Attack of the Zombie SMBs!
Release Date: 08/05/2026
Attack of the Zombie SMBs!
The BIGCast: Sharing the credit union industry's current breakthroughs in innovation and discussing the latest hot topics
Glen speaks with Rapid Finance’s Patrick Lord about Zombie Business Fraud and other threat vectors given a bump by AI. Also, Stripe ponders a big play in AI routing, and SMBs send mixed messages to their multiple (banking) partners. Links related to this episode: Rapid Finance (for FIs and other SMB lenders): Rapid Finance (for SMBs): Patrick Lord’s LinkedIn (he loves to talk fraud!): Velera’s SMB report: Stripe’s reported $10 billion level of interest in OpenRouter: Which begs the question, “What about PayPal?”: ...
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A Master Class in Data and Trust
The BIGCast: Sharing the credit union industry's current breakthroughs in innovation and discussing the latest hot topics
Glen speaks with author and Finavator CEO Michelle Beyo about her forthcoming book, her takes on the power of data and “trust as the new currency,” and her open banking sessions at August’s Fintech South Conference. Also, US instant payment volumes spike (relatively speaking) and Samsung/Barclays aim to take a bite of the Apple. Links related to this episode: Fintech South, Tuesday August 18 at Truist Park in Atlanta: USE CODE BEYO15 for a 15% REGISTRATION DISCOUNT Michelle’s forthcoming book: Michelle’s podcast: “Step into the Future of Finance”: ...
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Can Credit Unions’ Collaborative Superpowers Extend to AI?
The BIGCast: Sharing the credit union industry's current breakthroughs in innovation and discussing the latest hot topics
Glen checks in with CUltivate co-founder Anthony Volpe for an update on his CUSO’s progress in bringing practical AI to the back offices of a broad base of credit unions. Plus, ruminations on lesser covered aspects of the Stripe/PayPal intrigue. Links related to this episode: CUltivate AI: Our interview with CUltivate’s three founders immediately after its March launch at GAC: Glen’s blog on PayPal’s acquisition intrigue: Glen’s blog on the latest Federal Reserve Payments data: Coming soon to a Wednesday near you: the CU Town Hall! ...
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The Unstable Stablecoin Landscape
The BIGCast: Sharing the credit union industry's current breakthroughs in innovation and discussing the latest hot topics
John and Glen discuss the latest maneuvers in the stablecoin world- particularly the newly announced Open USD initiative spearheaded by Bridge, bringing its parent company Stripe into the game. Is it a game changer or a press release destined for Libra-land? Also, new Fed data finds credit cards in overdrive. Links related to this episode: Open Standard’s Open USD announcement: Glen’s blog on the newly released Fed payments data: Andreesen Horowitz’s take on stablecoins’ outlook (from before the Open USD announcement: Follow us on LinkedIn: ...
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Is Trust Now the Most Precious Metal?
The BIGCast: Sharing the credit union industry's current breakthroughs in innovation and discussing the latest hot topics
Glen meets with Edelman Smithfield Managing Director Deidre Campbell to break down the annual Edelman Trust Barometer, the public’s “retreat into insularity,” and the resulting action items for banks and credit unions. Also- Illinois turns its focus to BNPL while JD Power highlights an FI opportunity, X Money broadens its reach, and the murky NCUA waters begin to clear. Links related to this episode: Edelman Smithfield’s Financial Services Trust Barometer: Edelman’s 2026 Global Trust Barometer: Illinois’ newly signed BNPL law: JD Power’s Buy Now Pay Later...
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Fighting Amsterdam Fintech FOMO
The BIGCast: Sharing the credit union industry's current breakthroughs in innovation and discussing the latest hot topics
Laura Gibson-Lamothe, the Georgia Fintech Academy’s Executive Director, provides firsthand coverage of the key takeaways from Money 20/20 Europe. Laura and Glen also discuss broader trends in talent development/demand and regional differences in banking (and smoking! ) regulation. Plus- process reflections spurred by the passing of longtime Fed Chair Alan Greenspan, and the Bank of England sets a new stablecoin standard. Links related to this episode: The Georgia Fintech Academy: Laura’s recent post pondering A Tale of Two Georgias: One of Laura’s Money 20/20 interviews onsite in...
