Podcasts about fintech business weekly

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 brief discussion of SmartBiz, OakNorth, and OneMain's progress on charters; prescient, given the news this week that Stripe has applied for Georgia's merchant acquirer limit purpose bank (MALPB) charter (more on Stripe's news from me here, including a copy of the public portion of its application.)* 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

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 where fintech debit & credit card businesses stand in 2025, including if interchange alone is a sustainability business model (hint: it's not)* Whether or not there's room for another big consumer fintech out there* The changing infrastructure space, including the difference between issuer processors and program managers* Crypto & stablecoins* and more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 manage manual processes* And more Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 Build Card* Current's latest Datos Insight case study* The beauty and resiliency of ACH flat files (yes, really)* And more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

In the last year I don't think there is any area of fintech that has received more attention than the Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) space. And it is not just the Synapse debacle, it is all the consent orders that have come out of the bank regulators. We have a banking system that pretty much demands that fintech companies partner with banks and we are still yet to figure out what the optimal business model is here.My next guest on the Fintech One-on-One podcast is Jason Mikula, the publisher of Fintech Business Weekly and the Head of Industry, Strategy, Banking and Fintech at the risk decisioning platform Taktile. He has become one of the leading authorities on BaaS and has recently authored a book on this topic. It is the most comprehensive look at BaaS and the many challenges it has faced and we delve into these challenges in this episode.In this podcast you will learn:How Jason ended up living in the Netherlands.His impetus for starting the Fintech Business Weekly newsletter.What attracted Jason to focus so much on Banking-as-a-Service.Why he decided to write a book on BaaS.How he frames the difference between BaaS and embedded finance.Why fintech companies have been attracted to omnibus or FBO accounts at banks.The interview that Jason did with founder and former CEO of Synapse, Sankaet Pathak.Where we are with the Synapse saga (as of mid-February, 2025).What Jason thinks the likelihood the impacted consumers will get their funds back.Whether we will ever learn what happened to missing 90-odd million dollars.His thoughts on the middleware model that was core to the development of BaaS.How he views the BaaS model evolving long term in the U.S.Connect with Fintech One-on-One: Tweet me @PeterRenton Connect with me on LinkedIn Find previous Fintech One-on-One episodes

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

In This Episode This week, we bring you Part III of exclusive insights from Fintech Xchange '25 at the Stena Center for Financial Technology and the University of Utah, powered by U.S. Bank. Host Jason Henrichs engages in a dynamic discussion with Jason Mikula of Fintech Business Weekly and Chris Black, CEO & President of Thread Bank. Their conversation spans topics from Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and regulatory shifts under the new administration to the dual-edged nature of innovation in today's financial landscape. Chris delves into Thread Bank's unique transformation as it evolved from the historic Civis Bank—established in 1906—into a fintech-enabled community bank. In 2021, new leadership recapitalized and revitalized the institution by adopting an industrial approach to BaaS and launching Thread. Thread's goal is to deliver the unparalleled value of a community bank to individuals and businesses, leveraging intuitive technology to meet customers where they are. Maintaining two local branches, Thread is delivering on its mission of embedded banking -- deposits, loans, and payments, and exemplifies the integration of traditional banking services with modern embedded banking solutions. By transcending geographical limitations and focusing on scalable, durable models, Thread collaborates with partners to manage risks and capitalize on the strengths of partnership banking. In the second segment, University of Utah alumnus Rhett Roberts, CEO & Co-founder of LoanPro, joins "the Jasons" to discuss the evolving fintech ecosystem and APIs. Are they coming of age? Naturally they talk about cores, and how banks are in the process of conscious decoupling to build resilient infrastructures in order to weather future disruptions. Rhett shares LoanPro's journey from inception to powering some of the biggest lenders in fintech. LoanPro offers a scalable, API-first lending and credit platform that fosters innovation by streamlining origination, servicing, collections, and payments across various loan types, lines of credit, and credit cards. This narrative underscores the transformative impact of fintech solutions in modernizing financial services. Listen and watch to explore these compelling stories!

