Tips on a Prepaid Card: A Practical Solution with Broad Industry Impacts
In this episode of Payments Journal, host Rima Katz talks with Ben Osmond of U.S. Bank and Jordan Hirshfield of Javelin about how prepaid cards are reshaping tip distribution, payroll, and off‑cycle payments in hospitality and the gig economy. They explain how instant‑issuance, open‑loop prepaid cards let employees receive tips and wages digitally at the end of a shift or even within hours, reducing cash handling and administrative overhead. The guests highlight the growing adoption of payroll cards—used by about 8% of U.S. adults—and the flexibility they provide for full‑time, part‑time, seasonal and contract workers, including earned‑wage access and early ACH funding. They also note the operational benefits for employers, such as lower costs, fraud reduction, streamlined onboarding, and compliance support.
Primitive & MX Are Building an AI Agent Operating System
In this episode, Derek White, CEO of Primitive, and Ryan Caldwell, CEO of MX, discuss Primitive’s AI Agent Operating System designed for regulated financial institutions. They explain how the platform provides orchestration, governance, and ROI clarity—coined “return on agent capital”—to...
Payment Leaders Summit
In this episode, the host previews his live participation at the Payment Leaders Summit in London, where he'll moderate three sessions: one on commercial variable recurring payments (VRP) and bank‑on‑file solutions, another roundtable on open banking and open finance from...
Cross-Border Payments Explained: Why 50 US Jurisdictions Still Can't Agree
In this episode of FinTech Confidential, host Ted Huff talks with Simona Aleman, co‑founder and co‑CEO of Prometeo, about the fractured cross‑border payments landscape between the United States and Latin America. Simona explains how Prometeo’s single‑API open‑finance platform connects over...
Why External Noise Is Slowing Banking Decisions
The episode explores how a flood of external noise—geopolitical risks, tariff changes, cyber threats, and market volatility—is slowing decision‑making in retail banks and credit unions. While many institutions are stuck on a treadmill of meetings and caution, a subset is...
Building a Profitable Neobank by Doing Everything the Hard Way With Ali Niknam, CEO of Bunq
In this episode, Ali Niknam, founder and CEO of the Dutch neobank bunq, explains how he built a profitable, user‑centric bank by self‑funding it with nearly €100 million (≈ $108 million) and launching with a paid subscription model instead of free plans. He...
As Fraud and Agentic Risks Mount, Data Provides Continuity
In this episode of the Payments Journal, host Rima Katz and guests Dermit Thoma (Head of Fraud & Data Science at AdData), senior sales director Brand (AdData), and senior fraud analyst Jennifer Pitt (Javelin Strategy & Research) discuss how fraud...
ABA's Ecosystem Strategy to Tackle Fraud
In this episode of the ABA Fraudcast, Rob Nichols and Paul Benda discuss the ABA’s ecosystem‑wide strategy to combat fraud, highlighting insights from recent UN and Financial Stability Board summits. They stress that banks alone cannot protect consumers; social‑media platforms,...
US Senators Grill New Fed Chair
The episode examines the Senate hearing of President Trump’s nominee, Kevin Warsh, for Federal Reserve chair, focusing on concerns about his independence, wealth, and proposed reforms to Fed policy and communication. Senators probe Warsh on his relationship with Trump, his...
Winning The Attention War That's Reshaping Banking
In this episode, hosts Alex Johnson and Mary Wisniewski discuss the evolving dynamics of FinTech events, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of in‑person networking for business deals and relationship building. They highlight two major industry trends: the surge of new banking...
Private Credit Under Stress: Averting the Next Crisis with AI and Data Visibility with Scott Weller
In this episode, host Boris Agranovich talks with Scott Weller, CTO and co‑founder of EnFi, about the hidden risks in private credit and how AI‑driven data visibility can prevent a next‑generation crisis. Weller explains that most risk signals are trapped...
