The BIGCast: Sharing the credit union industry's current breakthroughs in innovation and discussing the latest hot topics
The fintech industry is evolving rapidly, and the BIGcast is here to delve into its impact on the credit union industry. Our esteemed guests from across the financial, technology and security sectors will provide thrilling perspectives on the latest fintech innovations that are poised to revolutionize the way we handle our finances. Each week join thought-leader, John Best and subject matter expert, Glen Sarvady as they take a quick dive into the financial industry's current breakthroughs and latest hot topics.
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Venturing into the Credit Union Vanguard
11/18/2025
Venturing into the Credit Union Vanguard
Part 2 of our VentureTech coverage features Glen’s interviews with founders of all three finalists from the main stage event: Matt Dicou of Reset, Cary Fortin of Goodbuy and Jordan Mackler of ScribeUp. Also- Chase pushes forward with its “pay for data” model. Links related to this episode: Reset: Goodbuy: ScribeUp: Last week’s episode featuring Aries Fraud Solutions, KeySavvy and Remynt: VentureTech: CNBC’s take on JPMorgan Chase’s traction in charging for open banking data: William Mills’ annual Financial Trade Show/Conference Directory: 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: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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Launching from Obscurity, Venturing into the Mainstream
11/12/2025
Launching from Obscurity, Venturing into the Mainstream
In our first wave of VentureTech coverage Glen speaks with a trio of co-founders, from Launch Party winners Aries Fraud Solutions (unveiling its Obscurity Card) and main stage standouts KeySavvy and Remynt. Also- skepticism meets déjà vu on the proposed Visa/Mastercard settlement. Links related to this episode: Aries Fraud Solutions: KeySavvy: Remynt: VentureTech: Reuters’ take on the proposed Visa/Mastercard merchant settlement: 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: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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Agents, Stablecoins, and a Touch of Friction
11/04/2025
Agents, Stablecoins, and a Touch of Friction
Glen boils down the prevailing themes from this year’s Money 20/20 conference, upping the ante via interviews with a pair of compelling startups (Eloquent AI and RentFlow) and Paze’s update on securing identity through the digital wallet. Also- Fiserv shakes investors to the core, and open banking continues to ruffle feathers. Links related to this episode: Eloquent AI: RentFlow: Paze: A credit union-specific take on Fiserv’s stock meltdown: Western Union’s stablecoin play: PayPal and Google Cloud’s agentic AI gambit: 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: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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Muddying the Stablecoin Waters- Not a Genius Move
10/28/2025
Muddying the Stablecoin Waters- Not a Genius Move
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: The Crypto Times’ coverage of USDe’s brief “depeg” incident: Zelle’s move into stablecoin and cross-border payments: Payments Dive’s article on the deluge of Section 1033 comments: FedNow’s Q3 transaction and volume data: RTP’s Q3 transaction and volume data: 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: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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The Complicated Road to Financial Health
10/22/2025
The Complicated Road to Financial Health
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: The Financial Health Network’s EMERGE 2026 conference, May 19-21 in Atlanta: FedNow’s Q3 transaction and volume data: RTP’s Q3 transaction and volume data: VentureTech in Frisco, Texas November 3-5; A FEW SCHOLARSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE FOR CUs UNDER $250M: : The Underground Collision at Money 20/20 (Saturday Oct 25, separate admission): 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: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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The Smart Money in Vegas
10/15/2025
The Smart Money in Vegas
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: CB Insights on the Money 20/20 Award finalists: The Underground Collision at Money 20/20 (Saturday Oct 25, separate admission): USE PROMO CODE “50BIGFIN” FOR A 50% DISCOUNT Glen’s 2023 blog encapsulating Money 20/20’s eras in t-shirts: CNN on last Friday’s crypto hiccup: Live Bitcoin News on USDe’s murky status: 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: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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An Alternative Voice, an Assertive Approach
10/08/2025
An Alternative Voice, an Assertive Approach
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): The CU Daily’s recent interview with DCUC CEO Tony Hernandez: Create your own 2025 BIGGo card: Our recent interview with earned wage access provider Veep Software (among other startups): Our April blog about the Executive Order “eliminating” government paper checks: BCG’s 2025 Global Payments Report: McKinsey’s 2025 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: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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Fintech Pregaming Reaches New Heights