Our podcast show today features Jason Mikula, publisher of Fintech Business Weekly; a newsletter going beyond the headlines to analyze the technology, regulatory and business model trends, driving the rapidly evolving financial services ecosystem at the intersection of traditional banking, payments, FinTech and crypto. We discuss his recently released book, titled “Banking as a Service: Opportunities, Challenges, and Risks of New Banking Business Models” (Kogan Page 2024). The publisher describes the book as follows: “This book provides a comprehensive look at banking-as-a-service (BaaS), equipping readers with an understanding of the origins, evolution, future and applications of BaaS and the key differences across global markets.” BaaS is a game changer in the financial services sector, radically transforming both how consumers experience financial products and the business models delivering them. “Banking as a Service” cuts through the hype to provide a measured overview of BaaS, helping readers to demystify a complex evolving field, and understand its key opportunities, challenges, and risks. It provides a framework for understanding where BaaS came from, how BaaS changes the economics and business models of banking products and services, its impact on key stakeholders, and its key regulatory implications. “Banking as a Service” explains how business and operating models work, exploring different models such as interchange, deposit gathering, loan origination-to-distribute, legacy, API-first, own license, match-making and bank service providers, and offers a framework for thinking about whether or not they're sustainable. It explores how BaaS operating and business models compare in different global territories and is supported by real-world examples and cases profiling organizations such as Blue Ridge Bank, Unit, Synapse, Goldman Sachs, Railsr, Starling, Solaris, Cacao Paycard, QNB, OnePipe, Airwallex, Nium and Pomelo. It also explains the differences between BaaS, embedded finance and “open banking.” Alan and Jason discuss the answers to the following questions and topics: 1.              What do we mean when we say "banking as a service"? 2.              What are the different BaaS business models/operating models? 3.              What led to the explosion in banking-as-a-service? 4.              Why have bank/fintech partnerships had a rough go of it lately in the US and is that likely to change with a new administration? 5.              What is (or what should be) regulators' role in supervising non-bank entities in the BaaS value chain (eg, middleware, customer-facing fintechs)? 6.              What is an FBO and are FBOs the "original sin" of banking-as-a-service? 7.              What advice would you give to banks considering getting into the BaaS space? How do you see the market evolving from here - for banks, for technology providers, and for customer-facing companies? 8.              What advice would you give to fintechs that rely on a bank partner or are looking for one? Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel and former chair for 25 years of the Consumer Financial Services Group, hosts the discussion.

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 and operate their own multi-market mobile service.We had the chance to discuss:* The opportunity banks and fintechs see in the mobile connectivity space* What geographies and customer segments may be more open to bundling mobile service with their financial provider* How Rafa's experience in banking and fintech has informed how he thinks about mobile phone service (and vice-versa)* And much more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 CEO Jason Henrichs (the more Jasons the merrier!). We had the chance to talk about:* Revelations that the Department of Justice is investigating the Synapse catastrophe* Patriot Bank's BaaS-related enforcement action* Ramp's launch of Ramp Treasury* Rohit Chopra's land stand at the CFPB* And, as always, what Alex and Jason just can't let go of…If you enjoy listening to this podcast and find value in it, please consider supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn't be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the first Fintech Recap of 2025. As always, I'm joined by Jason Mikula, publisher of Fintech Business Weekly and author of the shiny new book Banking as a Service (which I'm loving, by the way), as we catch up post-holiday to dive into the fintech buzz. First pit stop: BaaS Island and the CBW Bank saga. This small player with a big history—partnering with pioneers Moven and Ripple—just got slapped with a major $20M penalty from the FDIC. But CBW is fighting back, challenging the FDIC in court. As fintech blurs the line between community banks and fintech giants, can a community bank charter truly handle nationwide payments and high-stakes BaaS?  Next up, get ready for the IPO tidal wave in 2025. It's shaping up to be a big one for fintech, and Chime is at the forefront, gearing up for its big debut. While there's chatter about their customer count—anywhere from 7M to 38M—one thing's undeniable: Chime boasts a solid customer base with impressive direct deposit adoption. Things are about to get interesting. Moving on, Walmart and Branch are in hot water with the CFPB for allegedly opening accounts for Walmart Spark drivers without consent, forcing them to use Branch or risk termination. This raises huge questions about employers embedding financial services in their workers' lives. Not to mention, the urgent need for tighter oversight on employer-sponsored fintech in 2025. Plus, we rant about Vivek Ramaswamy's unhinged tweet blaming the 90s pop culture—like Boy Meets World and Friends reruns—for America's software engineer shortage. Yep, seriously.  It's  Whiplash reruns or nothing for the "Department of Government Efficiency.” Here's looking at you, 2025. 00:04:19 - Return to BaaS Island 00:23:59 - IPO Watch: Chime 00:40:59 - Walmart x Branch 00:56:35 - Can't Let It Go Sign up for Alex's Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/  And for more exclusive insider content, don't forget to check out my YouTube page.   Follow Jason: Newsletter: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmikula/   Follow Alex:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson

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 moving into its next phase as depositors are left wondering when — or if — they'll ever be made whole* The CFPB's rule defining larger participant in the digital wallet space* …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

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 works with them to meet regulatory and compliance expectations* To what extent political and regulatory uncertainty impacts how Affirm approaches running its business* The CFPB's interpretive rule that treats pay-in-four buy now pay later as a “credit card” for certain purposes under TILA Reg Z* Affirm's recent earnings announcement* And Affirm's recent launch in the United KingdomExisting subscriber? Please consider supporting this newsletter by upgrading to a paid subscription. New here? Subscribe to get Fintech Business Weekly each Sunday: Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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, November 11th, I had the chance to interview Pathak and impacted depositors had an opportunity to ask him questions directly.Key takeaways I had from the conversation include:* Pathak revealed that Evolve had sent him a cease and desist as a result of him posting what he says is an anonymized version of the trial balance report of the funds Evolve held for end users.* A description of the process by which Evolve prepared and sent files to Synapse for reconciliation, including a possible reason why balances between Evolve's systems and Synapse's appeared to varied substantially day to day, and Evolve's claim that this wasn't something to worry about, Pathak said.* Pathak said that Evolve was aware of and acknowledged that fees owed to Tabapay were improperly debited from customer funds, but that Evolve disputed whether it was the bank's fault.* Synapse didn't want Synapse Brokerage to contract with Evolve or keep the Brokerage's funds at Evolve due to the known shortfalls, Pathak said.* The plan with the Brokerage structure, per Pathak, was that incoming funds would land in users' DDA accounts at Evolve, a portion of those funds that users would transact with would stay at Evolve, and the rest would be swept out to AMG. However, Pathak says, in late September or early October 2023, Evolve, without explanation why, ceased processing sweeps out of Evolve to AMG.* Pathak described how Evolve's reversal of position on funding the FBO shortfalls led to the collapse of the deal for Tabapay to acquire Synapse's assets and, ultimately, the collapse of the company and freeze of end user funds.* Pathak acknowledged taking two loans from the company, one in late 2023 and one in early 2024, which totaled $320,000. The transactions, Pathak said, were approved by the Synapse board — though, at the time, the board consisted of Pathak himself, a seed round investor that, and a Synapse cofounder. While Pathak didn't name specific individuals, per filings in the bankruptcy case, the seed investor is Doug Marchant and the Synapse cofounder is Hilary Quirk. Pathak declined to elaborate on the purpose of the loans, besides saying he had “good reasons” to do it, which would “become obvious” relatively soon.* Full reconciliation should be possible, Pathak said, but it would require the right data, resources, people, and time.* Pathak acknowledged anonymously leaking a letter that Synapse had sent to Evolve to me (which I suspected at the time but didn't know until now.)* According to Pathak, Synapse's board of directors, which, at points, included Andreessen Horowitz's Angela Strange, Trinity Venture's Schwark Satyavolu, and Core Innovation Capital's Arjan Schütte, was broadly aware of the issues Synapse faced, that they were “trying to do the right thing,” and that the board ask Pathak “not to shut down and escalate.”* While Chapter 11 trustee McWilliams and Judge Martin Barash have made numerous references to not being able to confirm or deny if they have made any referrals to law enforcement, Pathak said that he is not aware of any criminal investigation and has not been contacted by law enforcement authorities, though he did acknowledge speaking with broker-dealer self-regulator authority Finra.* When asked if, in the regular course of its business, Synapse had any interaction with Evolve's regulators, the St. Louis Federal Reserve or the Arkansas Department of Banking, Pathak indicated that it did not.Additional Context & Fact Checking* Pathak suggested that Evolve or others not suing him for defamation should be interpreted as a sign that he's telling the truth. However, Evolve has explicitly stated that it believes Pathak's claims about a shortfall of end user funds and the causes of it are “based on ledgers that are demonstrably inaccurate and that his company prepared” (see FAQ #17 here.) It's also worth noting that Evolve may have other reasons to avoid filing such a suit against Pathak — namely, that Evolve would presumably have to turn over relevant documents as part of discovery in any such suit.* Pathak said that Synapse launched the brokerage sweep program in October 2023, in response to Evolve raising Synapse's reserve requirement and withholding interest payments owed to end users, fintech programs, and Synapse. However, the Synapse Brokerage entity had been up and running for sometime by this point, and Synapse had been working with many of its programs to migrate them to the new structure since significantly earlier in 2023.* Asked directly if Pathak or Synapse ever inappropriately used end user funds, including using end user funds to meet bank reserve requirements, Pathak said he was not aware of any instances of customer funds being misappropriated. Pathak described the allegation that Synapse used customer funds to meet reserve requirements at Lineage as “factually false.” However, Pathak's answer glosses over that it was Synapse that would have instructed from Evolve to Lineage and, per my prior reporting, represented that these were Synapse's own funds, not end users'.* Pathak also denied that Synapse knowingly allowed fees Synapse owed to be debited from end user funds, saying that, as soon as such issues came to the company's attention, it alerted Evolve and worked to fix them. However, Pathak did not specify if when these types of issues occurred, whether or not end user balances were made whole.* Asked about his robotics startup's attempt to raise funds and purported relationship with GM, first reported by me and subsequently confirmed by CNBC, Pathak described the CNBC reporter as “a piece of s**t” and “highly unethical,” alleging that the reporter contacted an auto industry union leader, not GM, leading the union leader to threaten a strike if GM didn't pull out of the deal. However, the CNBC piece quoted a GM spokesperson as saying, “GM has never invested in Foundation Robotics and has no plans to do so. In fact, GM has never had an agreement of any kind with the company. Any claims to the contrary are fabricated.” GM sent me a statement to the same effect.Existing subscriber? Please consider supporting this newsletter by upgrading to a paid subscription. New here? Subscribe to get Fintech Business Weekly each Sunday: Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

