Fintech Takes x Nova Credit Presents Cash Flow Conversations Episode 5: Underwriting Was Just the Beginning

Jan 20, 2026

Doug Swift, a lending leader at Navy Federal Credit Union, and Chris Hansen, cash flow analytics lead at Nova Credit, dive deep into the evolution of cash flow underwriting. They discuss its transition into consumer lending, highlighting real-world applications like automated collections and personalized member support. Doug shares insights on improving financial counseling through cash flow tools, while Chris emphasizes the advantages of real-time data compared to traditional credit bureaus. A fascinating look at how cash flow analytics is reshaping lending!

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Cash Flow Underwriting Matures

Cash flow underwriting has moved from a niche secret to an infrastructure-backed, ubiquitous tool across lenders.
Open banking and matured vintages enabled lenders to expand cash flow use beyond origination into lifecycle use cases.

ANECDOTE

From Commercial Roots To Consumer Use

Doug traced cash flow use from merchant/commercial lending into consumer lending over the last 4–5 years.
He described it evolving from second-look underwriting to line assignment and delinquency management.

ADVICE

Enable Self-Service Settlement Offers

Use automated cash flow tools to enable self-service settlements and tailored repayment offers.
Present offers based on real cash flow signals to reduce back-and-forth negotiations and improve member experience.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Hello, and welcome back to Cash Flow Conversations, a miniseries sponsored by our friends at Nova Credit.

If you’ve followed my work, you’ll know that I’m obsessed with cash flow data (and underwriting more specifically) because it has enormous potential to positively reshape consumer lending in the U.S.

Cash Flow Conversations tracks that shift, from theory to practical use across the lending lifecycle.

In Episode 5, recorded live at Money20/20, I sit down with Doug Swift (Navy Federal Credit Union) and Chris Hansen (Nova Credit) to talk about how cash flow underwriting has evolved over the past 18–24 months.

Cash flow data has gone from lenders’ best-kept secret to an infrastructure-supported tool with real traction. The vintages have matured; the use cases have expanded (second look underwriting, line assignment, portfolio management, delinquency support, loan rewrites, extensions, settlements, and credit line changes, to name a few).

And Doug brings it to life with examples from Navy Federal’s collections workflows, which you won’t want to miss.

Hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I enjoyed facilitating it!

This episode is brought to you by Nova Credit.

Nova Credit is a credit infrastructure and analytics company that enables businesses to grow responsibly by harnessing consumer credit data. Learn more at novacredit.com.

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.