
American Banker Podcast
Thoughtful discussions about current topics, moderated by American Banker editors.
Latest episodes

Feb 1, 2022 • 23min
‘Small banks are disappearing’: FDIC’s Jelena McWilliams
In her last week in office, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. chair discusses why she worries about the dwindling number of community banks and minority-owned banks, why she has made serving low-income communities a priority during her tenure, and what she might do next.

Jan 18, 2022 • 28min
The year crypto will become a must-have for banks
Traditional banks could be forced to add cryptocurrency product offerings in 2022 to compete with fintechs that are taking advantage of blockchain innovations, according to Diogo Mónica, co-founder and president of Anchorage.

Jan 4, 2022 • 24min
Where bankers fall short on serving older customers
Banks and credit unions need to do more for (and assume less about) customers who are over 50, says Theo Lau, founder of the advisory firm Unconventional Ventures.

Dec 21, 2021 • 23min
Why some banks can’t quit overdraft fees
Regulators have joined the call for banks to change their approach to overdraft. But simply getting rid of the fees is impractical for many banks, according to Leo D'Acierno and Betty Cowell, senior advisors at the strategy and marketing consultancy Simon-Kucher & Partners.

Dec 7, 2021 • 23min
Where fintechs will flourish in 2022
Startups focused on embedded banking, small-business finance and health care insurance will prosper in the year ahead, predicts Alex Lazarow, partner at the San Francisco global venture capital fund Cathay Innovation.

Nov 23, 2021 • 29min
Countering SEC chair's claim that stablecoins are 'poker chips'
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire argues that Gary Gensler’s association of stablecoins with gambling doesn’t match how they're used, the way they're regulated or their potential benefit to the financial system.

Nov 9, 2021 • 29min
A futurist's predictions for banking, tech and the economy
Brett King, founder of Moven, host of the radio show “Breaking Banks” and co-author of the forthcoming book “The Rise of Technosocialism,” has strong opinions about how technology is changing finance and the world. His forecast includes more automation, fewer jobs and the emergence of central bank digital currencies.

Oct 26, 2021 • 16min
How banks can walk the walk on ESG
Environmental, social and governance issues have become more important to investors and customers. Kathryn Rock, a partner in financial services practice at the consulting firm Guidehouse, has advice on what banks can do to step up their efforts.

Oct 14, 2021 • 27min
Harit Talwar reflects on six years leading Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Talwar, who is leaving his job as chairman of Goldman's consumer bank this month, explains his philosophy on innovating within a large organization, making a digital-only unit work within a 150-year-old institution, and how he deals with skeptics.

Sep 28, 2021 • 23min
Where OceanFirst is spending its windfall from branch closings
CEO Christopher Maher explains how the New Jersey bank selected the 20 branches it plans to shut down by year-end and details the types of apps, video banking capabilities and "super branches" into which it will plow the cost savings.