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Financial Health, No Matter the Mission
The BIGCast: Sharing the credit union industry's current breakthroughs in innovation and discussing the latest hot topics
Our second batch of interviews stemming from the Financial Health Network’s EMERGE conference, both with founders of compelling fintech startups: ROX CEO Lara Hodgson (breaking down barriers to SMB credit/liquidity) and Poncho CEO John Brown (financial wellness for military families). Also- the sudden twist in Fiserv’s turnaround story. Links related to this episode: ROX: Poncho: Poncho CEO John Brown on LinkedIn: The Financial Health Network: Glen’s blog on a VERY eventful month in interchange: A replay of Glen’s favorite EMERGE session, featuring Alex Johnson...
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Authentic Intelligence in Financial Health
The BIGCast: Sharing the credit union industry's current breakthroughs in innovation and discussing the latest hot topics
Glen shares highlights from the Financial Health Network’s EMERGE conference, including interviews with a pair of trailblazing co-founders: Debbie Rewards’ Frida Leibowitz and Prosprous.ai’s Ted Leung. Also- Illinois kicks the interchange can down the road (again), Pope Leo pleads for humanity in AI, and a campaign to repurpose dopamine hits for financial wellness. Links related to this episode: Debbie: Prosprous.AI: The Financial Health Network: Our interview with the Financial Health Network’s Andrew Warren on a reconsideration of the definitions of un- and...
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Are We Approaching an AI Trough of Disillusionment?
The BIGCast: Sharing the credit union industry's current breakthroughs in innovation and discussing the latest hot topics
Glen and John dissect a recent online airing of grievances regarding AI’s perceived shortcomings. To Glen’s surprise, John finds validity to some of these criticisms. Also- the Pope weighs in, robots close the human gap, the term “neuro-symbolic AI” emerges, and the green shoots of a “slow tech” movement may be emerging. Links related to this episode: The Reddit thread- from the AGI community- that prompted this discussion: YouTube video on translating Claude’s AI thoughts into language: JB dissects ChatGPT’s new personal finance features on our recent CU Town...
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What Keeps CEOs Up at Night May Depend on Their Charter…
The BIGCast: Sharing the credit union industry's current breakthroughs in innovation and discussing the latest hot topics
Glen chats with Lee Wetherington about Jack Henry’s newly minted survey of nearly 200 credit union and bank CEOs, exploring how strategic priorities and top concerns differ by group and how they’ve shifted over time. Also, a treasure trove of new industry data- on consumer payment choice, household economics, crypto/stablecoin usage, and a breezy 269-page NCUA stroke of GENIUS for your holiday reading pleasure. Links related to this episode: Jack Henry’s 2026 Strategy Benchmark Study: FRB Services’ Diary of Consumer Payment Choice: The Kansas City Fed’s paper...
info_outlineGlen speaks with Rapid Finance’s Patrick Lord about Zombie Business Fraud and other threat vectors given a bump by AI. Also, Stripe ponders a big play in AI routing, and SMBs send mixed messages to their multiple (banking) partners.
Links related to this episode:
Rapid Finance (for FIs and other SMB lenders): https://enterprise.rapidfinance.com/
Rapid Finance (for SMBs): https://www.rapidfinance.com/
Patrick Lord’s LinkedIn (he loves to talk fraud!): https://www.linkedin.com/in/lordpcarl/
Velera’s SMB report: https://www.velera.com/insights/market-research/cu-growth-outlook-2026
Stripe’s reported $10 billion level of interest in OpenRouter: https://www.wellesleyhillsfinancial.com/2026/08/02/stripes-10-billion-bet-on-the-ai-economy-why-openrouter-matters/
Which begs the question, “What about PayPal?”: https://www.big-fintech.com/looking-for-the-x-factor-in-stripes-paypal-bid/
Fintech South, Tuesday August 18 at Truist Park in Atlanta: https://www.fintechsouth.com/ USE CODE BEYO15 for a 15% REGISTRATION DISCOUNT
Mark your calendar to join us Wednesday August 19 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for our next CU Town Hall. It’s free to attend but advance registration is required. Come prepared for a lively discussion! https://www.cutownhall.com/
Check out the Innovation Club- a curated group of credit union tech, data and strategy leaders that meets virtually each month- and twice a year in person- to extend their Learn more to see if this is for you and if so, request a guest pass: https://www.big-fintech.com/innovation-club/
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