Building Banking Systems with Kafka Streams with Mateo Rojas | Ep. 28
In this episode, Mateo Rojas recounts his early‑day experiences building a policy‑management platform for a banking‑type application using Kafka Streams when the technology was still nascent. He describes the challenges of orchestrating multiple microservices via stream joins, handling windowing limits,...
What Banks Miss About Serving Women Entrepreneurs Online, with Robin Sims-Allen.
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh Dattar talks with Robin Sims‑Allen, founder and CEO of Total Her, about the challenges women—especially Black women—face when seeking financing and building businesses online. Robin shares her personal journey from...
Scaling Regulated Data Workflows Without Lock‑In - with Juan Orlandini of Insight
In this episode, Juan Orlandini, CTO of North America at Insight, explains how finance leaders can modernize chaotic, regulated data environments by integrating AI thoughtfully rather than layering it on outdated systems. He stresses that generative AI excels at pattern...
Trump Threatens to Fire Fed Chairman
The episode examines President Donald Trump's threat to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell unless he steps down within a month, highlighting the political pressure on monetary policy and the potential fallout of such interference. Economist Claudia Ray‑Sarm explains why...
6 Digital Strategies Banking Must Learn From the Oura Ring
The episode explores how the Oura Ring—a $300 wearable that tracks 50 health metrics and provides actionable insights—offers a model for banks to deliver daily, personalized financial wellness. The host proposes six digital strategies: a daily financial readiness score, proactive...
Back to Basics in a Deepfake World with Jean Chung
In this episode of Risky Women Radio, Jean Chung, Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer for Hong Kong, Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered, discusses how global commonalities outweigh regulatory differences, the emerging role of AI in AML...
Credit Scores vs Bank Data: Why Lenders Are Switching
In this episode of FinTech Confidential, host Ted Huff talks with Jamie Twist and Casey Kaplan of Carrington Labs about why lenders are moving away from traditional credit scores toward bank transaction data and AI-driven cash‑flow underwriting. They explain how...
Capitalizing on Opportunities to Serve High-Net-Worth Clients
In this episode, ABA’s Mark Benskin discusses the evolving wealth‑management landscape, highlighting the rapid rise of Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and their appeal to high‑net‑worth clients due to greater independence and higher revenue shares. He explains how community banks can...
US Rates - GSIB and Basel III Endgame Update
In this episode, JPMorgan researchers Ipek Ozil and Teresa Ho break down the latest Basel III endgame and GSIB surcharge proposals, focusing on how the changes will affect funding markets, especially repo and swap spreads. They explain that the new...
Breaking Down Jamie Dimon’s Investing Letter
In this 24‑minute episode, Tyler Crowe, Lou Whiteman, and Jason Hall dissect Jamie Dimon’s annual letter to JPMorgan shareholders, highlighting his warnings about the private‑credit market and debating the merits of rolling back bank regulations. They also evaluate Bill Ackman’s...
What Keeps Big Bank CEOs up at Night
In this episode, David Brancaccio breaks down Jamie Dimon's latest shareholder letter, highlighting the CEO’s concerns about persistent inflation, rising government debt, tariffs, and geopolitical tensions that could tighten credit conditions. Experts Ari Schwader and Pavlina Czerneva explain how these...
Bank Branches Must Earn Their Place
The episode explores how modern bank branches can shift from costly legacy outlets to growth engines by focusing on advisory services and community engagement. Citing research from the 2026 Digital Banking Report, it reveals that 81% of institutions plan to...
Defeating the Single Point of Failure W/ Mike Belshe of BitGo | BFC Show Ep. 33
In this episode, BitGo co‑founder Mike Belshe discusses the origins of BitGo, its pioneering use of multi‑signature (multi‑sig) technology to eliminate single points of failure, and how the company evolved from a self‑custody solution into a regulated global custodian with...
The Gulf’s Banks Get Ready for Recession
The episode examines the resilience of the sub‑sovereign and supranational bond market amid Middle‑East tensions, highlighting strong issuance and investor demand for AAA‑rated public‑sector bonds despite rising yields. Hosts discuss recent deals across Europe and New Zealand, noting that issuers...