10/02/2025
Fintech Pregaming Reaches New Heights
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: The Atlanta Hawks/Paze partnership: Paze: Three-minute video on HSBC’s quantum computing bond trading breakthrough: HSBC/IBM press release on the algorithmic trading first: BIG’s 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: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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The Great Wealth Transfer/Great Inheritance Drain
09/25/2025
The Great Wealth Transfer/Great Inheritance Drain
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: Gentreo: Veep Software: Veep’s post-interview announcement of its partnership with financial education content provider nudge: Videos of all 63 FinovateFall demos: FinovareFall’s Best of Show Winners: Alex Johnson’s Fintech Take on the Prisoner’s Dilemma aspect of JPMC, Plaid, and open banking: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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Getting Real About Artificial Intelligence at Finovate
09/16/2025
Getting Real About Artificial Intelligence at Finovate
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: Vertice AI: Finovate Fall’s full demo roster: 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: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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Pardon the Innovation
09/10/2025
Pardon the Innovation
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: CNBC’s initial reporting on Klarna’s pending IPO: UPDATE: Klarna is slated to debut on the NYSE Wednesday 9/10: Another update since our recording: 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): 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: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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Answering the Innovation Challenge
08/27/2025
Answering the Innovation Challenge
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: to vote for your favorite of the three Innovation Challenge Finalists. Lulo: PromptWrx: Thryft Ship: Reuters on Visa’s shuttering of its US open banking unit: CoinTelegraph’s reporting on Wyoming’s stablecoin launch: Fintech Business Weekly’s assessment of Wyoming’s FRNT stablecoin: 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: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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It’s a Small (and Chaotic) World After All
08/20/2025
It’s a Small (and Chaotic) World After All
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: Connect with Lou Grilli on LinkedIn: CU Broadcast’s interview with America’s Credit Unions’ incoming CEO Scott Simpson: Payments Dive on the court ruling altering debit card regulations: PYMNTS.com on yet another twist in the CFPB Open Banking saga: Fintechs, crypto, AI players band together to press President Trump on open banking: Cracks in stablecoin “regulatory clarity” created by the GENIUS Act are already emerging: Banking groups’ letter appealing for a revision of GENIUS Act provisions: CNBC on the NY Attorney General’s lawsuit against Zelle: Our recent interview with Finovate’s Greg Palmer: ***Use Code BIG20 for a 20% registration discount on Finovate Fall, September 8-10 in NYC***: Follow us on LinkedIn:
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448 Minutes of Fintech Demos for 475 FIs (and Others)
08/12/2025
448 Minutes of Fintech Demos for 475 FIs (and Others)
Glen gets the lowdown from Finovate’s Greg Palmer on what to expect at September’s New York City demo-fest, including a dedicated credit union track. Also- unanswered questions in the President’s de-banking Executive Order, and a showdown regarding BNPL’s role in credit reporting. Links related to this episode: Finovate Fall, September 8-10 in NYC: ***Use Code BIG20 for a 20% registration discount*** Fox Business’ take on the sudden twist in BNPL credit reporting: The President’s Executive Order (EO) on “de-banking”: The Cato Institute’s critique of the debanking EO: The National Law Review adds its two cents: 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. It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required. Visit to request an invitation. Follow us on LinkedIn:
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Loaded Wallets, Long Tails- Paze Powers Forward
08/05/2025
Loaded Wallets, Long Tails- Paze Powers Forward
Glen connects with Early Warning’s Chief Partnerships Officer Eric Hoffman about the latest progress of Paze’s digital wallet, and Payfinia GM Keith Riddle on his firm’s deal to bring Paze to credit unions. Also- yet another twist in the open banking road, and hints of momentum for de novo institutions. Links related to this episode: Paze: Payfinia: Our interview with Paze’s Head of Operations Catherine Murchie at Money 20/20 last October: Planet Money’s episode on Fortuna Bank’s de novo journey: Our recent conversation with the CU De Novo Collective’s Denise Wymore: Payments Dive on the CFPB’s plan to “substantially rework” its Open Banking rule: Fintech Business Weekly on Chase’s plan to charge for open banking data: Fintech South August 19-20 in Atlanta: USE CODE BIGCAST25 FOR A REGISTRATION DISCOUNT 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. It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required. Visit to request an invitation. Follow us on LinkedIn:
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The Voice of Fintech Funding
07/29/2025
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: Illuma’s response to Sam Altman’s statement that AI has “defeated” voice authentication: Axios’ coverage of Altman’s comments at a Federal Reserve event: Our 2025 Fintech Predictions BIGgo Card: Glen’s recent blog on Real Time/Same Day payment volumes midway through 2025: 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 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:
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Open Markets, Impatient Rates
07/22/2025
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: Glen’s blog assessing the midyear state of RTP, FedNow and Same Day ACH: Ledger Insights’ take on the Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act: Our data-rich January interview with Bancography: Finovate, September 8-10 in NYC: Check out 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:
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Newborns, Tips and Decoding the New Rules
07/15/2025
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: Bloomberg’s coverage of JPM Chase’s plan to charge for open banking data: The Wall Street Journal on tech firms’ desire for federal AI regulation, and why it’s unlikely by 2026: Labor/Employment law firm Littler’s take on the “No Tax on Tips” provision: 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: The Defense Credit Union Council: World Credit Union Conference: Check out 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:
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Starting Simple, Small and with Purpose
07/02/2025
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: The University of North Carolina’s student-led credit union initiative: George Washington University’s initiative: America’s Credit Union Museum: (check the Herstory exhibit) Finovate’s take on Fiserv launching a “bank-friendly stablecoin”: The Bank Policy Institute/Fintech Association Open Banking standoff: 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: 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:
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Consumers Pay in Mysterious Ways (it’s alright, it’s alright)
06/24/2025
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: The Fed’s 2024 SHED Survey: The FDIC’s 2023 Survey of Un/Underbanked Households: Our recent episode on consumer data gathered by the Georgia Fintech Academy: Glen’s Genius Act/Stablecoin blog: Arnold Porter’s take on the Genius and Stable Acts: JPMorgan Chase’s close stablecoin cousin, the tokenized deposit: The Atlanta Fed’s newblog analyzing potential impacts of retiring the penny: 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: 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:
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Circle’s Stroke of Genius/Can Anyone Regulate AI?
06/18/2025
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: The Senate alters the House budget provision curtailing states’ ability to regulate AI: Axios’ story about AI’s newfound ability to blackmail: CNBC’s take on the Genius Act: TechCrunch’s recap of Chime’s circuitous path to a successful IPO: Pitchbook’s take on the inevitability of Chime’s “down round” IPO: 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: 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:
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Are Younger Generations Branching Out?
06/10/2025
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: The Technology Association of Georgia’s Fintech Ecosystem Report: Fintech South- in Atlanta August 19-20: Contact Georgia State Finance Professor Jonathan Godbey at Payments Dive’s coverage of Illinois’ Interchange Fee Prohibition Act extension: Circle’s IPO: The Senate alters the House budget provision curtailing states’ ability to regulate AI: 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: 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:
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The Business of Trust
05/30/2025
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: Our February conversation with Deidre on global trust overall: The Chicago Sun-Times’ mea culpa for printing invented book titles: Our May 2023 “Package Delivery Blues” episode exposing some familiar AI shortcomings: 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): Coverage of the CFPB’s decision to pull its 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: 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:
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Have Your Bot Call My Bot
05/20/2025
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: Beyond the Arc: Long Range AI Consulting: Our 2023 interview with Crissi Cole of Penny Finance: Glen’s blog on Coinbase’s wild week: Payments Dive’s coverage of Nevada’s proposed legislation to create “Payments Banks”: 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: 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: 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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Will Pay By Bank Run FIs Off the Rails?
