSource's John Byrne sits down with Dan Stipano, partner at Davis Polk's Financial Institutions and Regulation Group and former Deputy Enforcement Director at the OCC, for an immediate reaction to FinCEN's newly proposed AML/CFT Program Rule. The conversation covers the genesis of the proposal and its key structural changes — including the bifurcation of program establishment and implementation, the formal incorporation of national AML priorities, and the clarification of the US-based compliance officer requirement. Most notably, the two dig into what may be the rule's most consequential provision: FinCEN's unprecedented new role as a gatekeeper over federal banking agency supervisory and enforcement actions. They also touch on a separate final rule from the OCC, the Fed, and the FDIC that eliminates reputational risk from the supervisory framework and what that means for banks' account decisions going forward.
Annual Security Symposium. Visit: https://ceri.as/2026 Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming both the opportunities and risks within cybersecurity, creating a new landscape that today's students and researchers will soon inherit and shape. This keynote explores how AI is evolving from a supporting tool to a decision-making system, fundamentally changing how cyber threats are created, detected, and managed. It will examine emerging risks such as deepfakes, model manipulation, and systemic dependencies on shared technologies, while also addressing the growing role of regulation and the challenges of governing systems that are powerful yet often opaque. Most importantly, the session will highlight where the greatest opportunities lie—at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and policy—and how the next generation of professionals can play a defining role in building secure, resilient, and trustworthy systems for the future. About the speaker: Brian J. Peretti is a career member of the Senior Executive Service at the United States Department of the Treasury. In his final position, he served as Treasury's Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer in the Office of Chief Information Officer.As Treasury's Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Peretti establishes, leads, and manages a comprehensive, multi-year strategic and long-range planning process that promotes the vision for IT and ensures consistent progress toward accomplishing the CIO's vision, while identifying and leveraging common technology solutions to support business processes and work methods and/or to improve effectiveness of current technologies while also developing appropriate policy for emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Biometrics and Quantum Computing. As Treasury's Deputy Chief AI Officer, Mr. Peretti supported Treasury's Chief AI Officer in advancing the Department's deployment of this emerging technology. In this capacity, he oversaw the publication of Treasury's report, Managing Artificial Intelligence-Specific Cybersecurity Risks in the Financial Services Sector, and directed the subsequent lines of effort. Additionally, serving in this position has seen him designated as the Executive Officer for the Department's AI Governance Board as well as the Department's representative to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's CAIO Council. In addition, Mr. Peretti leads the development of domestic and international operational resilience policy, including cyber, as part of Treasury's Sector Risk Management Agency responsibility for the financial services sector. In this role, he spearheads Treasury's efforts to increase multi-directional sharing of cyber threat and vulnerability information. He also serves as the United States's designated subject matter expert at the Group of 7 Cyber Expert Group (G-7 CEG). Mr. Peretti has served at the Treasury for over 22 years with increasing levels of responsibility, including being named the Senior Career Official Executing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions during the transition from the Obama to the Trump Administration. Based on his expertise in critical infrastructure protection and operational resilience, he was detailed to the Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's National Risk Management Center during the intial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and served as the first Senior Advisor for Security and the Economy. He also speadheaded DHS response to the SolarWinds cyber incident. A sought-after speaker and presenter, Mr. Peretti has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career. Most recently, he received the 12th Annual Billington CyberSecurity Leadership Award at the 2023 Annual Billington CyberSecurity Summit. Prior to joining the Treasury, Mr. Peretti was an associate in Shook, Hardy & Bacon's Corporate Banking and Finance Section in Washington, D.C., and was the General Counsel for the Wright Patman Congressional Federal Credit Union. He has authored numerous publications related to financial sector operations, including payment systems. Mr. Peretti received his bachelor's degree from Rider University (cum laude) in 1989, and his law degree from American University's Washington College of Law (cum laude) in 1992.
In this episode, Elliot Berman and John Byrne break down a wide‑ranging set of regulatory and enforcement developments shaping the global financial crime landscape. The conversation covers major U.S. bank settlements tied to the Epstein litigation, a closely watched Capital One debanking case involving Trump‑affiliated entities, and key overseas actions—from Australia's expanded AML regime to the UK's sanctions enforcement against Apple and a massive scam operation in Cambodia. The discussion also dives into the OECD's latest anti‑bribery report, FinCEN's proposed whistleblower award program, emerging healthcare fraud typologies, and renewed concerns over the weakening of the U.S. Corporate Transparency Act. Wrapping up, Elliot and John assess developments tied to FATF's mutual evaluation of the United States, nonprofit de‑risking, and new OFAC guidance on sham transactions—offering critical context for compliance professionals navigating a rapidly shifting risk environment.
In this episode of Compliance Champions, Delphine Forma speaks with Deepthi Machavaram, Global Head of Digital Financial Crime Advisory at Morgan Stanley, about how large financial institutions are approaching digital asset risks. Deepthi explains how the industry has shifted from early curiosity to operational rigor, and what that means for building effective frameworks around crypto products, vendors, analytics, and controls. They discuss source of funds and source of wealth in crypto, the limits of blockchain analytics, the realities of regulatory misalignment, and why data, governance, resilience, and flexibility matter so much. The conversation also explores tokenization, AI, and the role compliance teams will play as financial institutions navigate digital assets over the next decade.