Jason Mikula, publisher of Fintech Business Weekly, talks about the ongoing fallout from the failure of fintech Synapse, and banking regulators' efforts to ensure it can't happen again. Are regulators going too far? Is this the end of banking-as-a-service?

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* The CFPB accepts comments on FDX as standard-setting organization for 1033 open banking* Department of Justice sues Visa, alleging it has used anticompetitive business practices to maintain an illegal monopoly on the US debit processing market* …and, as always, what Alex and Jason just can't let go ofAre you attending Money2020? Alex and I will be joining Simon Taylor for an invite-only session on “How to Win At Embedded Finance,” sponsored by Sardine, Sonar, LoanPro, and Visa — more info here.If you enjoy listening to this podcast and find value in it, please consider supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn't be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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, retention, and fraud prevention* The importance of flexibility in communications strategy, including being able to meet customers where they are, whether that's SMS, email, or emerging communications channels* Challenges in managing communications strategy, including privacy regulation* The role of conversational AI in customer communications strategy* And more!Existing subscriber? Please consider supporting this newsletter by upgrading to a paid subscription. New here? Subscribe to get Fintech Business Weekly each Sunday: Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 about:* Unique aspects of Latin American that shape the market for financial services* The role the Brazilian central bank plays in fostering progress and innovation in financial services in the country (yes, that includes Pix)* What Valor means when it describes its investing strategy as being “cross border”* How Valor takes into account evolving geopolitical risks as it considers its investing approach* And more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

