Fintech Business Podcast

This month, Alex and I had the chance to talk about:* CBW Bank’s fights a $20.5 million civil money penalty that could “imperil” the bank’s existence* Will the IPO window open in 2025? Chime confidentially files to go public.* The CPFB’s parting shots: the bureau files suit against Walmart & Branch (but not partner Evolve Bank & Trust)* And, as always, what Alex & Jason just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap. This month we had the chance to talk about:* Our time in Washington, DC, to attend the American Fintech Council Policy Summit, FinRegLab’s AI Symposium, and a variety of other meetings* What’s been happening on “BaaS Island,” with the Synapse bankruptcy moving into its next phase as depositors are left wondering when — or if — they’ll ever be made whole* The CFPB’s rule defining larger participant in the digital wallet space* …and, as always, what Alex and Jason just can’t let go of 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.

Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.This month we had the chance to talk about:* A return to BaaS Island: the FDIC’s proposed “Synapse Rule,” Five Star Bank quits BaaS, and the evolving (ha) economics of partner banks* The CFPB accepts comments on FDX as standard-setting organization for 1033 open banking* Department of Justice sues Visa, alleging it has used anticompetitive business practices to maintain an illegal monopoly on the US debit processing market* …and, as always, what Alex and Jason just can’t let go ofAre you attending Money2020? Alex and I will be joining Simon Taylor for an invite-only session on “How to Win At Embedded Finance,” sponsored by Sardine, Sonar, LoanPro, and Visa — more info here.If you enjoy listening to this podcast and find value in it, please consider supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn’t be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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

In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with Michael Nicklas, Managing Partner at Valor Capital Group, a Brazil-based cross-border venture fund. Valor’s fintech and crypto portfolio companies include cross-border payment and trade finance network Hamsa, crypto exchanges Bitso and Coinbase, and stablecoin infrastructure company Circle, among many others. Michael and I had the chance to talk about:* Unique aspects of Latin American that shape the market for financial services* The role the Brazilian central bank plays in fostering progress and innovation in financial services in the country (yes, that includes Pix)* What Valor means when it describes its investing strategy as being “cross border”* How Valor takes into account evolving geopolitical risks as it considers its investing approach* And more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.This month we had the chance to talk about:* The launch of Klarna’s bank account gift card* Affirm’s killer earnings* Are niche neobanks back?* Apple opening up NFC (sort of)* And, as always, what Alex and Jason just can’t let go ofAlso, if you’re attending Finovate next week, keep your eye out for us!I’ll be taking the stage with some of my favorite industry colleagues, Alex, Jason Henrichs, and Kiah, to discuss the perennial topic in US fintech, banking-as-a-service. I imagine the brokered deposits topic may make a cameo.I’ll also be attending Alloy Labs happy hour on the This Week In Fintech happy hour on Tuesday — hope to see you there!If you enjoy listening to this podcast and find value in it, please consider supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn’t be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

Alex Johnson, creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter, and I are happy to bring you the latest episode of our monthly podcast, Fintech Recap, where we unpack some of the biggest stories in fintech, banking, and crypto.This month we had the chance to talk about:* Mercury, which partners with Evolve Bank & Trust and Choice Bank, informed users based in or with ties to certain countries, including Ukraine and Nigeria, that it would close their accounts — what’s happening and how Mercury is handling it* Bank regulators’ request for information on bank-fintech partnerships offers clues about what the they may be worried about* CFPB drops interpretive guidance saying earned wage access may be considered “credit” for certain purposes under TILA* FDIC votes on rule to effectively reverse 2020’s brokered deposits rule* And, as always, what Alex and Jason just can’t let go ofIf you enjoy listening to this podcast and find value in it, please consider supporting me (and finhealth non-profits!) by signing up for a paid subscription. It wouldn’t be possible to do what I do without the support of listeners like you! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

Kelly A. Brown, Chairman and CEO of the deposit management startup Ampersand, dives into the intricacies of banking in light of recent challenges. She discusses the surge in interest around deposit insurance post-SVB collapse and clarifies common misconceptions about coverage. Kelly highlights optimal strategies for deposit aggregation and emphasizes the importance of proper account titling to ensure full FDIC protection. Her insights also address the complexities faced by municipalities and the vital role of fintech partnerships in navigating these challenges.