Most people think the Vatican Bank is just another corruption story.A few bad priests. Missing money. A dead banker under Blackfriars Bridge.But that version is far too small.In this episode of Hidden Forces in History, we investigate how the Vatican built something much bigger than a scandal: a sovereign financial fortress. From the forged Donation of Constantine, to the Papal States, to the Medici partnership, to the creation of the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), to Banco Ambrosiano, Roberto Calvi, and the modern London property scandal, this is the deeper story of how sacred authority became a shield for financial power.The Vatican did not just collect donations.It built a system of sovereignty, secrecy, immunity, and institutional opacity that no normal bank could ever enjoy.This is the story of how a church with no army, no navy, and no normal tax base became one of the most protected financial institutions in the world.CHAPTERS:00:00 The scandal story is too small01:26 Inside the Vatican Bank02:40 The forged document that built church power04:16 How the church outsourced lending and kept control05:45 The Medici and the Vatican money machine07:50 Mussolini, the Lateran Treaty, and the Vatican payout09:23 Bernardino Nogara and the birth of the modern Vatican fortune12:06 Why World War II made the Vatican Bank untouchable14:55 Sindona, P2, Calvi, and Banco Ambrosiano22:14 John Paul I and the questions that never went away24:36 Modern reform, fraud, and the London property scandal30:05 What the Vatican actually owns32:12 The Vatican playbook: sovereignty, secrecy, and immunity35:00 Can the Vatican ever become transparent?
Stay informed on current events, visit www.NaturalNews.com - Special Report on the War in the Middle East (0:10) - US Military Losses and Global Reputation (2:43) - Economic and Social Implications of the War (7:34) - Trump's Delusional Behavior and Iran's Strategy (12:18) - Preparation and Survival Strategies (56:05) - The Role of AI in Government and Society (57:02) - The Impact of the War on Financial Institutions (1:15:32) - The Escalation of the Conflict (1:23:32) - Preparation for Economic and Food Collapse (1:24:12) - Strait of Hormuz and Iranian Tensions (1:26:49) - Netanyahu's Disappearance and Potential Kidnapping (1:29:10) - Impact of Strait of Hormuz Closure on Global Economy (1:43:06) - Engineered Famine and Global Depopulation (1:46:08) - Zionist Influence and Geopolitical Manipulation (1:56:39) - Trump's Misleading Statements and Military Strategy (2:28:43) - Global Supply Chain Disruptions and Economic Impact (2:28:56) - Historical and Biblical Parallels to Current Conflict (2:30:30) - Final Thoughts and Future Projections (2:31:01) - Human Osmotic Pressure and Disease Spread (2:31:16) - Historical Famines and Government Collapse (2:33:37) - Famine's Long-Term Effects and Historical Examples (2:35:44) - Typhus and Pandemic Concerns (2:37:21) - Historical Famine Survival Techniques (2:40:36) - Modern Famine and Depopulation Agenda (2:44:17) - The Role of AI in Depopulation (2:47:31) - Preparation for Future Famines and Conflicts (2:51:41) - Final Thoughts and Contact Information (2:52:08) Watch more independent videos at http://www.brighteon.com/channel/hrreport ▶️ Support our mission by shopping at the Health Ranger Store - https://www.healthrangerstore.com ▶️ Check out exclusive deals and special offers at https://rangerdeals.com ▶️ Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed: https://www.naturalnews.com/Readerregistration.html Watch more exclusive videos here:
The big things you need to know:First, in tandem with the 5% decline in the S&P 500, investor and consumer sentiment have slipped in recent updates as investors have digested the possibility of a longer conflict in Iran and consumers have started to notice higher gas prices.Second, we review our macro takeaways from RBC's Financial Institutions conference, where we detected echoes of the lingering confidence and emerging concerns that are seen in the surveys we discuss.
In this episode, Lex chats with Alex Gluchowski — Cofounder and CEO of Matter Labs, about the transformative impact of zero-knowledge proofs (ZK proofs) on blockchain scalability and privacy. They discuss Matter Labs' evolution, the development of zkSync, and how ZK proofs enable secure, private, and efficient blockchain transactions. The conversation explores enterprise adoption, regulatory shifts, and the potential for blockchain to revolutionize global finance by enabling privacy-preserving, interoperable networks anchored to Ethereum, ultimately highlighting the growing role of cryptography in advancing financial sovereignty and innovation. NOTABLE DISCUSSION POINTS: Incorruptibility is Blockchain's Core Value—Not Consensus: Consensus mechanisms solve network liveness without central operators, but the guarantee that your assets can't be spent without your permission comes from verification. Bitcoin's “don't trust, verify” mantra is literal: every node re-executes every transaction. Zero knowledge proofs achieve the same incorruptibility without requiring universal visibility—enabling both scale and privacy. The Regulatory Shift Has Unlocked an Entirely New Market: The post-Trump regulatory environment represents a “great divide” for crypto. Banks and enterprises that previously couldn't engage are now actively piloting blockchain infrastructure. Matter Labs is working with Deutsche Bank, UBS, and 35+ global financial institutions through initiatives like Presidio Breakthrough. The focus has shifted from building systems to withstand regulatory hostility to integrating crypto into real business processes. Private Enterprise Chains Settling on Ethereum is the Institutional Path: Banks experimented with consortium blockchains (Hyperledger, Corda, R3) for years but failed due to privacy concerns—participants could see each other's transactions. Zero knowledge proofs solve this by enabling private chains that interoperate trustlessly through Ethereum as a shared settlement layer. Each institution maintains sovereignty over its operations while gaining cryptographic guarantees when transacting with counterparties. TOPICS Matter Labs, zkSync, Ethereum, Consensys, Hyperledger, Arbitrum, Optimism, fintech, blockchain, zero-knowledge proofs, ZK proofs, privacy, institutional adoption, scalability, cryptography, interoperability ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT
Join Craig, Josh and Charlie Wise, TransUnion's EVP of Global Research and Consulting, as they unpack the forces shaping the 2026 consumer credit landscape. From a stabilizing macroeconomic backdrop to evolving lender strategies, Charlie walks through key trends across credit cards, auto, personal loans and mortgage. He also explores the implications of affordability pressures, interest rate expectations and the K shaped dynamics influencing consumer financial health. The information discussed in this podcast constitutes the opinion of TransUnion, and TransUnion shall have no liablity for any actions taken based upon the content of this podcast.