Why AI Can't Replace Strategy, with Jamie Sumner.
In this episode, host Josh Dittar and guest Jamie Sumner discuss how AI can automate data analysis for community financial institutions but cannot replace the strategic conversations that drive decision‑making. They share personal anecdotes about stepping out of comfort zones,...
Special Series: The Trust Advantage with Brock Robertson, Chief Revenue Officer at Payroc | Episode 480
In this episode of the Trust Advantage series, Payroc CRO Brock Robertson discusses the evolving payment strategies of software platforms, highlighting the shift from full payment ownership (pay‑fac models) back toward trusted referral and partnership models. He explains how the...
From Ultramarathons to Market Shifts: Scott Sambucci on Leading Innovation
In this episode, Scott Zambucci, Managing Director at NIA1, discusses how his background in ultramarathons and scaling tech firms informs his approach to accelerating innovation in regulated financial services. He explains NIA1's core offering—a secure, off‑estate digital sandbox that streamlines...
04.01.26 Adjustable Rate Mortgages - A Waning / High Deductible Health Plans
In this episode Clark Howard warns listeners about two financial pitfalls: the surge in Adjustable‑Rate Mortgages (ARMs) and the rise of high‑deductible health plans (HDHPs). He explains that ARMs can save about 1% in interest for borrowers who have substantial...
EMEA in Conversation | Eyes on Europe
In this inaugural episode of JPMorgan’s EMEA in Conversation, Stu Cofer and Alison Livesey discuss how Europe’s payments landscape is rapidly accelerating, driven by instant payments, evolving regulations like PSD3, and a push toward interoperability and programmable finance. They highlight...
Payment Processing Secrets: 13 Companies Merged Into One Platform
In this episode of FinTech Confidential, host Ted Huff talks with Niv Liren, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Unser, about the company’s ambitious effort to merge 13 acquired payment and commerce solutions into a single unified platform serving over...
Are Credit Union Commercial Loans Risky Business?
The episode examines the rapid growth of commercial lending by credit unions, highlighting how regulatory changes since the 1990s—especially the 2016 waiver process and the rise of low‑income designations—have allowed many credit unions to exceed historic lending caps. Dan Brown...
News From the Frontier: Africa Leads Emerging Market Bond Revival
The episode examines the surprising resurgence of emerging‑market bond issuance, led by African issuers such as Angola and telecom tower firm Helios, while Central‑Eastern European and Middle‑Eastern markets remain largely dormant due to war‑related volatility. George Collard explains why lower‑rated...
The Emotional Toll of Financial Fraud
In this episode of Payments Journal, host Rima Katz talks with Dal Sahota of LSEG Risk Intelligence and Suzanne Sando of Javelin about the rising emotional and behavioral toll of financial fraud worldwide. Their research shows that 71% of adults...
Banking's Next Growth Move
In this March 2026 episode of This Month in Banking, host Tara Ween interviews Matt Burke, CEO of Mutual Bank Corp., about the next growth strategies for community banks. Burke explains how the post‑COVID stimulus, rapid interest‑rate hikes, and shifting...
Leap Forward
In this episode of Leap Forward, host David Orsenko chats with a founder and a pivotal early supporter—someone who believed in the founder before anyone else—to uncover the behind‑the‑scenes moments that shaped a successful startup. They recount how chance encounters,...
10 Ways to Become a Customer Obsessed Bank
In this episode, host Jim and guest Marbu Brown explore why most banks claim to be customer‑centric but few are truly customer‑obsessed, citing research that obsessed customers are 88% more likely to repurchase and 42% likely to recommend a brand...
AI, Credit Scores and Consumer Trust, with JB Orecchia.
In this episode, host Josh Dattar chats with JB Orecchia, founder and CEO of Savvy Money, about how identifying inefficiencies in lending and insurance creates business opportunities, and how AI can reshape credit scoring and consumer trust. JB shares his...