05/13/2025
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: Nacha’s Remote Connect, June 6-9: Part One of our Nacha Payments conference coverage: CU Daily’s coverage of a positive sign for CUs’ tax exemption: The recent CU Town Hall on which we debated implications of the tax exemption: Bloomberg Law’s coverage of potential Open Banking (Section 1033) reconsideration: BECU’s partnership with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, one of several recent naming rights deals: 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: 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:
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Getting Direct About ACH
05/06/2025
Getting Direct About ACH
A pair of conversations from last week’s Smarter Faster Payments conference- Glen’s annual check-in with Nacha CEO Jane Larimer, and PASA CEO Ghita Erling shares insights on modernizing South Africa’s payment system through collaboration rather than mandate. Also- AI shopping agents, Uber discovers paper, and the vultures circle around checks. Links related to this episode: Nacha: Payments Association of South Africa: Glen’s blog on 2024 Faster Payments volumes: TechCrunch on Visa and Mastercard’s new AI shopping agents: Payments Dive on Uber’s expanding acceptance of cash: Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday May 7 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: 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:
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Going Where the Trust Is
04/29/2025
Going Where the Trust Is
Continuing our NACUSO Reimagine coverage, Glen speaks with Silvur founder Rhian Horgan about the “social journey of retirement” and how credit unions can play to their strengths in transitioning their biggest borrowers into their biggest depositors. Also- more of John’s conversation with cybersecurity expert Emma Zaballos about DeepSeek’s rise and the broader operational concerns around AI. Links related to this episode: Silvur: CyCognito: NACUSO: Our first batch of NACUSO coverage featuring interviews with Next Big Idea winner GoodBuy and CUSO law leader Brian Lauer: Part 1 of John’s interview with CyCognito’s Emma Zaballos: Honey, I Shrunk the NCUA Board (not a laughing matter): Former NCUA Board Chair Todd Harper’s recent LinkedIn post on his firing: The CU Daily’s story on Americans still misunderstanding credit card debt: 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:
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Big Ideas Cut Through the Chaos
04/22/2025
Big Ideas Cut Through the Chaos
Live from NACUSO’s Reimagine conference Glen speaks with the co-founders of Next Big Idea competition winner Goodbuy, Cara Oppenheimer and Cary Fortin. CUSO lawyer Brian Lauer shares his insights on the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, and then as if on cue the tectonic plates shift…. Links related to this episode: Goodbuy: Messick, Lauer & Smith: NACUSO: Our recent interview with Next Big Idea runner up Scamnetic: The CU Daily’s ongoing coverage of the NCUA board upheaval: Glen’s reflections on the NCUA commotion: The NCUA’s memo claiming it can function with a single board member: Former NCUA Board Chair Dennis Dollar’s perspective from a similar 2001 situation: 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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DeepSeek, ByteDance, and the AI Arms Race
04/15/2025
DeepSeek, ByteDance, and the AI Arms Race
In this week’s episode of the BIGcast, host John Best sits down with Emma Zaballos, cybersecurity expert and Product Marketing Manager at CyCognito, to unpack one of the biggest surprises in generative AI: the emergence of China's DeepSeek. Emma and John dive deep (pun intended) into the implications of DeepSeek’s rise, the broader cybersecurity concerns around AI, and what it all means for credit unions and financial institutions navigating the AI landscape. Links related to this episode: CyCognito: Wiz Research Uncovers Exposed DeepSeek Database Leaking: Security Scorecard’s blog A Deep Peek at DeepSeek: Join us for the next CU Town Hall meeting on Wednesday 7th, at 12pm PT/3pm ET for your regular dose of lively interactive discussion and best practice sharing on the hottest topics impacting credit unions nationwide. We look forward to seeing you! The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required: 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:
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No Day of Rest for Payments on Sunday
04/08/2025
No Day of Rest for Payments on Sunday
Glen speaks with Nacha’s Stephanie Prebish and Devon Marsh about the upcoming Smarter Faster Payments conference in New Orleans, as well as Same Day ACH’s remarkable sustained growth and the rising tide that lifts all riverboats. Also- First reflections on Americas Credit Unions’ leadership change, and… No Tariff Talk! Links related to this episode: Smarter, Faster Payments in New Orleans April 27-30: Year-End 2024 ACH growth stats: The CU Daily’s coverage of Americas Credit Unions’ CEO Jim Nussle’s plan to retire: Glen’s blog on the recent Executive Order phasing out paper checks to/from the federal government: Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday April 9 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. This session will focus on the FDIC’s recent move to relax restrictions on banks’ crypto activities. 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:
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