In this episode of Scam Rangers, Ayelet Biger-Levin joins Kate Griffin, Director of Inclusive Finance at the Aspen Institute, to discuss the monumental work of the National Task Force on Fraud and Scam Prevention. Over the past year, Griffin has led a diverse coalition of 80 institutions, ranging from financial giants like JPMorgan Chase and Capital One to tech leaders like Google, Meta, and Apple, to develop a unified strategy against the global scam epidemic.Griffin pulls back the curtain on the "ambitiously pragmatic" approach required to bring competitors and government agencies to the same table. She explores the delicate balance of inclusive finance, explaining how fraud prevention measures can inadvertently create barriers for low-income households. The conversation covers the task force's strategic decision to bypass the "blame game" of liability to focus on immediate prevention, the role of cross-sector information sharing, and the emergence of the Southeast Asian Scam Center Strike Force. This episode provides a high-level look at how policy, private sector action, and human values are converging to dismantle the business model of modern scammers.Key Takeaways: A New Era of Cross-Sector Collaboration The "Yes And" Moment: Griffin highlights that while progress in private sector investment and government policy is worth celebrating, the fight requires sustained, concerted action across the entire scam lifecycle. Neutral Facilitation: The Aspen Institute's role as a neutral third party allowed for "hard conversations" between sectors like telcos and banks that often point fingers at one another. Bipartisan Momentum: Fraud has become a rare point of total bipartisan agreement in Washington; the scammers "do not ask who you voted for," leading to the creation of the Stop Scams Caucus in Congress. The Scam Lifecycle Framework: The task force's recommendations are organized around the scam lifecycle, focusing on suppressing activity, disrupting infrastructure, and empowering victims through better response and support. Pragmatic Policy: The episode details how the task force's work influenced the U.S.'s first-ever national strategy for financial inclusion and continues to brief Capitol Hill on drafting future anti-scam legislation.For more information about the task force visit: https://fraudtaskforce.aspeninstitute.org/Read the national strategy document: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/671a80aa4a84f2359ce4d360/t/690e1fe9c5c80642162575a5/1762533353206/FraudTFReport_Digital_Final+%282%29.pdfFollow Kate Griffin on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/katedgriffin/About the HostAyelet Biger-Levin is the Founder and CEO of RangersAI and the host of Scam Rangers, a podcast exploring the human side of scams and the people working to protect consumers from financial and emotional harm.Through her work at RangersAI and her leadership within the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, Ayelet partners with financial institutions, policymakers, and advocates to elevate scam prevention beyond controls and technology toward trust-based, customer-centric protection.Be sure to follow her on LinkedIn and reach out to learn about her additional activities in this space:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayelet-biger-levin/RangersAI: https://www.rangersai.com/
WMAL GUEST: LUKE PETTIT (Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury) on the revolutionary "Trump Accounts" summit and the administration's plan to provide a $1,000 long-term financial foundation for American children. WEBSITE: TrumpAccounts.gov Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Audible and Spotify Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @JGunlock, @PatricePinkfile, and @HeatherHunterDC Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Website: WMAL.com/OConnor-Company Episode: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 / 7 AM HourSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today's guest is Debjit Saha, VP of Engineering & Product for Risk & Compliance at MoneyGram. Debjit focuses on building data- and AI-driven controls for fraud, compliance, and payments decisioning. Debjit joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to explore how financial institutions can unify fraud, AML, and sanctions data amid rising costs, regulatory scrutiny, and sophisticated threats. Debjit also highlights practical steps for enterprise leaders: standardize tooling to bridge silos, shift to model-based detection to reduce false positives, and implement tiered human-in-the-loop controls for greater compliance efficiency. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/e2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on Emerj's flagship 'AI in Business' podcast!
In today's episode of Second Request, Executive Editor Teddy Downey sits down with Graham Steele former former Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and current Academic Fellow at the Rock Center for Corporate Governance. They discuss Steele's recent paper Financial Statecraft and explore the role of financial institutions in American foreign policy, and the tradeoffs for regulation of those industries in the U.S. To learn more about The Capitol Forum click here. To read Graham Steele's paper Financial Statecraft click here.
In this episode, Katherine Forrest and Scott Caravello unpack how regulators are thinking about AI in the financial sector. Joined by Paul, Weiss colleagues Roberto Gonzalez and Sam Kleiner of the firm's Economic Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) practice group, they explore the Financial Stability Oversight Council's initiatives on AI, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's model risk management guidance, FinCEN's position on AI tools for AML compliance, and how financial institutions are utilizing AI in their compliance programs. This is both the first episode of the new year and the first in the podcast's history to feature guests—kicking off 2026 with fresh perspectives on AI for financial institutions and key regulatory trends that banks should keep in mind. ## Learn More About Paul, Weiss's Artificial Intelligence practice: https://www.paulweiss.com/industries/artificial-intelligence
In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis is joined by Ted Augustinos and Kim Phan to introduce The Money Matrix, an upcoming webinar series helping financial institutions navigate privacy, data security, and AI in today's complex digital landscape. The teaser highlights strategies to secure financial data, overcome barriers to adopting AI, and stay ahead of regulatory trends. Each session offers practical guidance to help teams like Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus remain innovative, compliant, and trusted. The series explores how financial institutions can balance innovation with data privacy while leveraging AI responsibly. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Financial institutions are rethinking loyalty at a critical moment. Credit card spending sits at record highs, but economic uncertainty looms. For banks aiming to stay relevant, loyalty can no longer be an afterthought – it needs to be embedded into every customer experience from the start. At FIS's Emerald 2025 conference in Orlando, Mladen Vladic, general manager of loyalty services at FIS, sat down to discuss how the loyalty industry is evolving beyond traditional card-based rewards. His central argument: Financial institutions need to shift from chasing share of wallet to capturing share of mind first.
SpaceX IPO coming – huge increase in valuation over past 3 months Happy Hanukah – Eight Crazy Nights Now Kevin AND Kevin PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter Warm-Up - Last Chance for CTP Cup 2025 participants - Happy Hanukah - Eight Crazy Nights - Sad News - Rob Reiner - Fed decision is out.... - Overdue eco reports coming this week Markets - Oracle still problematic - SpaceX IPO coming - huge increase in valuation over past 3 months - Another Bankruptcy - cleaning up is not good business - Oh my - Now Kevin AND Kevin - Weight loss game continues - One thing saved for last - a doozie... Tesla - - All time High - Prospect of Robotaxi - Even though sales hitting multi-year lows Wall Street Never Sleeps? - Nasdaq files to extend trading to 23 hours on weekdays - Banks concerned about investor protections, costs, liquidity, volatility risks of nonstop trading - Proponents argue round-the-clock trading benefits global investors - That may create some additional volatility potential SpaceX - SpaceX aims for a potential $1.5 trillion market cap with an Initial Public Offering in 2026, which could become the largest IPO in history - July 2025 tender valuation was $400B - Dec 14th (4 months later) $800B - Starlink is the primary money winner of this deal - Tesla shares climbing even with nothing behind it - seemingly in sympathy for this IPO ---- TESLA does not have ownership of SpaceX - OH - this could be the reason....U.S. deliveries dropped significantly in November—the lowest since early 2022—but this weakness has been overshadowed by the enthusiasm for autonomy. Rob Reiner - A son of legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, producer Michele Singer Reiner, Nick Reiner, is being held on suspicion of murder following their deaths, according to Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell. He's being held on $4 million bail. - Citing law enforcement sources and family friends, ABC News reported on Monday that Nick Reiner had recently returned to live at his parents' South Chadbourne Avenue home. The move was described as a temporary arrangement intended to help him stabilize. - Not going to discuss the Truth Social post about this tragedy HEADLINE ALERT - "Copper could hit ‘stratospheric new highs' as hoarding of the metal in U.S. continues" - Copper has gone from 5.77 to 5.30 (July to today) - 6 Tops at this price since 2011 - Not seeing this as per the headline - seems like a Hunt Brothers special from the 1980s - CORNERING THE MARKET ---1980 - Silver went from $11 to $50 then crashed, bankrupting the Hunt Bros - after COMEX changed rules forcing them to cover positions Bankruptcy - After 35 years, the maker of the Roomba robot vacuum filed for bankruptcy protection late Sunday night. Following warnings issued earlier this year that it was fast running out of options, iRobot says it is entering Chapter 11 protection and will be acquired by its contract manufacturer, China-based Picea Robotics. - The company says it will continue to operate “with no anticipated disruption to its app functionality, customer programs, global partners, supply chain relationships, or ongoing product support.” - Remember that Amazon - The Amazon buyout of iRobot, maker of Roomba, was announced in 2022 for $1.7 billion but ultimately failed in January 2024 due to significant regulatory pushback, primarily from the EU, over anti-competitive concerns. -- Amazon walked away with a $94 million termination fee Fed Pick - President Donald Trump said Friday that Kevin Warsh has moved to the top of his list as the next Federal Reserve chair, though Kevin Hassett also remains in contention, according to the Wall Street Journal. - Interesting that this comes days after Hassett said that we would not let outside suggestions influence his voting - ---In addition to putting heavier weight on Warsh getting the job, Trump repeated an assertion he has made in the past that the Fed chair ought to consult the president about interest rate decisions. - Also of interest, prediction markets had Hassett at 95% probability - now it moved to 50% - big payday for people in the know. Housing Prices - Average home price is DOWN on year-over-year basis - First time on national level since 2024 - Active listings in November were nearly 13% higher than November 2024, but new listings were just 1.7% higher --- Houses are on market longer - - Prices in Austin, Texas, are down 10% from last year; in Denver, they're down 5%, according to Parcl Labs. Tampa, Florida, and Houston both saw prices fall 4%, and Atlanta and Phoenix saw price decreases of 3%. More Hosing Related - Zillow shares plunged more than 9% on Monday on worries that the online real estate platform could have a big new competitor: Google Search. - Google appears to be running tests on putting real estate sale listings into its search results. Overdue Eco - Black Hole - The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday releases its long-awaited combined employment reports for October and November, but a number of key details will be missing after the government shutdown prevented data collection, including October's unemployment rate, resulting in the first-ever gap in that critical data series since inception in 1948. - NICE JOB GANG! - Some of the data will be estimated. - It said it would not publish the headline CPI number or the so-called core CPI, which strips out the volatile food and energy components, for October. "BLS cannot provide specific guidance to data users for navigating the missing October observations," the agency said. Some Updates - Some info coming in are estimates - some delayed - Unemployment at 4.6% - Latest report shows +64,000 added - ISM Manufacturing and Non-manufacturing - both slowed over the last month The Fed - Meanwhile the Fed cuts rates.... - A Federal Reserve split over where its priorities should lie cut its key interest rate Wednesday in a 9-3 vote, but signaled a tougher road ahead for further reductions. - The FOMC's “dot plot” indicated just one more reduction in 2026 and another in 2027, amid considerable disagreement from members about where rates should head. - In addition to the rate decision, the Fed also announced it will resume buying Treasury securities. The central bank will start by buying $40 billion in Treasury bills, beginning Friday. - Markets were all over the place on this as it was a little confusing at first - then it seemed that everyone loved (for one day) - Why is the Fed moving up Treasury purchases to "immediately" from a few months from now? - AND - dissension ! A larger group that usual of regional Fed bank presidents signaled they opposed the cut, and six policymakers said the benchmark federal funds rate should end 2025 in a range of 3.75% to 4%, suggesting they opposed the move. - Long bonds have not moved at all on this news. Costco Earnings - Costco beat Wall Street's fiscal first-quarter sales and revenue expectations. - Sales rose 8.2% and digital sales jumped 20.5% compared with the year-ago quarter. - Costco surpassed Wall Street's quarterly expectations and posted year-over-year sales growth of 8.2% as the retailer attracted more digital sales and opened new locations. - Earnings per share: $4.50 vs. $4.27 expected - Revenue: $67.31 billion vs. $67.14 billion expected - Costco does not provide year ahead guidance - Shares down from a recent high of $855 Costco Fun Facts - About 4.5 million pies were sold in the three days before Thanksgiving, which is equivalent to roughly 7,000 pies per warehouse. - These were bakery pies (e.g., pumpkin, apple), - Costco had more than $250 million in non-food online orders on Black Friday, a record for Costco's U.S. e-commerce business. - Approximately 358,000 whole pizzas were served at Costco's U.S. food courts, a 31% jump from last year. (500 pizza's per store) Fat No More - Retatrutide - Eli Lilly said its next-generation obesity drug delivered what appears to be the highest weight loss seen so far in a late-stage trial and reduced knee arthritis pain, clearing the first of several upcoming studies on the weekly injection. - In a 48-week Phase 2 study, participants on the highest dose lost an average of 24% of their body weight. - Recent Phase 3 results showed patients on the highest dose lost an average of 28.7% of their body weight after 68 weeks. - The trials also showed improvements in related health conditions, including knee osteoarthritis pain, blood pressure, and liver fat - This triple action is what makes retatrutide potentially more effective for weight loss than existing medications like Zepbound (tirzepatide), which targets two receptors, or Wegovy (semaglutide), which targets only one. Paypal - PayPal Holdings Inc. applied to become a bank in the US, looking to take advantage of the Trump administration's openness to financial-technology companies entering the banking system. - The payments-focused firm submitted applications to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions to form a Utah-chartered industrial loan company, PayPal said in a statement Monday. - If approved, PayPal Bank would help the firm bolster its small-business lending capabilities, according to the statement, which said the company has provided access to more than $30 billion in loans and capital since 2013. Ford - Management Confused - Instead of planning to make enough electric vehicles to account for 40 percent of global sales by 2030—as it pledged just four years ago—Ford says it will focus on a broader range of hybrids, extended-range electrics, and battery-electric models, which executives now say will account for 50 percent of sales by the end of the decade. - The automaker will make hybrid versions of almost every vehicle in its lineup, the company says. - All in on EVS cost them - Ford expects to record about $19.5 billion in special items, mostly during the fourth quarter. ---- The charges are related to a restructuring of its business priorities and a pullback in its all-electric vehicle investments. Australia - Australia has implemented a groundbreaking ban preventing children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, effective December 2025, to protect them from harm, with significant fines for companies failing to enforce it, though messaging apps and gaming platforms are currently exempt. - Reddit is suing - Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X (Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch are all banned for kids under 16. - Thoughts on this? Saved For Last - Of all the eye-popping numbers that Oracle Corp. published last week on the costs of its artificial-intelligence data center buildout, the most striking didn't appear until the day after its earnings press release and analyst call. - The more comprehensive 10-Q earnings report that appeared on Thursday detailed $248 billion of lease-payment commitments, “substantially all” related to data centers and cloud capacity arrangements, the business-software firm said. These are due to commence between now and its 2028 financial year but they're not yet included on its balance sheet. - That's almost $150 billion more than was disclosed in the footnotes of September's earnings update. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? The Winner for iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) Winners will be getting great stuff like the new "OFFICIAL" DHUnplugged Shirt! CTP CUP 2025 Participants: Jim Beaver Mike Kazmierczak Joe Metzger Ken Degel David Martin Dean Wormell Neil Larion Mary Lou Schwarzer Eric Harvey (2024 Winner) FED AND CRYPTO LIMERICKS See this week's stock picks HERE Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter
Steven MacKinnon, Government House Leader; Andrew Scheer, Conservative House Leader; The Front Bench with: Christy Clark, John Manley, James Moore and Lisa Raitt; Wayne Long, Secretary of State (CRA & Financial Institutions).
Pete Turek — a TransUnion® SVP responsible for overseeing relationships with more than 120 of the nation's leading financial institutions — join Josh and Craig this month to unpack insights from the latest Consumer Industry Insights Report. The discussion highlights a “K-shaped” dynamic in lending, with strong growth at both ends of the credit spectrum, record personal loan originations and Gen Z's rising influence. The conversation also covers tighter credit lines, longer auto loan terms, delinquency trends across products and the impact of the recent government shutdown. Looking ahead, the group examines how tax season, student loan offsets and macroeconomic factors could shape consumer credit performance in early 2026. For lenders and risk professionals, this episode offers a clear, data-driven view of where consumer credit stands — and what's next. The information discussed in this podcast constitutes the opinion of TransUnion, and TransUnion shall have no liablity for any actions taken based upon the content of this podcast.
In this special 2026 Payments Outlook episode of the Payments Podcast, host Owen McDonald is joined by Jessica Cheney and Vitus Rotzer to explore the trends shaping the future of banking and B2B payments. From monetizing ISO 20022 data and accelerating real-time and cross-border payments to scaling embedded payments and leveraging AI for fraud prevention, this conversation dives deep into the strategies banks must adopt to stay competitive. Discover why collaboration, APIs, and advanced analytics will define success in the coming year.
