Fintech Business Podcast

Arad Levertov, cofounder and CEO of Sunbit, shares his insights from a decade in the fintech realm. He explains how Sunbit stands out in the crowded buy now, pay later market with unique underwriting methods that approve 9 out of 10 applicants. Arad discusses the importance of distribution in lending and how Sunbit adapts to macroeconomic shifts. He also highlights their zero-percent financing options and innovative operations connecting 26,000 merchants to personalize finance solutions, aiming for inclusivity and a better customer experience.

Alex Johnson, writer of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and Jesse Silverman, counsel at Troutman Pepper with a rich background in consumer finance and banking law, delve into the complexities surrounding the recent Synapse bankruptcy. They discuss accountability and recent regulatory responses, pointing fingers at key players while also reflecting on lessons for banks, fintechs, and regulators. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for improved regulatory frameworks and transparency to navigate the evolving landscape of consumer banking and protect stakeholders.

Michele Alt, cofounder and managing director of Klaros Group, brings over 22 years of experience from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. She dives into the opportunities presented by the opening of the "charter window" for fintechs, explaining when it makes sense to acquire a bank versus starting a de novo. Michele also discusses her work on SmartBiz's acquisition of Centrust Bank and shares insights on the evolving regulatory landscape in Washington that could impact the financial sector. Her expertise sheds light on the future of fintech and banking.

In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Matthew Goldman, a true expert in the card space. Matthew has done stints at Green Dot, AT&T, Bankrate, and Apto Payments, as well as starting multiple of his own ventures. Matthew currently published the CardsFTW newsletter and is the founder and managing member of boutique fintech consultancy Totavi.We had a chance to discuss:* Matthew’s thoughts on where fintech debit & credit card businesses stand in 2025, including if interchange alone is a sustainability business model (hint: it’s not)* Whether or not there’s room for another big consumer fintech out there* The changing infrastructure space, including the difference between issuer processors and program managers* Crypto & stablecoins* and more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

Sherif Kozman, CEO of Naya, a startup revolutionizing ledgering and compliance in fintech, shares his insights on the challenges of financial reconciliation. He discusses the hurdles fintechs face with legacy systems and the critical need for accurate data synchronization in banking partnerships. Sherif emphasizes the consequences of poor ledgering and offers practical advice for those navigating manual processes. The conversation also touches on Naya's innovative use of AI to enhance transaction accuracy and streamline compliance, shaping the future of financial infrastructure.

In this episode, I had the chance to speak Current’s cofounder and CTO, Trevor Marshall, and Cross River Bank’s Head of Strategy and Development, Hillel Olivestone. We had the chance to talk about:* Why Current decided to build its own tech stack & what it’s enabled the company to do* How Current and Cross River think about the “buy vs. build” debate* The “jobs to be done” addressed by Current’s Build Card* Current’s latest Datos Insight case study* The beauty and resiliency of ACH flat files (yes, really)* And more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I had the chance to speak to Rafa Plantier, Head of Go-to-Market at Gigs, the world’s first operating system for mobile services, enabling companies, including neobanks, HR and travel platforms, and device manufacturers, to seamlessly embed phone and data plans into their products within weeks. Gigs provides an end-to-end connectivity platform with everything brands need to launch and operate their own multi-market mobile service.We had the chance to discuss:* The opportunity banks and fintechs see in the mobile connectivity space* What geographies and customer segments may be more open to bundling mobile service with their financial provider* How Rafa’s experience in banking and fintech has informed how he thinks about mobile phone service (and vice-versa)* And much more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with an OG of fintech who really needs no introduction, cofounder and CEO of Affirm and PayPal Mafia member Max Levchin. Max and I had the chance to discuss:* How Affirm designs its systems and processes to mitigate third-party risks, including service interruptions and, yes, data breaches* How Affirm thinks about selecting its bank partners and how it works with them to meet regulatory and compliance expectations* To what extent political and regulatory uncertainty impacts how Affirm approaches running its business* The CFPB’s interpretive rule that treats pay-in-four buy now pay later as a “credit card” for certain purposes under TILA Reg Z* Affirm’s recent earnings announcement* And Affirm’s recent launch in the United KingdomExisting subscriber? Please consider supporting this newsletter by upgrading to a paid subscription. New here? Subscribe to get Fintech Business Weekly each Sunday: Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

Sankaet Pathak, co-founder and former CEO of the fintech company Synapse, sheds light on the bankruptcy situation and its impact on depositors. He discusses the cease and desist from Evolve regarding his sharing of financial reports. Pathak provides insights into the discrepancies between Evolve's records and Synapse's reconciliations. He highlights efforts to recover lost funds and emphasizes the need for collective action among affected users. This conversation dives deep into accountability challenges and the complexities of financial management during crises.

In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with James Doherty, the Head of Business Development for Financial Services at Sinch, the customer communication cloud platform that includes mobile messaging, voice, email and other emerging channel capabilities. We had the chance to discuss:* Financial services’ key “jobs to be done” via communications channels, including acquisition, engagement, retention, and fraud prevention* The importance of flexibility in communications strategy, including being able to meet customers where they are, whether that’s SMS, email, or emerging communications channels* Challenges in managing communications strategy, including privacy regulation* The role of conversational AI in customer communications strategy* And more!Existing subscriber? Please consider supporting this newsletter by upgrading to a paid subscription. New here? Subscribe to get Fintech Business Weekly each Sunday: Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe