BIGcast

Best Innovation Group's John Best & 154 Advisors' Glen Sarvady
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Jul 29, 2025 • 38min

The Voice of Fintech Funding

Glen connects with TTV Capital Partner Sean Banks and Technology Association of Georgia CEO Larry Williams to unpack the state of fintech venture capital investment, Georgia’s role in the global ecosystem and the upcoming Fintech South conference. Also, Illuma Founder/CEO Milind Borkar responds to Sam Altman’s warning flare than voice authentication has been “defeated.”     Links related to this episode:   TTV Capital: https://ttvcapital.com/   Fintech South, August 19-20 in Atlanta; Use code BIGCast25 for a registration discount: https://www.fintechsouth.com/  Illuma’s response to Sam Altman’s statement that AI has “defeated” voice authentication: https://illuma.cx/article/ai-growing-threat-to-digital-channels/  Axios’ coverage of Altman’s comments at a Federal Reserve event: https://www.axios.com/2025/07/22/openai-chatgpt-sam-altman-ai-fraud Our 2025 Fintech Predictions BIGgo Card: https://bingobaker.com/#67a12342928998c6  Glen’s recent blog on Real Time/Same Day payment volumes midway through 2025: https://www.big-fintech.com/real-time-payments-rapid-ascent-continues-with-some-odd-footnotes/   A special time for our next CU Town Hall: Mark your calendars for our next Town Hall session- Monday, August 18 at 3:30pm ET/12:30pm PT- streaming live from America’s Credit Unions’ Strategic Growth Conference with a special fast-paced format. It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required. Visit https://www.cutownhall.com/ to request an invitation.    Join us on Bluesky!  @bigfintech.bsky.social;  @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen); @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/
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Jul 22, 2025 • 31min

Open Markets, Impatient Rates

As we await the next Fed Open Market Committee readout, Glen speaks with CD Valet’s Mary Grace Roske about deposit rate trends that aren’t as straightforward as one might expect. Also- stablecoins are officially GENIUS, CBDCs are still the Antichrist, and the big money keeps flowing into real time payments.   Links related to this episode:   CD Valet: https://www.cdvalet.com/  Glen’s blog assessing the midyear state of RTP, FedNow and Same Day ACH: https://www.big-fintech.com/real-time-payments-rapid-ascent-continues-with-some-odd-footnotes/ Ledger Insights’ take on the Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act: https://www.ledgerinsights.com/anti-cbdc-surveillance-act-shouldnt-prevent-wholesale-cbdc-tokenized-reserves/   Our data-rich January interview with Bancography: https://www.big-fintech.com/without-data-its-all-just-vibes/  Finovate, September 8-10 in NYC:  https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/    Check out https://www.bigmerger.ai/ for details on how BIG has turbocharged its 20 years of credit union M&A experience with an AI-assisted framework that delivers successful conversions with remarkable speed, full data privacy and zero member downtime. Read about how BIG enabled the UCCU/TransWest core system merger in just 5 months. Join us on Bluesky!  @bigfintech.bsky.social;  @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen); @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/
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Jul 15, 2025 • 36min

Newborns, Tips and Decoding the New Rules

Glen unpacks key provisions of the recent US tax/spending bill with help from his expert friends: the Defense Credit Union Council’s Jason Stverak on $1,000 newborn accounts, and credit union lifer Lou Grilli on the “no tax on tips” details. Also- has Big Tech determined that regulation isn’t so bad after all?    Links related to this episode:   The DCUC’s call for the US Treasury to include credit unions in the newborn account rollout:  https://www.dcuc.org/news/dcuc-to-treasury-include-credit-unions-in-trump-accounts-rollout-for-newborns  Bloomberg’s coverage of JPM Chase’s plan to charge for open banking data: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-11/jpmorgan-tells-fintechs-they-have-to-pay-up-for-customer-data?embedded-checkout=true  The Wall Street Journal on tech firms’ desire for federal AI regulation, and why it’s unlikely by 2026:  https://www.wsj.com/articles/after-setback-tech-firms-renew-push-for-federal-ai-regulation-cc2b26d5  Labor/Employment law firm Littler’s take on the “No Tax on Tips” provision: https://www.littler.com/news-analysis/asap/what-employers-need-know-about-no-tax-tips-and-no-tax-overtime   Today’s newborns are tomorrow’s youth bankers; for more on that topic, check out our recent CU Town Hall featuring Marcell King, CEO of Incent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GkfKtp26Xw  The Defense Credit Union Council: https://www.dcuc.org/  World Credit Union Conference: https://www.woccu.org/#trendingnow    Check out https://www.bigmerger.ai/ for details on how BIG has turbocharged its 20 years of credit union M&A experience with an AI-assisted framework that delivers successful conversions with remarkable speed, full data privacy and zero member downtime. Read about how BIG enabled the UCCU/TransWest core system merger in just 5 months. Join us on Bluesky!  @bigfintech.bsky.social;  @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen); @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/
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Jul 2, 2025 • 36min

Starting Simple, Small and with Purpose

Glen speaks with the CU De Novo Collective’s Denise Wymore about the grassroots groundswell of interest in starting new credit unions, overcoming the challenges of progressing from concept to market, and why a voice for CU creation is needed to counter a one-way trend. Also- Fiserv’s stablecoin play, The FTA’s attempt to preserve open banking, and how AI regulation became a budget issue.                Links related to this episode:   The CU De Novo Collective: https://www.cudenovocollective.org/    The University of North Carolina’s student-led credit union initiative: https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2025/06/university-student-credit-union  George Washington University’s initiative: https://gwucui.com/  America’s Credit Union Museum: https://www.acumuseum.org/ (check the Herstory exhibit) Finovate’s take on Fiserv launching a “bank-friendly stablecoin”: https://finovate.com/fiserv-launches-stablecoin-for-banks/  The Bank Policy Institute/Fintech Association Open Banking standoff: https://thecudaily.com/fintechs-tell-court-banks-want-to-thwart-open-banking-to-stop-competition/    Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday July 9 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. For this session we’ll be focusing on youth banking and how CUs can appeal to the next generation of members. The CU Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Join us on Bluesky!  @bigfintech.bsky.social;  @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen); @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/
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Jun 24, 2025 • 41min

Consumers Pay in Mysterious Ways (it’s alright, it’s alright)

Glen chats with the Atlanta Fed’s Claire Greene about the latest Diary and Survey of Consumer Payment Choice and the messy realities of dealing with real world data. Also- next steps in the stablecoin saga and…Fintech’s answer to GameStop?            Links related to this episode:   The Atlanta Fed’s Survey and Diary of Consumer Payment Choice: https://www.atlantafed.org/banking-and-payments/consumer-payments/survey-and-diary-of-consumer-payment-choice/2024-survey-and-diary The Fed’s 2024 SHED Survey: www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/2024-report-economic-well-being-us-households-202505.pdf  The FDIC’s 2023 Survey of Un/Underbanked Households: https://www.fdic.gov/household-survey/2023-fdic-national-survey-unbanked-and-underbanked-households-report Our recent episode on consumer data gathered by the Georgia Fintech Academy: https://www.big-fintech.com/are-younger-generations-branching-out/ Glen’s Genius Act/Stablecoin blog: https://www.big-fintech.com/a-stroke-of-genius-regulation-comes-full-circle/ Arnold Porter’s take on the Genius and Stable Acts: https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/perspectives/advisories/2025/06/incoming-stablecoin-legislation-stable-and-genius-acts JPMorgan Chase’s close stablecoin cousin, the tokenized deposit: https://www.bankingdive.com/news/jpmorgan-chase-to-launch-deposit-token/751083/ The Atlanta Fed’s newblog analyzing potential impacts of retiring the penny: www.atlantafed.org/blogs/macroblog/2025/06/23/penny-dilemma Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday July 9 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. For this session we’ll be focusing on youth banking and the need to appeal to the next generation. The CU Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Join us on Bluesky!  @bigfintech.bsky.social;  @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen); @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/
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Jun 18, 2025 • 47min

Circle’s Stroke of Genius/Can Anyone Regulate AI?