In This Episode Warning: Extra spice added -- new sauces and participants! The stream of consent orders against banks that offer BaaS continues. Fintech partner banks drew 1/3 of all formal enforcement orders by federal banking agencies in the 4th quarter of 2023, that's quite a bit when you consider that fintech partner banks only account for roughly 3% of all U.S. banks. BaaS is here to stay -- it's a great way for community banks to grow, big banks are already on board and will do more, and entrepreneurs will want to continue to create better banking experiences which means they'll need to partner with banks. Jason Henrichs brings you our latest Hot Takes with regulars Kiah Haslett, Bank Director; Alex Johnson, Fintech Takes; and Jason Mikula, Fintech Business Weekly, as they are joined by Barb MacLean, SVP, Head of Tech Operations & Implementation, Coastal Community Bank and Allen Denson, Partner, Litigation, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP.  The flaming hot panel discusses why BaaS is facing regulatory headwinds, what banks should do, and how the North Star needs to be a BaaS solution that provides the optimal blend of technology and compliance, all while having some fun. From the stage of FinovateFall we bring you this episode of Breaking Banks. https://youtu.be/Fk01H61HlJc

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, as always, what Alex and Jason just can't let go ofAlso, if you're attending Finovate next week, keep your eye out for us!I'll be taking the stage with some of my favorite industry colleagues, Alex, Jason Henrichs, and Kiah, to discuss the perennial topic in US fintech, banking-as-a-service. I imagine the brokered deposits topic may make a cameo.I'll also be attending Alloy Labs happy hour on the This Week In Fintech happy hour on Tuesday — hope to see you there!If you enjoy listening to this podcast and find value in it, please consider supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn't be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 Ukraine and Nigeria, that it would close their accounts — what's happening and how Mercury is handling it* Bank regulators' request for information on bank-fintech partnerships offers clues about what the they may be worried about* CFPB drops interpretive guidance saying earned wage access may be considered “credit” for certain purposes under TILA* FDIC votes on rule to effectively reverse 2020's brokered deposits rule* And, as always, what Alex and Jason just can't let go ofIf you enjoy listening to this podcast and find value in it, please consider supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn't be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we get an insider look into the financial technology landscape with Jason Mikula. Jason shares his journey, from his unexpected entry into financial services and digital marketing to launching the publication Fintech Business Weekly. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer acquisition metrics and analyzes the evolution of fintech innovations like online lending, BNPL, Banking as a Service, etc. We delve into the mechanics of Banking as a Service (BaaS) and the complex relationships between fintechs, middleware platforms, and banks. Jason is currently in the middle of reporting on news as it breaks around Synapse, Evolve and several fintechs, as well as the thousands of customers caught in the middle of it. He highlights the regulatory challenges and the balancing act between risk and growth. Our discussion also addresses the current regulatory landscape and the future of partner banking, stressing the need for sustainable and economically sound practices. Tune in for a comprehensive conversation that explores the intricacies of fintech and digital banking services. CHAPTER MARKERS: 00:00 Preview 00:45 Intro 00:58 Sponsor 01:31 Meet Jason Mikula, Analyst and Writer of FinTech Business Weekly 03:23 Jason's Background in Financial Services 04:27 Joining Enova and Learning Subprime Lending 05:22 Marketing Metrics and Customer Acquisition 07:05 Challenges in Digital Financial Services 09:09 The Importance of Digital Marketing in FinTech 14:29 Starting FinTech Business Weekly 17:38 Analyzing the FinTech Landscape 20:10 Insights on BNPL and Market Valuations 23:32 Banking as a Service and Middleware Companies 31:49 Regulatory Challenges and Partner Banking 40:23 Regulatory Priorities and Market Impact 44:46 Systemic Risks and Community Banks 48:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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 through models should be structured* Consumers' misapprehensions about what deposit insurance does and doesn't cover* And more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 resume next Sunday, August 4th.Existing subscriber? Please consider supporting this newsletter by upgrading to a paid subscription. New here? Subscribe to get Fintech Business Weekly each Sunday: Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 core banking infrastructure in the US* Implications of and lessons from the Synapse bankruptcy* Reasons to be optimistic about the future of fintech* and more!Existing subscriber? Please consider supporting this newsletter by upgrading to a paid subscription. New here? Subscribe to get Fintech Business Weekly each Sunday: Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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: Evolve Bank & Trust, partner to dozens of fintech programs, hacked by Russian ransomware group LockBit* Elsewhere in BaaS news: Thread's consent order* Apple drops Apple Pay Later, will partner with issuers and BNPL firms instead* Chevron decision drops (disclosure: neither Alex nor Jason are lawyers)* 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