In this episode of Ahead of the Curve, we sit down with Gary Fan, Chief Operating Officer at Royal Business Bank, to unpack what real innovation looks like inside a modern community bank. With experience spanning fintech, global institutions, and community banking, Gary brings a rare perspective on how regional banks can move faster, differentiate smarter, and still stay grounded in sound risk management.Listeners will hear:Advice for launching new products without massive R&D teamsHow to build strong relationships with regulators early (and why it matters)Where AI and emerging tech actually fit into a bank's strategic roadmapWhat the next generation of bank leaders and customers will expectHow Royal Business Bank is positioning itself to compete through product design, niche markets, and cultural evolutionIf you've ever wondered how a bank can innovate without losing its identity—or how smaller institutions can compete in a fintech-driven world—this episode offers fresh, grounded, and actionable insight.About the guest:Gary Fan is the Chief Operating Officer of RBB, a publicly traded bank with over $4 billion in assets. As COO, Gary leads enterprise-wide growth initiatives, digital transformation, product and service innovation, and strategic M&A activity. He is also responsible for optimizing cross-functional operations and driving continuous business model evolution to stay ahead in a rapidly changing financial landscape.Previously, Gary served as President of Gateway Bank FSB in Oakland, CA, where he successfully led a full-scale turnaround, overseeing all retail and commercial banking units and restoring profitability. His leadership has consistently delivered measurable results across diverse financial institutions.Gary's career spans senior roles at global financial organizations, including CTBC Bank, where he served as Head of Strategy for North America and Head of Consumer Lending for its U.S. subsidiary. His expertise includes fintech integration, strategic partnerships, market expansion, long-range planning, and organizational restructuring.With P&L responsibility over multi-billion-dollar lending portfolios, Gary has led high-performing teams across Sales, Marketing, Retail and Commercial Banking, Operations, Credit Administration, Finance, IT & Security, HR, Legal, PMO, and Real Estate. His cross-industry experience includes Banking, Fintech, E-Commerce, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain & Logistics.Gary holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at The Wharton School.Helpful links:Read about Royal Business Bank.Learn about how AI integrates into Abrigo solutions: AI solutions for banks
In this episode, Graham Steele, former Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Treasury and current academic fellow at Stanford Law School, discusses the implications of cryptocurrency and blockchain on the central banking functions of government. This is the eighth episode in our 11-part series, Technology vs. Government, featuring former California State Assemblymember Lloyd Levine.About Graham Steele:Graham Steele is an Academic Fellow at Stanford Law School's Rock Center for Corporate Governance. He has extensive experience at the highest levels of financial policy, having served as the Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he was responsible for policy on banks, credit unions, insurance, fintech, and financial cybersecurity. Prior to his role at Treasury, he directed the Corporations and Society Initiative at Stanford Graduate School of Business. His formative policy experience was on Capitol Hill, where he served for nearly eight years on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, including as Chief Counsel for the Democratic Staff, working on the Dodd-Frank Act in response to the 2008 financial crisis.Interviewer:Lloyd Levine (Former California State Assemblymember, UCR School of Public Policy Senior Policy Fellow)Key Discussion Points:History Repeats Itself: Exploring how cryptocurrency echoes past eras of private money creation like the "Free Banking" and "shadow banking" eras, which often led to financial instability and government intervention.Crypto vs. Blockchain: A simple breakdown: cryptocurrency is the digital asset (like Bitcoin), while blockchain is the underlying technology that records the transactions.Public vs. Private Money: Why government-backed money (like the U.S. dollar) has inherent stability and consumer protections that private cryptocurrencies lack.Solving a Real Problem? Analyzing crypto's promise of faster, cheaper payments and greater financial inclusion against its current realities, such as high volatility and reliance on the traditional banking system.A Regulatory Wild West: The challenges of regulating a borderless, often anonymous system, including fraud, "rug pulls," and market manipulation.The Future of Crypto: Will it become a responsible financial tool, remain a niche investment, or continue to pose systemic risks?
Welcome to a special 4dFi podcast exploring the latest trends and technologies reshaping finance. I'm Zack Miller, Tearsheet's Editor in Chief. Today, we're unpacking the rise of AI agents and their potential to transform how consumers interact with financial services. I'm joined by my partners Russell Weiss, an AI expert and startup builder, and Josh Liggett, a seasoned fintech investor. Together, we'll bring a multidimensional view to this complex space. We'll dive into real-world examples like Capital One's Chat Concierge, which has driven a 55% boost in customer engagement by automating key tasks across thousands of auto dealer sites. Looking ahead, we'll consider the implications for traditional banks. Will they invest billions in proprietary AI models, or cede ground to big tech and infrastructure players increasingly embedding financial services? We don't have all the answers but want to open up with good questions and thinking about where things are headed. We'll also explore how the evolution of AI agents could intersect with web3, crypto, and asset tokenization to enable digital transactions. Russell and Josh will weigh in on which players are poised to thrive in this new era of AI-powered finance. There's a lot to cover, but one thing is clear: AI is no longer a far-off possibility for banks. It's a present-day reality redefining what's possible. Stay tuned for a thought-provoking discussion of the opportunities and challenges ahead.
In this episode of Cashflow Legendz, Nate and Brock break down the Four Rules of the Financial Institutions and reveal how these rules shape the way money moves in our everyday lives. They go step-by-step through how banks think, how they operate, and why they always seem to win. This is about understanding the playbook so you can start playing the game at a higher level instead of being played by it. You'll learn how these rules influence borrowing, saving, and investing, and why shifting your mindset can open up new paths toward building wealth on your terms. Nate and Brock share personal experiences and practical insights that you can start applying right away. If you are ready to think differently about money and take back control of your financial future, this episode is for you.
