

Banking with Interest
IntraFi
Banking with Interest, a podcast by IntraFi, features in-depth analysis and insight into the policy changes reshaping the banking industry. With insightful interviews and previews of pending policy challenges, the podcast is an essential listen for anyone connected to the financial services industry.
Banking with Interest is hosted by Rob Blackwell, an award-winning former journalist with more than two decades of experience as an expert on financial services policy. He is now Chief Content Officer and Head of External Affairs with IntraFi.
The show is produced by Sam Navarro, senior principal writer at IntraFi. The podcast theme song was written and produced by Stellar Tracks. The information, views, and opinions expressed during Banking With Interest belong solely to Rob Blackwell and his guests and do not represent those of IntraFi LLC, its directors, management, or employees. Any ideas and strategies contained within the podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal or investment advice.
Banking with Interest is hosted by Rob Blackwell, an award-winning former journalist with more than two decades of experience as an expert on financial services policy. He is now Chief Content Officer and Head of External Affairs with IntraFi.
The show is produced by Sam Navarro, senior principal writer at IntraFi. The podcast theme song was written and produced by Stellar Tracks. The information, views, and opinions expressed during Banking With Interest belong solely to Rob Blackwell and his guests and do not represent those of IntraFi LLC, its directors, management, or employees. Any ideas and strategies contained within the podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal or investment advice.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 26, 2024 • 45min
Behind Rep. Hill’s Plan to Make Community Banks Great Again
Rep. French Hill, a top contender to lead the House Financial Services Committee, details his plan to help banks, including revamping regulators’ approach to M&A, ending Operation Choke Point, and encouraging more de novos. He also discusses his views on Scott Bessent, President-elect Trump’s nominee for Treasury secretary, the mood among GOP lawmakers, how the government can confront fraud at banks, what he thinks Congress can do for banks over the next two years and his takeaways from the Biden-era regulators’ final Congressional appearance.

Nov 21, 2024 • 37min
CBA's Johnson on CFPB Under Trump, Open Banking and Junk Fees vs. Junk Facts
Lindsey Johnson, CEO and president of the Consumer Bankers Association, talks about how the CFPB may change under the second Trump administration. Will a Trump-appointed CFPB director roll back the recently finalized open data rule? What happens for banks and consumers if that rule is left to stand? She also tackles the future of the agency's overdraft proposal and small business lending rule.

Nov 13, 2024 • 44min
The Massive Implications for Banks from the GOP's Sweeping Victory
With Republicans set to control the White House, Senate, and House next year, Victoria Guida of Politico and Brendan Pedersen of Punchbowl News dive into the implications for financial services companies. That includes what it means for the Fed, including whether President-elect Trump might try to oust Chair Jerome Powell, and what kinds of leaders will take the reins of the Congressional banking committees.

Nov 5, 2024 • 37min
How Generative AI Agents Could Threaten Financial Stability
The rise of generative AI agents have promised consumers a better, safer future. But what happens if those agents act in ways that destabilize the system, causing bank runs or better enable bad actors to commit fraud or hack financial institutions? Todd Phillips, assistant professor at Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business, talks about his new paper looking into how AI could wreak havoc on the financial system.

Oct 30, 2024 • 43min
How CFPB’s Open Data Rule Will Impact Banks
Kate Berry, a reporter for American Banker, and Christopher Williston, the CEO of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, go in-depth to discuss the CFPB’s final Section 1033 rule, which implements open banking. They tackle which institutions are most at risk from the final rule, why trade groups are suing to block it, and how the CFPB is responding to bank fears it will spur more fraud.

Oct 23, 2024 • 45min
How Russia Targets Banks, Wall Street
Eamon Javers, a senior Washington correspondent for CNBC, talks about his new podcast, “The Crimes of Putin’s Trader,” and how Russia is using hackers to infiltrate banks and Wall Street. He goes behind the scenes on the case of Vladislav Klyushin, who was convicted by the U.S. of insider trading, how he was traded back this summer to Russia, and what it means for financial firms here.

Oct 16, 2024 • 42min
What the 2024 Election Means for Bankers
Cam Fine, former CEO and president of ICBA, and Ed Yingling, former CEO and president of ABA, discuss and debate the possible outcomes of the election—Presidential, House and Senate—and what they could mean for banking policy.

Oct 9, 2024 • 45min
Do Regulators Want to Kill Banking-as-a-Service?
Jason Mikula, publisher of Fintech Business Weekly, talks about the ongoing fallout from the failure of fintech Synapse, and banking regulators’ efforts to ensure it can’t happen again. Are regulators going too far? Is this the end of banking-as-a-service?

Oct 1, 2024 • 31min
Bill Huizenga on AI, Dangers of Activist Investors & CFPB Overreach
Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., the chair of the House Financial Services oversight subcommittee, talks about his agenda if selected as GOP leader of the full panel next year, including looking deeper at artificial intelligence, regulating crypto, and fixing housing. He also talks about his focus on reining in activist investors, what he wants to see the next CFPB director tackle and the limitations of Congressional oversight.

Sep 24, 2024 • 36min
The Potential “Perverse” Consequences for Banks of New M&A Policies
Karen Shaw Petrou, managing partner of Federal Financial Analytics, details how new guidelines by federal regulators to curb M&A could inadvertently increase the market power of the biggest banks and Big Tech.