John and Glen ruminate on a pair of major events reshuffling the fintech world- The Circle IPO’s impact on venture funding, and the Big Beautiful Bill’s unorthodox approach to throttling AI regulation. Also- John gets “spun out on quantum,” and admits a surprising change of heart regarding his outlook for AI.           Links related to this episode:   Glen’s blog on the Circle and Chime IPOs: https://www.big-fintech.com/what-the-chime-and-circle-ipos-mean-for-fintech-investment/ The Senate alters the House budget provision curtailing states’ ability to regulate AI: https://rollcall.com/2025/06/05/ai-regulation-moratorium-dropped-in-senate-budget-package/  Axios’ story about AI’s newfound ability to blackmail: https://www.axios.com/2025/05/23/anthropic-ai-deception-risk  CNBC’s take on the Genius Act: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/13/what-the-genius-act-could-mean-for-crypto-and-other-investors.html  TechCrunch’s recap of Chime’s circuitous path to a successful IPO: https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/12/chime-almost-died-in-2016-turned-down-by-100-vcs-today-it-ipod-at-14-5b/  Pitchbook’s take on the inevitability of Chime’s “down round” IPO: https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/chimes-ipo-signals-down-rounds-are-here-to-stay     Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday July 9 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. Industry developments keep coming fast and furious- the CU Town Hall is the place to make sense of these items together. It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Join us on Bluesky!  @bigfintech.bsky.social;  @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen); @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/
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Jun 10, 2025 • 36min

Are Younger Generations Branching Out?

Glen speaks with Georgia State University Finance Professor Jonathan Godbey about new student-led consumer research that yields some unexpected findings about Gen Z banking attitudes. Plus- Circle’s IPO is roundly celebrated, Illinois kicks the interchange can down the road, and the AI Easter Egg hiding in the Big Beautiful Bill.          Links related to this episode: The Georgia Fintech Academy: https://georgiafintechacademy.org/ The Technology Association of Georgia’s Fintech Ecosystem Report: https://www.tagonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-Fintech-Ecosystem-Report.pdf Fintech South- in Atlanta August 19-20: https://www.fintechsouth.com/ Contact Georgia State Finance Professor Jonathan Godbey at jgodbey@gsu.edu Payments Dive’s coverage of Illinois’ Interchange Fee Prohibition Act extension: https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/illinois-legislature-delays-interchange-fee-ban-law/749526/ Circle’s IPO: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/circle-stock-surges-15-extends-gains-for-third-day-in-a-row-since-blockbuster-ipo-153657180.html The Senate alters the House budget provision curtailing states’ ability to regulate AI: https://rollcall.com/2025/06/05/ai-regulation-moratorium-dropped-in-senate-budget-package/   Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday June 11 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. Industry developments keep coming fast and furious- the CU Town Hall is the place to make sense of these items together. It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Join us on Bluesky!   @bigfintech.bsky.social @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen) @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/
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May 30, 2025 • 33min