Today's podcast features the second part of a recent webinar produced on September 24, 2025, titled: "A New Era for Banking: What President Trump's Debanking Executive Order and Related State Laws Mean for Financial Institutions, Government, and Banking Customers." In Part 2, we discuss the following topics: 1. What are the areas of uncertainty with respect to the Executive Order, including: · Defining an "unlawful business" or "religion and why those definitions are important. · What regulator or regulators will issue regulations or other guidance? 2. What is the role of the Small Business Administration ("SBA") 3. Intersection with AML/BSA 4. Intersection with state debanking statutes and experience of the states 5. Pending Federal legislation 6. What should financial institutions be doing now to prepare for regulator review? 7. Is the Executive Order good or bad policy? 8. Is there a proven need for the Executive Order? Is there any empirical evidence of need based on complaints submitted to states with debanking statutes, SBA or other federal banking prudential regulators or is it all anecdotal? Our presenters, who hold diverse views on the wisdom of the Executive Order, are: · Jason Mikula Founder and Publisher, Fintech Business Weekly Jason Mikula is an independent fintech and banking advisor, consultant, and investor. He also publishes Fintech Business Weekly, a newsletter analyzing trends in banking and fintech. He opposes the Executive Order. · Brian Knight Senior Counsel, Corporate Engagement, Alliance Defending Freedom Brian Knight serves as Senior Counsel on the Corporate Engagement Team at Alliance Defending Freedom. His work focuses on issues of financial access, debanking, and preventing the politicization of financial services. He opposes the Executive Order. · Todd Phillips Assistant Professor of Law, J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University Todd Phillips is an assistant professor of law at Georgia State University. His areas of expertise include bank capital and prudential regulation, deposit insurance, and the laws governing federal regulators. He opposes the Executive Order. · Will Hild Executive Director, Consumers' Research Will Hild is the Executive Director of Consumers' Research, the nation's oldest consumer protection organization. He has led efforts to combat ESG and what he considers "woke capitalism," including launching the Consumers First campaign. He supports the Executive Order. · Graham Steele Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions, U.S. Department of the Treasury Graham Steele serves as the Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He is an expert on financial regulation and financial institutions, with over a decade of experience working at the highest levels of law and policy in Washington, D.C. He opposes the Executive Order. Alan Kaplinsky, the founder and first practice group leader and now Senior Counsel of the Consumer Financial Services Group at our firm, moderated the webinar. We released Part 1of this webinar on October 30, 2025
According to Bix Weir of Road to Roota, the United States has been on a covert path back to the constitutional gold and silver standard since the 1981 Gold Commission, a secret initiative under Ronald Reagan to dismantle the fiat money scam and restore sound money as mandated by the Constitution. Weir decodes the Federal Reserve's cryptic 1981 comic "Wishes and Rainbows," re-released in 2007, as a roadmap—"The Road to Roota"—outlining the transition from "Grey Flowers" (fiat currency) to "Colorland" (a redeemable gold-backed system), complete with hidden U.S. gold reserves in places like the Grand Canyon to fuel the reset. He argues this plan accelerates under figures like Donald Trump, who is leveraging massive undisclosed gold stashes to collapse the manipulated markets and implement a new gold/silver coin standard via the U.S. Mint, where silver could skyrocket to match gold at a 1:1 ratio, freeing Americans from endless inflation and debt slavery. Central to this liberation is abolishing the Federal Reserve, the "BIG player" Weir identifies as the root of global economic hatred toward the West, with its computer-driven manipulations since Alan Greenspan's era propping up a dying fiat blip; Trump, per Weir, is crashing the [CB] system through engineered chaos, paving the way for constitutional money where every citizen can redeem notes for physical gold and silver, ending the Fed's reign and restoring true freedom. Weir's scathing exposés paint JP Morgan Chase as the epicenter of silver market rigging, with CEO Jamie Dimon—derisively dubbed "Jamie Demon" for his demonic role in financial crimes—leading a cabal that has suppressed silver prices through massive COMEX shorts and derivative slams, all while cashing out ahead of the inevitable squeeze that could drain their "house silver" vaults dry. This manipulation ties directly to Epstein Island scandals, where Weir reveals JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank facilitated the financier's criminal network, enabling cash flows for trafficking that intertwined elite bankers like Dimon with the island's depravities; exposing Epstein's client list, including Dimon's inner circle, would unleash uncontrollable silver demand as the rigged system's veils tear away, crushing the bullion banks and vindicating Weir's long-warned "Silver Alert" for a monetary rebellion.
Today's podcast features the first part of a recent webinar produced on September 24, 2025, titled: "A New Era for Banking: What President Trump's Debanking Executive Order and Related State Laws Mean for Financial Institutions, Government, and Banking Customers." In Part 1, we discuss the following topics: 1. History of Debanking, including: o Operation Chokepoint: An initiative by federal prudential banking regulators during the Obama administration aimed at discouraging banks supervised by them from providing services to companies engaged in payday lending. o OCC Final Regulation on Debanking: Issued by Acting Comptroller Brian Brooks toward the end of President Trump's first term, this regulation applied only to the largest banks in the country. It was sent to the Federal Register but never published and, therefore, never became effective. 2. Elements and Scope of the Debanking Executive Order 3. Statutory Authority (or Lack Thereof) of the Executive Order, which was largely based on the unfairness prongs of UDAAP and UDAP, even though a federal district court in Alabama held a few years ago that such unfairness prongs do not cover discrimination. Our presenters, who hold diverse views on the wisdom of the Executive Order, are: · Jason Mikula Founder and Publisher, Fintech Business Weekly Jason Mikula is an independent fintech and banking advisor, consultant, and investor. He also publishes Fintech Business Weekly, a newsletter analyzing trends in banking and fintech. He opposes the Executive Order. · Brian Knight Senior Counsel, Corporate Engagement, Alliance Defending Freedom Brian Knight serves as Senior Counsel on the Corporate Engagement Team at Alliance Defending Freedom. His work focuses on issues of financial access, debanking, and preventing the politicization of financial services. He opposes the Executive Order. · Todd Phillips Assistant Professor of Law, J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University Todd Phillips is an assistant professor of law at Georgia State University. His areas of expertise include bank capital and prudential regulation, deposit insurance, and the laws governing federal regulators. He opposes the Executive Order. · Will Hild Executive Director, Consumers' Research Will Hild is the Executive Director of Consumers' Research, the nation's oldest consumer protection organization. He has led efforts to combat ESG and what he considers "woke capitalism," including launching the Consumers First campaign. He supports the Executive Order. · Graham Steele Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions, U.S. Department of the Treasury Graham Steele serves as the Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He is an expert on financial regulation and financial institutions, with over a decade of experience working at the highest levels of law and policy in Washington, D.C. He opposes the Executive Order. Alan Kaplinsky, the founder and first practice group leader and now Senior Counsel of the Consumer Financial Services Group at our firm, moderated the webinar. We will be releasing Part 2 of this webinar on November 6, 2025.
