BIGcast

John and Glen tackle the key takeaways from recent market headlines: Open Ai's commercial relationship with Walmart, the temporary "de-pegging" of so-called stablecoin Ethena (USDe), and the warning flare it sets off for broader stablecoin adoption. Plus- Zelle goes global, and people still have a lot to say about Section 1033.       Links related to this episode:     The Open AI/Walmart partnership: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/14/walmart-openai-chatgpt-shopping.html    The Crypto Times' coverage of USDe's brief "depeg" incident: https://www.cryptotimes.io/2025/10/13/ethena-founder-clarifies-usde-stablecoin-depeg-incident-on-binance/    Zelle's move into stablecoin and cross-border payments: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zelle-goes-international-early-warning-expands-1t-payments-network-with-stablecoin-initiative-302593440.html   Payments Dive's article on the deluge of Section 1033 comments: https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/cfpb-open-banking-comments-stripe-jpmorgan-mastercard-aba-fta-eta/803570/    FedNow's Q3 transaction and volume data: https://www.frbservices.org/resources/financial-services/fednow/quarterly-volume-value-stats    RTP's Q3 transaction and volume data: https://www.theclearinghouse.org/payment-systems/rtp      Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday November 19 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen speaks with the Financial Health Network's Andrew Warren about takeaways from the newly minted Financial Health Pulse Trends report, including the persistent challenges in maintaining gains in financial stability. Also- the latest real-time payments data begs new questions, and Glen eats crow on Nvidia.       Links related to this episode:   The Financial Health Network's 2025 US Pulse Trends report: https://finhealthnetwork.org/research/financial-health-pulse-2025-u-s-trends-report/    The Financial Health Network's EMERGE 2026 conference, May 19-21 in Atlanta: https://finhealthnetwork.org/event/emerge-financial-health-2026/    FedNow's Q3 transaction and volume data: https://www.frbservices.org/resources/financial-services/fednow/quarterly-volume-value-stats    RTP's Q3 transaction and volume data: https://www.theclearinghouse.org/payment-systems/rtp    VentureTech in Frisco, Texas November 3-5; A FEW SCHOLARSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE FOR CUs UNDER $250M: : https://myventuretech.com/    The Underground Collision at Money 20/20 (Saturday Oct 25, separate admission): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-underground-collision-of-contrasts-with-money2020-tickets-1280066426139?aff=oddtdtcreator    USE PROMO CODE "50BIGFIN" FOR A 50% DISCOUNT     Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday November 19 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

The Smart Money in Vegas   Glen connects with Money 20/20 CEO Tracey Davies to discuss what to expect from this year's extravaganza following a year of remarkable disruption and advancement. Also- a not-so-genius stablecoin wake-up call, and why "digital gold" may be a more accurate descriptor for Bitcoin than intended.   Links related to this episode:   Money 20/20, October 26-29 in Las Vegas: https://us.money2020.com/    CB Insights on the Money 20/20 Award finalists: https://www.cbinsights.com/reports/CB-Insights_Money2020-Finalist-Spotlight-2025.pdf   The Underground Collision at Money 20/20 (Saturday Oct 25, separate admission): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-underground-collision-of-contrasts-with-money2020-tickets-1280066426139?aff=oddtdtcreator    USE PROMO CODE "50BIGFIN" FOR A 50% DISCOUNT   Glen's 2023 blog encapsulating Money 20/20's eras in t-shirts: https://www.big-fintech.com/the-history-of-money-20-20-in-three-t-shirts/    CNN on last Friday's crypto hiccup: https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/13/business/crypto-bitcoin-price-drop-trump-tariffs  Live Bitcoin News on USDe's murky status: https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/crypto-news-ethenas-usde-is-not-a-stablecoin-okx-founder-says/  Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday October 15 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. Quantum computing will be among the topics discussed this session, but expect some stablecoin talk as well. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/   Follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

