BNC Squared: Skinny Master Accounts, FDIC Loses to Shareholders, & Travel Debit Cards

Nov 13, 2025

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Kiah and Alex catch up ahead of the inaugural Fintech Takes: Builders Summit to discuss how to dress for an event that cold as well as potentially plan to play a nerdy board game that could be about banking while they’re there.

They then break down the news. First up is the public (and Alex’s) confusion around the proposed skinny master account from Fed Gov. Christopher Waller, which could either be a potential national money transmitter license or is a narrow fix for a handful of unusual institutions. Kiah then recaps the sad and strange tale of the 2023 failure of Heartland Tri-State Bank, including the recent twist about who is considered a victim that needs restitution.

Finally, Kiah discusses two of her favorite things: banking and travel cards. But this time, it’s not a credit card.

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