Christian Widhalm, CEO of Bloom Credit, joins the latest episode of Extra Credit to unpack the evolving landscape of credit data furnishment. Christian shares how Bloom is tackling the limitations of legacy credit reporting formats — originally designed for traditional products and monthly cycles — and helping lenders report both conventional and alternative data more accurately and in real time. The conversation covers the rise of BNPL, the promise of transactional data for underserved consumers and regulatory headwinds shaping open banking. Widhalm also weighs in on why traditional credit data isn't dead — despite the hype — and how FinTech partnerships are accelerating innovation across the lending ecosystem.
In this episode, Craig Jeffery talks with Lisa Christie and Tom Gregory of TD Bank about why fraud prevention still hinges on mastering the basics. They explore escalating threats, the power of alerts, the principle of least privilege, and how education is key to staying ahead.
Surekha Carpenter and Taylor Pessin share their initial learnings about community development financial institutions that responded to the 2025 CDFI Survey, which is conducted every other year by the Federal Reserve. Carpenter is a senior research analyst and Pessin is an intermediate research analyst, both on the Regional and Community Analysis team at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Full transcript and related links: https://www.richmondfed.org/podcasts/speaking_of_the_economy/2025/speaking_2025_10_22_cdfi_survey
IN THIS EPISODE...Bahari Harris, Senior Vice President and Director of Financial Inclusion Initiatives at Truist Financial Corporation, discusses his journey from founding Urban Hope to leading financial inclusion programs at Truist. Bahari discusses the importance of financial literacy and the Start, Save, Win initiative, which incentivized new savers to save $25 each month, leading to over 25,000 new accounts and millions saved. He emphasizes the need to address the fear of the unknown and improve accessibility in banking. Harris also shares his personal finance hashtag #YourFinanceChamp to demystify financial services and encourages strategic decision-making in leadership.Truist is a leading bank holding company focused on financial inclusion and community impact. Through programs like workplace banking, student banking, and financial education initiatives, Truist aims to make banking more accessible and help individuals and communities achieve financial well-being.------------Full show notes, guest bio, links to resources mentioned, and other compelling episodes can be found at http://LeadYourGamePodcast.com. (Click the magnifying icon at the top right and type “Bahari”)Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Learn more about us! https://shockinglydifferent.com/-------------WHAT TO LISTEN FOR:1. Bahari's journey from nonprofit leadership to his current role at Truist.2. How Truist is making banking more accessible and inclusive for underserved communities.3. The impact of financial literacy and why it matters for generational wealth.4. Examples of innovative programs like “Start, Save, Win” and workplace banking.5. Barriers to financial inclusion—what are the biggest challenges people face?6. Bahari's leadership philosophy: meeting people where they are and motivating them forward.7. How can financial institutions build trust and loyalty in their communities?8. What practical steps can listeners take to improve their own financial well-being?------------FEATURED TIMESTAMPS:[00:36] Introduction and Bahari's role at Truist [02:14] Personal background and interests outside of work. [03:31] Bahari's career journey from nonprofit work to banking [07:06] Discussion on the importance of financial literacy and the challenges faced byunderserved communities.[10:53] Overview of Truist's value-driven mission and the “Start, Save, Win” savingsinitiative.[13:49] The importance of building savings habits and how behavior impacts financialsecurity.[15:32] Barriers to financial inclusion: fear of the unknown and accessibility.[19:29] The unique, mission-driven approach of Truist and the value of purpose-drivenleadership.[21:07] Bahari's “Your Finance Champ” social media initiative to demystify financialservices.[23:19] Signature Segment: Bahari's entry into the LATTOYG Playbook: Leading side-by-side[23:45] Bahari's leadership philosophy: meeting people where they are and motivatingthem forward.[27:10] Signature Segment: Bahari's LATTOYG Tactic of Choice: Leading with Strategic decision-making[32:18] The broader impact of Bahari's work and the importance of opening doors for others.------------ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR YOU:Overview: Our Signature Leadership Development Experience: http://bit.ly/DevelopYourGame
Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/3VhbwZZ Unveiling the Economic Impact and Symbolism of 9/11 In this episode of Dividend Cafe, airing on September 12, David L. Bahnsen delves into a unique discussion on the economic intentions behind the 9/11 attacks, emphasizing the attackers' desire to undermine American financial markets by targeting the World Trade Center. The episode explores the symbolic and literal significance of the attacks, draws on historical quotes from Osama Bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and highlights America's resilience and the importance of defending robust capital markets. Key points include the historical context of the World Trade Center, the immediate financial aftermath of the attacks, and the enduring strength of America's economic system. David also ties this discussion into the broader narrative of American exceptionalism and the philosophical importance of free enterprise. 00:00 Introduction and Theme Announcement 00:44 Reflecting on 9/11's Economic Impact 04:33 Historical Context of the World Trade Center 05:58 Financial Institutions in the World Trade Center 08:37 The Jihadist Economic Agenda 14:35 Resilience of American Financial Markets 17:33 American Exceptionalism and Capital Markets 21:50 Conclusion and Gratitude Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com
In this episode of The P.A.S. Report, Professor Nick Giordano exposes how America's financial system has been weaponized to punish political opponents and reshape society. From the 2008 bailouts to the Biden administration's aggressive expansion of Operation Chokepoint, Professor Giordano breaks down how banks, regulators, and politicians have quietly turned your access to money into a political tool. With President Trump's new Executive Order banning politicized debanking and Senator Tim Scott's FIRM Act aiming to make those protections permanent, he explains what's at stake, why your financial freedom hangs in the balance, and how Congress must act before it's too late. Episode Highlights How the 2008 financial crisis created “too big to fail” banks and paved the way for politicized banking. The Biden administration's push to flag “Trump” and “MAGA” transactions, target lawful industries, and revive Operation Chokepoint. Why Trump's Executive Order is a major win, but why the FIRM Act is critical to making protections against political debanking permanent.