https://www.big-fintech.com/the-great-wealth-transfer-great-inheritance-drain/John and Glen speak with Defense Credit Union Council CEO Tony Hernandez about his organization's rapidly increasing visibility and how the armed forces' impact on the credit union movement extends well beyond the expected nameplates. Also- the shutdown creates new complexities for earned wage access, Bitcoin breaks the $125K barrier, and plenty of bingo card calls.       Links related to this episode:   The Defense Credit Union Council (including government shutdown resources): https://www.dcuc.org/     The CU Daily's recent interview with DCUC CEO Tony Hernandez: https://thecudaily.com/the-defense-cu-council-goes-on-the-offense-echoes-a-page-from-cu-history/    Create your own 2025 BIGGo card: https://bingobaker.com/#67a12342928998c6    Our recent interview with earned wage access provider Veep Software (among other startups): https://www.big-fintech.com/the-great-wealth-transfer-great-inheritance-drain/    Our April blog about the Executive Order "eliminating" government paper checks: https://www.big-fintech.com/executive-order-to-eliminate-checks-isnt-worth-the-paper-its-printed-on/     BCG's 2025 Global Payments Report: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/global-payments-transformation-amid-instability    McKinsey's 2025 Global Payments Report: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/global-payments-report    Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday October 15 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. Quantum computing will be among the topics discussed this session, given HSBC's announced financial services breakthrough. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Sports metaphors run deep this week, as Nick Evens and Jenny Jackson preview this year's VentureTech, the annual fintech showcase (and pickleball showdown). Not to be outdone, Early Warning's Paze digital wallet dials up its marketing efforts with a key NBA partnership. Plus- The Curql Fund does a 360, and HSBC brings real-world application of quantum computing into focus.    Links related to this episode:   VentureTech: https://myventuretech.com/    The Atlanta Hawks/Paze partnership: https://www.nba.com/hawks/paze    Paze: https://www.paze.com/   Three-minute video on HSBC's quantum computing bond trading breakthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SWMoGqTHoo    HSBC/IBM press release on the algorithmic trading first: https://www.hsbc.com/news-and-views/news/media-releases/2025/hsbc-demonstrates-worlds-first-known-quantum-enabled-algorithmic-trading-with-ibm    BIG's Innovation Club: https://www.big-fintech.com/innovation-club/      Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday October 15 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. Quantum computing will likely be among the topics discussed this session, but other breaking industry news is sure to enter the chat. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Our second wave of FinovateFall coverage includes interviews with the founders of Gentreo and Wysh- two young firms aiming to preserve member deposits across life cycles- as well as Veep Software, which delivers early wage access alongside financial education through the FI channel. Also- Glen reveals his Best of Show ballot, and touches on the startling plot twists with Plaid, Chase and open banking (spoilers entirely warranted).        Links related to this episode:   Wysh: https://www.wysh.com/    Gentreo: https://www.gentreo.com/    Veep Software: https://veepsoftware.io/    Veep's post-interview announcement of its partnership with financial education content provider nudge: https://www.financialcontent.com/article/getnews-2025-9-17-veep-launches-ewa-20-and-announces-first-global-partnership-with-nudge    Videos of all 63 FinovateFall demos: https://finovate.com//videos/?filtertype=&showtypes=FinovateFall&videostartyear=2025&showletters=A-Z    FinovareFall's Best of Show Winners: https://finovate.com/finovatefall-2025-best-of-show-winners-announced/    Alex Johnson's Fintech Take on the Prisoner's Dilemma aspect of JPMC, Plaid, and open banking: https://fintechtakes.com/      Follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Key takeaways from last week's Finovate Fall conference, including interviews with the founders of Best of Show winners Casap and Vertice AI. Also- Glen's recap of the full Best of Show slate, and thoughts on what the 63 demo firehose tells us about today's state of fintech.    Links related to this episode:   Casap's case study with MidSouth Community FCU: https://www.casaphq.com/articles/how-midsouth-cut-fraud-loss-in-half-with-casap   Vertice AI: https://verticeanalytics.ai/ Finovate Fall's full demo roster: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/finovate-fintech-demo-days/    Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday September 17 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. This session we'll be doing a deep dive on AI's impact on financial fraud. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/     Follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

John and Glen share perspectives on credit unions' potential stablecoin play, a new reason to explore digital wallets, and the need for speed in the innovation arena- revisiting the "rapid response" model of our recent live Town Hall event. Also- more IPO mayhem and how weather patterns could impact loan portfolios.      Links related to this episode: Replay of the CU Town Hall recorded live at America's Credit Unions' Strategic Growth Conference: https://www.big-fintech.com/cu-town-hall-episode-138-live-at-acus-strategic-growth-conference/   CNBC's initial reporting on Klarna's pending IPO: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/02/klarna-ipo-in-us-to-raise-up-to-1point27-billion-in.html   UPDATE: Klarna is slated to debut on the NYSE Wednesday 9/10:  https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/economy/klarna-prices-ipo-above-range-at-40-the-stock-starts-trading-wednesday/ar-AA1MdubF  Another update since our recording: Gemini has raised its IPO target: https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2025-09-09/gemini-lifts-ipo-price-range-targets-3-billion-valuation-amid-crypto-boom Learn more about BIG's Innovation Club and request a guest pass for our in-person meeting September 23-25 (link at bottom of page):  https://www.big-fintech.com/innovation-club/  Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday September 17 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen connects with the founders of three early stage startups- Lulo, PromptWrx and Thryft Ship- who pitched for the $25,000 Innovation Challenge prize at Fintech South last week, each addressing a quite different pain point. Also- Visa gives up on US open banking, Wyoming (kind of) launches the first state-issued stablecoin, and our own audience vote for best startup.         Links related to this episode:   Click here to vote for your favorite of the three Innovation Challenge Finalists. Lulo: https://www.hellolulo.com/ PromptWrx: https://promptwrx.com/ Thryft Ship: https://thryftship.com/  Reuters on Visa's shuttering of its US open banking unit: https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/visa-closes-us-open-banking-unit-data-fight-heats-up-source-says-2025-08-22/  CoinTelegraph's reporting on Wyoming's stablecoin launch: https://cointelegraph.com/news/wyoming-frnt-stablecoin-visa-support-7-blockchains  Fintech Business Weekly's assessment of Wyoming's FRNT stablecoin: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/p/who-is-wyomings-stablecoin-for    Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday September 17 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen catches up with Lou Grilli for a first-hand recap of the recent World Credit Union Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, and to trade perspectives on a flurry of recent fintech news: open banking, stablecoin interest/"rewards," debit interchange and another Zelle lawsuit. Also- a new leader at America's Credit Unions, and have we entered the Era of the Do-Over?        Links related to this episode:   The World Council of Credit Unions: https://www.woccu.org/  Connect with Lou Grilli on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lougrilli/  CU Broadcast's interview with America's Credit Unions' incoming CEO Scott Simpson: https://www.cubroadcast.com/episodes/4022-scott-simpson-discusses-being-selected-as-americas-credit-unions-new-presidentceo  Payments Dive on the court ruling altering debit card regulations: https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/federal-judge-vacates-debit-fee-card-payments-regulations/757108/   PYMNTS.com on yet another twist in the CFPB Open Banking saga: https://www.pymnts.com/news/cfpb/2025/banks-challenge-open-banking-deadlines-cfpb-mulls-revisions/  Fintechs, crypto, AI players band together to press President Trump on open banking: www.ftassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Open-Banking-CEO-Letter-to-President-Trump_08.13.25-1.pdf  Cracks in stablecoin "regulatory clarity" created by the GENIUS Act are already emerging: https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-bankers-want-stablecoin-yield-loophole-closed  Banking groups' letter appealing for a revision of GENIUS Act provisions: www.aba.com/-/media/documents/letters-to-congress-and-regulators/jointstateltrgenius20250812.pdf    CNBC on the NY Attorney General's lawsuit against Zelle: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/13/new-york-letitia-james-zelle-lawsuit.html Our recent interview with Finovate's Greg Palmer: https://www.big-fintech.com/448-minutes-of-fintech-demos-475-fis/     ***Use Code BIG20 for a 20% registration discount on Finovate Fall, September 8-10 in NYC***: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/ Follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/