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 fintech* How LoanPro helps its customers stay ahead of evolving legal and regulatory issues* How LoanPro structures its organization to ship code quickly* and more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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* Balancing the need for growth with profitable unit economics* What's on the road map for Current* and more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 Swan is confident in its ability to effectively oversee its third-party partners* how Swan's clients leverage its capabilities* and more!Special thanks to the entire Money2020 crew for hosting us in the MoneyPot podcast booth and putting on another great event! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 countries* What Apex has learned and how its refined its offering over 10+ years in market* Some novel use cases for the infrastructure Apex has built* And more Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

In This Episode There's more to episode 543 -- Killing It: The Story Behind the Synapse Story -- right here! The Synapse saga continues but we make it easy to stay current and benefit from expert analysis as host Jason Henrichs unpacks the latest news with Jason Mikula, publisher of Fintech Business Weekly. The two are watching the topic closely, offering insight into what it all means, from a Chapter 11 Trustee, to new account and financial resilience concerns, FDIC insurance disclosure, challenges and regulation not to mention potential risks and implications for banking and fintech. A takeaway from it all, the importance of regulation in promoting responsible innovation.

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 “crebit” credential* The CFPB's interpretative guidance on buy now, pay later* And, as always, what Alex and I just can't let go ofIf you enjoy listening to this podcast and find value in it, please consider supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn't be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 (and should be) a competitive differentiator in banking-as-a-service platforms“Many banks are still utilizing manual controls, processes and even spreadsheets to manage compliance and governance. We've been impressed with Themis' collaborative and centralized modules to increase efficiency, and reduce complexities and internal costs while helping to streamline compliance controls.”— Candice Antinori, VP Compliance Management & CRA Officer at FinWise BankThemis is a user friendly, collaborative compliance platform to help financial institutions manage complex relationships across internal control groups and to help fintechs' level up their own governance, risk, and compliance cultures.The platform provides a centralized compliance collaboration suite of purpose-built workflows and tools that seamlessly integrate risk, communications, documents and so much for internal teams and external partnerships between banks and fintechs. With Synapse entering into bankruptcy proceedings in the last few weeks, with knock-on impacts to Evolve Bank and Trust, Lineage, and multiple fintech programs, one could easily be forgiven for thinking fintech categorically is facing a regulatory reckoning. But, current turmoil notwithstanding, the bank-fintech partnership model will endure, with the players that prioritize compliance best suited to navigate the fallout.Learn more about how Themis banks are Elevating Governance, Risk and Compliance Cultures here.If you enjoy listening to this podcast and find value in it, please consider supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn't be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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).* VC darling BloomTech's CFPB consent order.* 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

