Fintech Takes

Julie Hill, Vice Dean of Law at the University of Alabama, discusses the ins and outs of Federal Reserve Master Accounts with Kiah and Alex. They talk about the history and impact of these accounts on banks and fintech companies. They also touch on the role of the Fed in payments, sexual harassment at the FDIC, and the mystery of bank routing numbers.

The podcast delves into the final chapter of Synapse's bankruptcy, Uber's pay-by-bank implementation, and the absurdity of tipping requests in fintech. They discuss the future of earned wage access, the CFPB consent order with BloomTech, and highlight the need for tech to toughen up. TruStage Payment Guard Insurance is also mentioned as a beneficial solution for digital lenders.

Unpacking innovative fintech startups like Modak Makers with unique rewards system. Discussing balancing customer-friendly dispute management with fraud prevention. Exploring Silver's HSA/FSA rebates program and Elpha Secure's cybersecurity insurance app. Manifesting ideas on dynamic pricing app and revamping video game industry.

Author Jimmy Soni discusses the wild origin story of PayPal, revealing how a broken AC unit led to its creation. They explore Elon Musk's role, the intense competitiveness in the early fintech industry, and the survival of PayPal during the dot com crash.

Steven Kelly, Associate Director of Research at the Yale Program on Financial Stability, discusses the relationship between stock prices and bank health, debunking myths and emphasizing the misunderstood aspects of bank solvency. He also explores the potential of tokenization in financial transformation outside of crypto contexts, highlighting regulatory concerns. The conversation further delves into the role of the FHLB in the American financial system and the dynamics of financial institutions, including a heated debate about the merits of potatoes.

Another week, another consent order.  Welcome back to BaaS Island, where regulators keep throwing more bodies at the problem, hoping something will work.Fintech Business Weekly’s Jason Mikula chats with Alex about the latest consent orders for Piermont and Sutton, as the duo debate whether or not “direct” has lost all meaning. Is it possible to really go “direct” from a fintech company to a bank without middleware? Too much regulatory authority has pushed banks away from doing everything except for technology, so in what form do regulators really want BaaS to survive in this current climate? Then, the guys debate whether or not 15% of American households actually use Chime. According to Ron Shevlin’s latest article for Forbes, Chime is poised to IPO with 38 million customers, on par with the likes of Wells Fargo. Does the math… math? Because the math certainly seems to be generous math…Meanwhile, states want to protect their residents from out-of-state banks charging interest rates above state usury caps. Sure, it sounds like a good thing, but is it actually a good thing for consumers? And later, Alex and Simon talk about the misuse of the FDIC logo and the uptick in fintech Twitter trolls. Why can’t we all just get along? Or at the very least, why can’t we all just say nasty things on Twitter without the protection of an anonymous handle?  01: 45 – BaaS Island22:15 – Chime42:27 – Trade Groups vs. Colorado53:30 – Misusing the FDIC Logo and Debating with Twitter TrollsSign 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. Follow Jason:Newsletter: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmikula/ Follow Alex: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnsonTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson

Partners Gabby Cazeau and Emily Man discuss the future of fintech, including open banking and cash flow underwriting. They also tackle issues like combating fraud with better solutions, using AI tools in accounting, and the role of shadow banks in portfolio management. A deep dive into the evolving landscape of finance and regulatory challenges in the FinTech space.

Chipp.ai aims to be the next Shopify for AI, empowering freelancers with custom AI prompts. Whop offers a marketplace for entrepreneurial opportunities, from day trading to becoming an influencer. Revenew stands out by managing complex payment flows, while NayaOne introduces a unique 'Sandbox as a Service' approach. The podcast also discusses the positive momentum in the FinTech industry and the challenges and collaborations within the sector.

Reflecting on the 1st SVB collapsiversary, discussing banking deserts and online banks impact, questioning the future of BaaS innovation with tighter regulations, and tackling Durbin Amendment's effects on convenience stores in North Dakota.

On this week’s episode of Fintech Takes, Alex is joined by international man of mystery and publisher of Fintech Business Weekly, Jason Mikula, along with the Ghost of Fintech Future and cruise director of New York Fintech Week, Jon Zanoff. First up, the guys discuss the latest in the Capital One/Discover deal and debate the nature of mergers and acquisitions. Are M&As inherently bad for fintech? How do they impact innovation and why are consumers usually the victims of consolidation? They break down the ways that M&As affect the competition cycle and ponder what the Capital One/Discover deal means for the larger credit card industry.Then, the guys take a trip back over to BaaS Island where things have devolved into a “Lord of the Flies” situation. Alex, Jason, and Jon unpack Lineage’s latest consent order with the FDIC and discuss why regulators are so obsessed with fast deposit growth. Which leads them to ask the question—exactly what standards should we be measuring BaaS bank size by? Plus, think your founder is bad? Meet the founder of Zera who raised $2.2 million from investors only to use it on… horseshoes and tropical fish? And later, Alex tries to determine just how much inflation has affected the Tooth Fairy’s pricing structure and Jon reveals what he’s looking forward to most about New York Fintech Week 2024.And if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for New York Fintech Week 2024 and receive 15% off with Promo Code BAASISLAND. 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. Follow John: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonzanoff/Website: https://empirestartups.com Follow Jason:Newsletter: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmikula/ Follow Alex: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnsonTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson