Fintech Business Podcast

Jason Mikula

A monthly(ish) podcast featuring fintech news recaps, with Alex Johnson of Fintech Takes, and interviews with leaders in fintech, banking & crypto.

fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com

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21 episodes
weekly
Avg 55 min
English

Episodes 21

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Wednesday · 1 hr 7 min
Fintech Recap: What Can We Learn From Coastal’s Earnings Miss?
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss: * How a fintech lending partner drove Coastal Community Bank’s Q2 earnings miss, and what we can learn from it * The reports that the FDIC is working with bank and fintech trade associations to create a “standard setting organization” * A quick update on the bank charter pipeline, including the OCC’s rejection of Wise’s and bunq’s applications * And, as always, what Alex and I can’t let go of A reminder, if you’re enjoying this show, please follow, rate & review on your preferred podcast platform, as it really helps others to find the show. And if you want to help support Fintech Business Weekly and independent journalism, upgrade to a paid subscription or reach more than 93,000+ listeners by sponsoring an episode. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
August 19 · 43 min
Interview: Agentic Finance, Partnering with Visa Direct & More with zerohash's Edward Woodford
Hey all, Jason here. In this episode, I had the chance to talk with Edward Woodford, founder and CEO at crypto, stablecoin, and tokenization infrastructure platform zerohash. Edward and I had the chance to discuss the company’s many recent announcements, including: * Partnering with Visa Direct to enable prefunding and stablecoin payouts * Working with card issuer Marqeta to enable stablecoin-powered spend cards * zerohash’s role powering tokenized Treasury trading * Edward and zerohash’s vision for the future of agentic payments * And more! And a reminder, if you’re enjoying this show, please follow, rate & review on your preferred podcast platform, as it really helps others to find the show. And if you want to help support Fintech Business Weekly and independent journalism, upgrade to a paid subscription or reach more than 93,000+ listeners by sponsoring an episode. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
August 12 · 50 min
Interview: Katie Perry, Author of Ticker Shock
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Katie Perry about her recently published book, Ticker Shock. Katie currently serves as chief marketing officer at crypto and tokenization infrastructure platform zerohash and previously led marketing and partnership for brokerage Public.com. Katie and I had a wide-ranging conversation, discussing: * How corporate communications and investor relations have changed with the rise in importance of retail investors * The role communities on sites like X and Reddit play for investors * The growth of “fandoms” of specific corporate executives and companies * The blurring lines between investing and gambling * How consumer and B2B marketing have evolved over time * Why it’s critical for fintechs to build trust and how they can do it * And much, much more And a reminder, if you’re enjoying this show, please follow, rate & review on your preferred podcast platform, as it really helps others to find the show. And if you want to help support Fintech Business Weekly and independent journalism, upgrade to a paid subscription or reach more than 93,000+ listeners by sponsoring an episode. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
August 5 · 1 hr 17 min
Fintech Recap: ALT5 Sigma, Increase & Fed Master Accounts
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss: * The convoluted tale of ALT5 Sigma, MSwipe, Stradacarte and “no KYC” cards * Middleware provider Increase announcing it is launching a bank * The weirdness of Fed master accounts, which are back in the headlines * And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of And a reminder, if you’re enjoying this show, please follow, rate & review on your preferred podcast platform, as it really helps others to find the show. And if you want to help support Fintech Business Weekly and independent journalism, upgrade to a paid subscription or reach more than 93,000+ listeners by sponsoring an episode. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
July 29 · 49 min
The Role of AI in Compliance in a Rapidly Changing Regulatory Environment
In this episode, I had the chance to speak with Wael ElSahhar, cofounder and CEO at MidLyr, and Kirsten Muetzel, founding principal & CPA at KLM Advisory. We discussed: * The role of AI in compliance in a rapidly changing regulatory environment * The differences in how fintechs, technology service providers, banks think about risk * Key lessons from what the industry has seen unfold in banking as a service over the last several years * How firms are actually using AI in compliance – and what risks AI itself may pose * And more! A reminder, if you’re enjoying this show, please follow, rate & review on your preferred podcast platform, as it really helps others to find the show. And if you want to help support Fintech Business Weekly and independent journalism, upgrade to a paid subscription or reach more than 93,000+ listeners by sponsoring an episode. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
July 15 · 35 min
Taking Cashflow Analytics Beyond the Underwriting Decision