Another week, another consent order.   Welcome back to BaaS Island, where regulators keep throwing more bodies at the problem, hoping something will work. Fintech Business Weekly's Jason Mikula chats with Alex about the latest consent orders for Piermont and Sutton, as the duo debate whether or not “direct” has lost all meaning. Is it possible to really go “direct” from a fintech company to a bank without middleware? Too much regulatory authority has pushed banks away from doing everything except for technology, so in what form do regulators really want BaaS to survive in this current climate?  Then, the guys debate whether or not 15% of American households actually use Chime. According to Ron Shevlin's latest article for Forbes, Chime is poised to IPO with 38 million customers, on par with the likes of Wells Fargo. Does the math… math? Because the math certainly seems to be generous math… Meanwhile, states want to protect their residents from out-of-state banks charging interest rates above state usury caps. Sure, it sounds like a good thing, but is it actually a good thing for consumers?  And later, Alex and Simon talk about the misuse of the FDIC logo and the uptick in fintech Twitter trolls. Why can't we all just get along?  Or at the very least, why can't we all just say nasty things on Twitter without the protection of an anonymous handle?    01: 45 – BaaS Island 22:15 – Chime 42:27 – Trade Groups vs. Colorado 53:30 – Misusing the FDIC Logo and Debating with Twitter Trolls Sign up for Alex's Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don't forget to check out my YouTube page.   Follow Jason: Newsletter: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmikula/   Follow Alex:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson

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 supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn't be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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* the difference between “frictionless” and “seamless” in financial services UX* public and private efforts to create digital identity solutions* what's on Tommy's radar in the fraud space in 2024* and more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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 find value in it, please consider supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn't be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

On this week's episode of Fintech Takes, Alex is joined by international man of mystery and publisher of Fintech Business Weekly, Jason Mikula, along with the Ghost of Fintech Future and cruise director of New York Fintech Week, Jon Zanoff.  First up, the guys discuss the latest in the Capital One/Discover deal and debate the nature of mergers and acquisitions. Are M&As inherently bad for fintech? How do they impact innovation and why are consumers usually the victims of consolidation? They break down the ways that M&As affect the competition cycle and ponder what the Capital One/Discover deal means for the larger credit card industry. Then, the guys take a trip back over to BaaS Island where things have devolved into a “Lord of the Flies” situation. Alex, Jason, and Jon unpack Lineage's latest consent order with the FDIC and discuss why regulators are so obsessed with fast deposit growth. Which leads them to ask the question—exactly what standards should we be measuring BaaS bank size by?  Plus, think your founder is bad? Meet the founder of Zera who raised $2.2 million from investors only to use it on… horseshoes and tropical fish? And later, Alex tries to determine just how much inflation has affected the Tooth Fairy's pricing structure and Jon reveals what he's looking forward to most about New York Fintech Week 2024. And if you haven't already, be sure to sign up for New York Fintech Week 2024 and receive 15% off with Promo Code BAASISLAND.   Sign up for Alex's Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don't forget to check out my YouTube page.   Follow John:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonzanoff/ Website: https://empirestartups.com   Follow Jason: Newsletter: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmikula/   Follow Alex:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson

Elon Musk, owner of ‘X' (or Twitter), has announced plans to turn the social media platform into an app that is the centre of ‘someone's entire financial life”. But while Musk may be one of the original founders of PayPal, there is a lot which needs to be worked out from a compliance perspective when turning a social media site into a financial tool capable of replacing the banking system. In the latest episode of The Laundry – our expert host, Marit Rødevand, is joined by Jason Mikula, Publisher of Fintech Business Weekly to discuss what Elon Musk needs to know about AML and compliance. The pair discuss: how Musk envisions Twitter's move into financial services, the compliance hurdles needed to be jumped to get there, and how easy it is to move from posting to paying. Producer: Matthew Dunne-MilesEngineers: Dominic Delargy, Nicholas Thon____________________________________The Laundry podcast: Dive deep into the intricacies of financial crime, AML (anti-money laundering), compliance, sanctions, and the ever-evolving landscape of financial regulation.Hosted by Marit Rødevand and Fredrik Riiser – this podcast features renowned experts from sectors such as banking, fintech, compliance, and investigative journalism.Together, they shed light on the industry's trending topics, analyse mainstream news through a compliance-focused lens, and connect the fight against financial crime to its real-world consequences and ramifications.The Laundry is proudly produced by Strise, an AML Automation Cloud.Get in touch at: laundry@strise.aiSubscribe to our newsletter, Fresh Laundry, here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 come from asset, geographic, and sectoral concentration, especially with current concerns around commercial real estate* How CapStack can help banks mitigate these risks* Moving from manual, Excel-and-email-based processes to technology-powered, automated exchanges for buying and selling loan participation stakes* and more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

