Bankadelic: The colorful side of finance

Coming off our interview with Scott Mills of the William Mills Agency, this episode features three contributors to the WMA Bankers as Buyers Report 2024. Monarch President Lee Farabaugh, Aditya Khandekar of Corridor Platforms and Sam Kilmer of Cornerstone Advisors talk about the views and observations they brought to the document, touching on subjects from the ascendancy of digital financial upstarts to what it will take to make AI work for banks.

Certainty used to be a watchword in finance—until the arrival of crypto, VC madness, regulatory stumbles and the fall of Silicon Valley Bank. Jeff Nowicki, the VP of Banking at Treasury Prime, explains how his company is working to create an environment where banks and fintechs can operate with greater confidence and focus.

Dating to the turn of the 21st Century, the Bankers as Buyers report ranks as a must-read document. This year’s version, 86 pages long, comes chock full of spot-on observations and fascinating findings sure to impact banking and fintech. Scott Mills, President of the William Mills Agency, walks us through the report and reveals some of the key findings gleaned from across the financial services industry.

With 10 board memberships to his name and financial technology experience that stretches back 40 years—yes, 40—Tom Shen also has a track record as a successful entrepreneur and a reputation as nothing less than a guru. But Tom being who he is, he refers to himself as a “chief dabbler monkey,” and on this special episode of Bankadelic, he holds court on fascinating subjects, including the keys to responsible growth and the true meaning of “attract, hire and retain” top talent.

The National Cash Register company traces its roots to 1884, and you’ve no doubt seen its newfangled push-button machines in many a Western or historical photo. Fast forward to 2024 and the creation of NCR Atleos, a fintech that brings cash and ATMs into a brand new era. Stuart Mackinnon, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, talks about the genesis of the new company and its niches that run the gamut from interactive teller machines (ITMs) to ATM as a Service.

Banks haven’t made all that much progress when it comes to funding small businesses that are ready to grow, but perhaps lack the collateral or mountains of paperwork required. Joe Camberato, the CEO and founder of National Business Capital, explains how his fintech is helping entrepreneurs access competitive financing as they try to make sense of lending landscape.

Part Two of our 2024 Bankadelic Lovefest Podcast delivers big time on the promise that love (of banking) conquers all. Join us as our four guests wax rhapsodic on crushes past, unsung heroes, and banking's future in this new year. It's more amour, Bankadelic style. Our guests:

Lee Farabaugh, President, Monarch

Scott Earwood, Director of Community Solutions, White Clay

Stephen Baker, CEO, Kinective

Jeff Grobaski, founder and CEO of Epic River

It’s the first of two parts for this year's Bankadelic Valentine’s Day Lovefest, with three incredible guests dishing on everything from that first crush to what there is to adore about financial services in 2024. The Lovefests are among our most popular podcasts, and here to anchor Part One we’re proud to most affectionately present:

Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Investor, TruStage Ventures

Aditya Khandekar, CFA, President, Corridor Platforms India

Shannon Johnson, Touchless Lending Manager, Tavant

For all the good banks try to do for consumers, many miss a point driven home in the post-COVID days: Getting help with runaway debt is what many care about—and what stresses them out—most. Jeff Biesman, Chief Marketing Officer at National Debt Relief, explains how his company serves those with five-figure debt or more, then helps them regain their footing to become disciplined with their money going forward.

As co-founder of True Digital Group., Patrick Sells has crisscrossed the country (and handed out countless baseball caps emblazoned with hearts) to get out the word on his self-styled mission to bring harmony to the vendor management landscape. A Bankadelic favorite, Sells returns to catch us up on his travels, the meteoric rise of True Digital -- and to share the story of the True Digital Love Hat.