In this episode, I had the chance to speak Brian Reshefsky, founder and CEO of EDGE, the cashflow bureau helping lenders use bank transaction data across the consumer credit lifecycle, and Zuben Matthews, cofounder and CEO of consumer financial management and credit building app Brigit. We had the chance to discuss: * How they think about cashflow-based scoring and underwriting, from both a B2B and a consumer perspective * Uses for cashflow data beyond lending decisions, like lead scoring, loan life cycle management, and cross sell * The intersection of traditional bureau data and cashflow analytics * What it means to be a CRA and why it matters * And much more A reminder, if you’re enjoying this show, please follow, rate & review on your preferred podcast platform, as it really helps others to find the show. And if you want to help support Fintech Business Weekly and independent journalism, upgrade to a paid subscription or reach more than 92,000+ listeners by sponsoring an episode. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
July 8 · 36 min
Interview: Maple Cofounder Joe Flanagan
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify Hey all, Jason here. In this episode, I had the chance to speak with Maple cofounder and executive chairman Joe Flanagan. We had the chance to discuss: * Building in the crypto space over seven years of ups & downs * Increasing institutional adoption of cryptocurrency and stablecoins * Maple’s new partnership with Robinhood * And more! A reminder, if you’re enjoying this show, please follow, rate & review on your preferred podcast platform, as it really helps others to find the show. And if you want to help support Fintech Business Weekly and independent journalism, upgrade to a paid subscription or reach more than 92,000+ listeners by sponsoring an episode. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
July 3 · 22 min
Interview: Cross River's Chief AI Officer Pravesh Rijal [Exclusive]
In this episode, I had the chance to speak with Cross River Bank’s chief AI officer, Pravesh Rijal, following the bank’s announcement earlier this week of its expanded partnership with Stripe to support agentic commerce. Pravesh and I had the chance to talk about: * Cross River’s announcement this Wednesday of its expanded partnership with Stripe to support card issuing for agentic commerce * What agentic commerce actually looks like for the different stakeholders in a transaction * How Cross River and Stripe’s new capabilities address some of the risks of delegating transactions to agents * How frontier developments like the ones Cross River is working on impact everyday consumers and businesses * And more! A reminder, if you’re enjoying this show, please follow, rate & review on your preferred podcast platform, as it really helps others to find the show. And if you want to help support Fintech Business Weekly and independent journalism, upgrade to a paid subscription or reach more than 92,000+ listeners by sponsoring an episode. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
July 1 · 1 hr 14 min
Fintech Recap: What Can We Learn From A Fintech Credit Card's Collapse?
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss: * What industry stakeholders — fintechs, banks, and debt capital providers — can learn from the abrupt collapse of SMB credit card startup Parker card * Prediction market grab bag: Polymarket allegedly ran fake ads, Meta plans to launch “Arena,” the CFTC proposes a rule * The debanking debate just won’t go away * And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of And a reminder, if you’re enjoying this show, please follow, rate & review on your preferred podcast platform, as it really helps others to find the show. And if you want to help support Fintech Business Weekly and independent journalism, upgrade to a paid subscription or reach more than 92,000+ listeners by sponsoring an episode. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
June 11 · 27 min
Exclusive: Neobank Current Raises $80M Series E
In this episode, I had the exclusive chance to chat with Current’s CEO Stuart Sopp and CTO Trevor Marshall on the company’s $80 million Series E, led by Springcoast Partners, announced earlier today. We also discussed: * Current’s expanded product suite and impressive 70% growth for the third year in a row * The role AI has played across the company’s business and how Stu and Trevor think about cost discipline and “return on tokens” * Current’s expanded financing facility with bank partner Cross River and General Catalyst * How Stu and Trevor think about the latest wave of foreign fintechs entering the U.S. * How the “K-shaped” economy and renewed inflation are impacting everyday American consumers * And on building a sustainable business that’s ready for the public markets Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
June 3 · 1 hr 11 min
Fintech Recap: Everyone Wants To Be A Bank
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss: * Why seemingly every bank, crypto, and stablecoin company wants to become a bank (and what it could mean for their valuations) * A return to BaaS Island: CFSB’s consent order, and how it compares to those of other fintech partner banks * President Trump’s fintech- and banking-related executive orders * And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
May 27 · 49 min
Interview: zerohash's Founder & CEO Edward Woodford
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Edward Woodford, the founder and CEO of crypto, stablecoin, and tokenization infrastructure platform zerohash. Edward and I had the chance to talk about: * Why zerohash is applying for a national trust bank charter * How the CLARITY Act (crypto market structure legislation) may impact the U.S. crypto industry * What Edward is hearing from non-financial industry execs about crypto, stablecoins, tokenization, and blockchain * Thinking about crypto as an “asset class” vs. crypto as “software” * The potential synergies between crypto/stablecoins and AI agents * What keeps Edward up at night and what he’s most excited about * And much more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