This month, Alex and I had the chance to talk about:* Another trip to “BaaS Island” to discuss Blue Ridge & Choice Bank enforcement actions amid the ongoing regulatory sweep of banking-as-a-service* Buy now, pay later expansion strategies: subscription plans? Savings accounts? What is more or less likely to work and why.* PayPal's attempt to “shock” the world falls flat* Alex tries to explain Bilt Rewards to me* 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

In This Episode Does BaaS go boom, and other predictions and projections for the year. Listen as host Jason Henrichs connects with hot takers Alex Johnson, Fintech Expert & Workweek Creator and Jason Mikula, Managing Director, Fintech Business Weekly about what they've been seeing and what they hope to see in our industry. For those that like analysis they jump into the current state of BaaS, theories on implications for the rest of the year not to mention any projections they think they might need a mulligan for and which are proving true!

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:* Changing dynamics in reimbursement rules for victims of authorized push payment fraud.* Revolut's claims that is growing quickly and a UK bank license is imminent.* The next fintech trend: unlocking benefits of tax-advantage accounts. Are these companies, or features?* Alex's favorite topic: credit building. A quick recap of TomoCredit's dubious credit builder offering.* Alex and I take our first visit to “BaaS Island.”* 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

This month, Alex Johnson and I had the chance to talk about:* the growing “fintech reckoning,” especially among consumer fintechs, with reports of possible shutdowns, sales, and pivots for companies like HMBradley, Petal, Apple/Goldman Sachs, Mint, Braid, Catch, and many others you probably haven't even heard of* Alex's favorite topic, credit builder products: including Tomo's perplexing offering, Region's partnership with Self, and the wider product space* as well as a quick discussion of the Fed's proposed lowering of the Durbin interchange cap and Plaid's decision to create a consumer reporting agency subsidiary* and, like every month, what Alex and Jason just can't let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

In This Episode Want to wow your family over the holidays with your fintech and banking knowledge? We offer a helpful primer for Thanksgiving table conversations as Breaking Banks' Jason Henrichs gathers with industry notables and friends Kiah Haslett, Bank Director; Alex Johnson. Fintech Takes; Jason Mikula, Fintech Business Weekly; and Mary Wisniewski, Cornerstone Advisors to talk banking turkey, give thanks, and share the nerd things they'll be talking about around their dinner tables. Happy Thanksgiving from Breaking Banks!

Alex and I had a chance to catch up LIVE at Money2020. We had a chance to talk about our hot takes and trends from Money2020, including:* what's off trend (crypto) and on trend (generative AI, compliance)* trying to parse fact vs. fiction in companies saying they're “AI-powered”* fintech infrastructure, including Alex's visit to the FedNow® booth* cannabis banking and the SAFE (and SAFE-R) Banking Act* realizing that most in Congress have no idea what “fintech” is* and much more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

This month, we were joined by special guest Matthew Goldman, card expert and author of CardsFTW, to talk about:* A grab bag of banking-as-a-service topics, including the situation at Solid, Stripe and Goldman's partnership, and where things may be headed in 2024* Mastercard's letter clapping back at reporting it plans to hike rates* Varo's launch of “Varo to Anyone,” a P2P service that enables Varo users to send money to any US debit card* 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

Technology has reshaped everything about banking, including one of its most basic products: deposits. In this episode, we discuss how Banking as a Service and fintechs have reshaped the landscape for consumer deposits, the regulatory response, and what this means for the risk profile of banks. Joining us are Kiah Lau Haslett, Banking and Fintech Editor at Bank Director, Alex Johnson, Founder of Fintech Takes, Jason Mikula, Publisher of Fintech Business Weekly, and Brian Tate. President and CEO of the Innovative Payments Association. This podcast was recorded on September 26, 2023. Things may have changed by the time you hear it.