Risk and Strategy in Sponsor Banking
In this episode, Hatch Bank President Amanda Swarverland discusses the evolution of sponsor banking, sharing her journey from risk officer at Sunrise Bank to fintech executive at Unit and back to banking leadership. She highlights the strategic choices banks must...
The Fate of Agentic Commerce Hinges on an Elusive Resource: Trust
In this episode, Rima Katz and experts from FinScan and Javelin Strategy discuss how trust in payments is shifting from post‑transaction reassurance to real‑time verification, especially as agentic AI begins to act on behalf of consumers. They explore the technical...
Cihan Duezguen, CEO & Co-Founder of Green Banana | Episode 475
In this episode, Cihan Duezguen, CEO and Co‑Founder of Green Banana, explains how a neutral, agnostic payment orchestration layer can solve the complexities of BNPL across borders by offering a single API that connects multiple providers while remaining invisible to...
Beyond Rivalry: How Banks and Alt Lenders Are Swapping Competition for Cooperation
In this episode, Stuart Watson talks with Deutsche Fanbrief Bank MDs Duncan Pearson and Charles Balch about the bank’s “originate and cooperate” strategy, which pairs its balance‑sheet senior lending with flexible capital from alternative lenders to meet complex real‑estate financing...
From Stablecoin to Fraud, Top Takeaways From the 2026 ABA Summit
Rob Nichols, CEO of the American Bankers Association, reflected on the ABA Washington Summit, highlighting the unprecedented unity of 1,400‑plus senior bankers advocating on stablecoin regulation, fraud prevention, and regulatory right‑sizing. He emphasized the industry’s bipartisan push to close a...
The Signal: Embedded Finance - From Fragmented To Unified with Jaris Executives, Chris Aristides and Matt Thomas | Episode 474
In this episode, Greg Myers talks with Jaris co‑founder Chris Aristides and VP Matt Thomas about how payment processors and ISOs can move from a fragmented vendor stack to a unified embedded‑finance ecosystem. They explain Jaris’s “foundation‑first” approach—building a bank‑backed,...
Tokenization: From Security Tool to Future-Ready Payments
In this episode, hosts Prima Katz, Kyle Cook (Principal Product Manager at Ixopay) and Don Apgar (Javelin Strategy) discuss how tokenization has evolved from a security fix to a strategic tool for payment performance, connectivity, and merchant autonomy. They explain...
The Signal: The Reality Behind Platform Fraud with Jess Kirkpatrick, Worldpay | Episode 473
In this episode of The Signal, Jess Kirkpatrick, Vice President of Risk and Fraud at Worldpay (now part of Global Payments), explains why fraud prevention can’t be a set‑and‑forget function for platforms. She highlights common misconceptions—such as relying solely on...
Beyond Customer Experience with Joe Pine
In this episode, Joe Pine discusses his newest concept, the Transformation Economy, arguing that banks must move beyond delivering experiences to ensuring customers achieve personal outcomes. He explains that true transformation means shifting focus from inputs (products and services) to...
Despite Fintech Encroachment, Banks Can Remain the Go-To for SMBs
In this episode, host Rima Katz talks with Eleanor Bontrager of Byserve and Don Apgar of Javelin Strategy about the fragmented fintech tools small businesses currently use for payments, receivables, and cash‑flow management. They explain how SMBs juggle multiple apps,...
Peter Conti-Brown on a New Fed-Treasury Accord
In this episode, host David interviews Peter Conti‑Brown about his recent essay outlining three possible reforms to the Fed‑Treasury relationship, focusing on discount‑window liquidity and its stigma. They discuss recent remarks by Fed Governor Michelle Bowman and Treasury Secretary Janet...
Why Real-Time Payments Still Leave Gaps for Consumers, with Keith Smith.
In this episode, host Josh Dattar talks with Keith Smith, founder and CEO of Payouts Network, about the evolving landscape of real‑time payments and the persistent gaps that affect consumers. Keith shares insights on how innovations have both solved and...