May 21 · 35 min
Interview: Knot CEO Rory O'Reilly
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with merchant connectivity platform Knot’s cofounder and CEO Rory O’Reilly. Rory and I had the chance to discuss: * Rory dropping out of Harvard to start his first company * How Knot became the industry’s go-to solution for card switching * Expanding from its initial card switching product to building the merchant connnectivity layer, and how Knot complements other core fintech infrastructure * Hitting a 100 million API call per month milestone * Knot’s international expansion to Canada and Latin America * And much more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
May 6 · 1 hr 12 min
Fintech Recap: Is AI the Unlock PFM Has Been Waiting For?
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss: * If there’s one idea fintech founders can’t quit, it’s solving personal financial management. There’s a new wave of AI-powered tools. But can they solve some of the fundamental challenges that have prevented a breakout company from emerging in the category? * Bolt, the one-click checkout turned financial “super app,” is in headlines, again, with further layoffs and as it struggles to pay its vendors. Why Americans don’t really want a “super app.” * Congress actually tries to legislate: the bipartisan PACE Act could offer a pathway for non-banks to have direct access to payment rails. But, even if it were to become law (a big if), as a layer on top of existing requirements and at a time when getting a bank charter seems easier than ever, is the PACE Act fit for purpose? Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
April 1 · 1 hr 32 min
Fintech Recap: Bilt's Rocky Transition
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss: * Rent rewards and neighborhood loyalty startup Bilt’s rocky transition from Wells Fargo to Column and Cardless * The “graduation problem” in banking-as-a-service * The New York legislature’s decision to * And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
March 25 · 55 min
Interview: Tyler Allen, Unit21's Chief Operating Officer
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Tyler Allen, the chief operating offier at Unit21. We had the chance to discuss: * How fintech, financial crimes compliance, and software engineering have evolved since Tyler joined Unit21 back in 2019 * The limitations of addressing compliance challenges by throwing bodies at them * How regulators are thinking about agentic AI * What an AI-first approach to compliance looks like * And much more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
March 11 · 53 min
Interview: Aliya’s CEO and Co-Founder, SP “Wije” Wijegoonaratna
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with S.P. “Wije” Wijegoonaratna, the cofounder and CEO of Aliya Financial Technologies. We had the chance to discuss: * The challenges different segments of consumer lenders are facing today * How AI-powered infrastructure is fundamentally reshaping how financial institutions think about making decisions * How Aliya is thinking about its go-to-market approach * How Aliya can help banks improve their returns * What folks who have never worked in lending through a true credit cycle/recession should know * And much more! Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
March 4 · 1 hr 22 min
Fintech Recap: Cash App Plans To Sell Proprietary Credit Scores To Others
In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss: * Block’s plan to sell access to its proprietary Cash App credit score * So-called “no KYC” crypto cards * Stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge’s apparent derisking * The brewing internecine fights over regulating prediction markets * And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
February 19 · 48 min
Interview: Modern Treasury's Matt Marcus & Matt Janiga
In this episode, I had the chance to chat with Modern Treasury cofounder and CEO Matt Marcus, as well as the company’s recently joined lead counsel, Matt Janiga. We had the chance to discuss: * Modern Treasury’s newly launched payment service provider offering * What kinds of companies can benefit from payment orchestration * Use cases driving the explosive growth of stablecoins * How Modern Treasury thinks about building in the rapidly evolving stablecoin space * And much more! Those wanting to learn more about the payments orchestration space, including stablecoins, can find the Modern Treasury Journal, which Matt Janiga mentions in the episode, here. Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe
February 4 · 1 hr 13 min
Fintech Recap: Shorting Tender, Crypto Market Structure & More
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify Hey all, Jason here. 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. In this episode, Alex and I had the chance to discuss: * The HBO drama “Industry” tackles banking and fintech and it gets dark (SPOILER WARNING) * Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong rug pulls crypto market structure legislation * Are proposals for a 10% credit card cap and the re-emergence of the Credit Card Competition Act mere bargaining chips? * Affirm applies for an ILC charter * Capital One to acquire expense management and corp card startup Brex * And, as always, what Alex and I just can’t let go of Get full access to Fintech Business Weekly at fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/subscribe

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