The Business of Trust

Glen speaks with Edelman Smithfield’s Deidre Campbell to explore her firm’s new Financial Services Trust Barometer and the (mostly) positive signs for banks and credit unions. Also- the latest Gen AI fiasco has a familiar ring, Illinois’ unworkable interchange law moves bizarrely close to reality, and why the CFPB’s withdrawal of its open banking rule isn’t necessarily cause for celebration.     Links related to this episode:   The 2025 Edelman Financial Services Trust Barometer: https://www.edelmansmithfield.com/trust/2025/trust-barometer/report-financial-sector  Our February conversation with Deidre on global trust overall: https://www.big-fintech.com/scams-grievances-and-the-enduring-value-of-trust/  The Chicago Sun-Times’ mea culpa for printing invented book titles: https://chicago.suntimes.com/press-room/2025/05/20/chicago-sun-times-response-to-may-18-special-section  Our May 2023 “Package Delivery Blues” episode exposing some familiar AI shortcomings: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3njgklKC8n2fehQrjj9s6U si=Uhhi0sSVR1q2qBOLjj_Hmg&nd=1&dlsi=00114d6259894dfa  CU Broadcast’s recent coverage of the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act with the Illinois Credit Union League (NOTE- On May 31 the Illinois General Assembly postponed implementation of the IFPA for a year, until July 1, 2026):  https://www.cubroadcast.com/episodes/3983-how-illinois-interchange-fee-prohibition-act-could-affect-entire-financial-services-industry  Coverage of the CFPB’s decision to pull its Section 1033 (Open Banking) rule: https://www.consumerfinancemonitor.com/2025/05/28/cfpb-will-kill-section-1033-open-banking-rule/    Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday June 11 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. Industry developments keep coming fast and furious- the CU Town Hall is the place to make sense of these items together. It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Join us on Bluesky!  @bigfintech.bsky.social;  @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen); @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/
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May 20, 2025 • 33min

Have Your Bot Call My Bot

Recapping this month’s Finovate Spring event, Glen connects with Steven Ramirez (Beyond the Arc) and Elias Kruger (Long Range AI) to compare notes on the standouts and key takeaways- such as agentic AI- from San Diego. Also- Coinbase packs a year’s news into a single week, and Nevada looks to enter the payments fray.   Links related to this episode:   Finovate Spring demo videos: https://finovate.com//videos/?filtertype=&showtypes=FinovateSpring&videostartyear=2025&showletters=A-Z    Beyond the Arc: https://beyondthearc.com/blog/category/fintech    Long Range AI Consulting: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekruger1/    Our 2023 interview with Crissi Cole of Penny Finance: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7tFFHhmaXPlPO2TbjobAEw    Glen’s blog on Coinbase’s wild week: https://www.big-fintech.com/a-tale-of-two-coinbases/   Payments Dive’s coverage of Nevada’s proposed legislation to create “Payments Banks”: https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/nevada-bill-would-charter-new-payment-banks-retailers-swipe-fees/748041/        Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday May 21 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. This session will feature a crowdsourcing of takeaways from spring’s credit union/ fintech conference season. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Join us on Bluesky!   @bigfintech.bsky.social @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen) @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/ Thank you to our friends at William Mills Agency for providing this week's featured image. *Image source: William Mills Agency
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May 13, 2025 • 42min

Will Pay By Bank Run FIs Off the Rails?

Glen connects with Paylume’s Andrew Gomez to unpack the burgeoning pay by bank model, explore lessons learned from other countries’ rollouts, and consider the pros and cons facing banks and credit unions. Also- a possible open banking do-over, more stadium naming rights, and resisting the urge to spike the ball before the goal line.    Links related to this episode:   Andrew Gomez/Paylume: https://www.linkedin.com/in/r-andrew-gomez/    Nacha’s Remote Connect, June 6-9: https://payments.nacha.org/remote-connect    Part One of our Nacha Payments conference coverage: https://www.big-fintech.com/getting-direct-about-ach/    CU Daily’s coverage of a positive sign for CUs’ tax exemption: https://thecudaily.com/in-victory-for-credit-unions-cu-tax-exemption-not-targeted-in-committees-bill    The recent CU Town Hall on which we debated implications of the tax exemption: https://www.cutownhall.com/    Bloomberg Law’s coverage of potential Open Banking (Section 1033) reconsideration: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/banking-law/cfpb-plans-to-revisit-open-banking-rule-despite-workforce-cuts    BECU’s partnership with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, one of several recent naming rights deals: https://storm.wnba.com/news/storm-announce-becu-as-partner-for-performance-center   Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday May 21 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. This session will feature a round robin on the countless recent regulatory twists and turns. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Join us on Bluesky!  @bigfintech.bsky.social;  @154advisors.bsky.social (Glen); @jbfintech.bsky.social (John) And connect on LinkedIn for insights like the Friday Fintech Five: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

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