This week on Bank Nerd Corner, Kiah and Alex welcome a special guest (arguably the MOST special?), former Acting Comptroller of the Currency, Michael Hsu. Together, they explore the fascinating crossroads where financial tradition, innovation, and regulation collide.

From the challenges of de novo bank formation post-Great Recession to the rise of Banking as a Service (BaaS), we unpack the risks and rewards of each path. And we’re turning it into a fun, “Would You Rather” game, tackling burning questions like:

Would you rather see a banking system with higher risk tolerance for new bank formations OR fintechs operating through BaaS?

Would you prefer robust fintech industry standards OR direct regulatory oversight of fintechs?

Can fintech thrive without bank charters?

Plus, we tackle the core issue of fintech regulation: should we lean on industry standards, or is direct regulatory oversight the only way to protect consumers and avoid future crises?

Tune in for a thought-provoking “Would you Rather?” roulette and a super fun dive into the future of financial services—straight from one of the industry's key players. Roll the dice, hit the gas, and let’s see where the game takes us!

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Read more about Michael here:

https://www.occ.gov/about/who-we-are/history/previous-comptrollers/previous-acting-comptrollers/bio-michael-hsu.html

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Jesus, the Only True Judge