Jason Mikula of Fintech Business Weekly on the development of banking-as-a-service
Mar 7, 2025
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In this engaging discussion, Jason Mikula, Publisher of Fintech Business Weekly and BaaS expert, delves into the rapidly evolving world of Banking-as-a-Service. He shares insights about the challenges fintechs face, the nuances between BaaS and embedded finance, and the significance of FBO accounts. Jason also explores the implications of the Synapse bankruptcy saga, the regulatory landscape's influence on partnerships, and the potential recovery of funds for affected consumers. His expertise offers a compelling perspective on the future of fintech.
The podcast highlights the critical challenges faced by middleware players in the Banking-as-a-Service ecosystem, particularly in compliance and operational management as they scale.
A distinct difference between Banking-as-a-Service as a foundational infrastructure and embedded finance as integrated financial products is emphasized for better understanding of their roles.
Deep dives
Challenges of Middleware Models
The podcast discusses the challenges associated with middleware players in the banking as a service (BAS) landscape. It highlights that many of these players face difficulties when managing program responsibilities due to the rapid growth of customer-facing fintechs, which are often early-stage and venture-backed. Such startups prioritize quick growth over properly scaling controls, leading to a range of issues, particularly regarding compliance and operational management. This consensus suggests that the sustainability of the middleware model is questionable and calls for reevaluation of responsibilities within these partnerships.
Understanding Banking as a Service vs. Embedded Finance
A key distinction is made between banking as a service (BAS) and embedded finance. BAS is framed as the infrastructure and systems allowing financial products to be offered, while embedded finance refers to the actual financial products themselves, such as loans or payment solutions integrated into non-financial platforms. Examples provided include 'buy now, pay later' options available at checkout or savings accounts offered through mobile wallet applications. This differentiation is crucial for comprehension of how financial products are effectively delivered and the technical frameworks that support them.
The Impact of Synapse and Its Bankruptcy
The discussion delves into the complexities surrounding Synapse and its ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. Factors including a grand jury investigation and the unprecedented nature of the bankruptcy case signify the significant financial drawbacks experienced. The challenges of data preservation during the bankruptcy raises concerns about the potential recovery of funds for affected consumers, who face substantial losses. The uncertainty surrounding the bankruptcy process also highlights systemic issues in the fintech and banking partnerships market.
Future of Banking and Fintech Partnerships
Looking forward, the podcast emphasizes the evolving dynamics between banks and fintech firms, predicting a need for a balanced relationship between supply and demand in this sector. Presently, there seems to be an influx of banks entering the BAS domain, attracted by high returns on equity but encountering regulatory challenges and operational pitfalls. As some banks exit this space, there is a necessity for a clearer understanding of which entities can successfully sustain fintech partnerships. This ongoing adjustment process indicates that a stable equilibrium between banking service offerings and fintech demand is yet to be achieved.
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.