Banking with Interest

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu talks about how his federal regulatory work during the 2008 financial crisis is informing his approach to new risks, including the explosive growth of cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and buy-now-pay-later services. He also provides an update on the fintech charter, offers his view of overdraft fees, and the latest on reform of the Community Reinvestment Act.

Rohit Chopra is expected to be confirmed soon as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What kind of a leader is he likely to be, and what financial activities will he target first? Kate Berry, who covers the CFPB for American Banker, breaks down how the new director will guide the agency.

Yolande Piazza, the vice president of financial services at Google Cloud, talks about why Google has no interest in being a bank, but instead wants to partner with them. She discusses the momentum behind Google Cloud, where the industry is going next, and the difference between Big Tech and big banks.

Simran Kang, cofounder and CEO of MyFO-Tech, a fintech focused on helping consumers manage their wealth, talks about her experience in creating a fintech, the challenges she faced and the vision for her company. She also discusses what it’s like as a woman entrepreneur, offering a candid view of an industry still widely seen as male-dominated.

With housing prices at all-time highs, the auto market overheating and policymakers worrying about inflation, there are plenty of concerns about the state of the economy. Sayee Srinivasan, the new chief economist of the American Bankers Association, talks through the latest data and whether banks and consumers need to be worried.

The banking industry is sitting on a record amount of deposits, but as post-pandemic life takes shape, many are arguing banks should be focused on retaining and attracting even more traditional, core deposits. Jeff Marsico, banking consultant, blogger and president of the Kafafian Group, makes the contrarian case for why building deposits makes sense in an era of high liquidity. He also discusses what mistakes banks are making right now, how the pandemic is changing institutions’ long-term strategies, and other lessons from his book, “Squared Away: How Can Bankers Succeed as Economic First Responders.”

Sam Sidhu, incoming CEO of Customers Bancorp., explains his bank’s hybrid strategy of partnering with fintechs while also retaining a robust retail presence. Sidhu provides insights into the bank’s recent growth, its forays into block-chain based payments and AI-lending, and plans for the future.

Garry Reeder, the CEO of the newly formed American Fintech Council, discusses the big questions confronting members including the impact of a possible repeal of the OCC’s true lender rule, whether fintechs should have their own charter and if they should be subject to the Community Reinvestment Act.

Bill Briggs, a top official at the Small Business Administration during the creation and administration of the Payment Protection Program, talks about its impact, legacy and how banks and businesses can build on its momentum.

Kris Pease, chief financial officer of Cross River Bank, talks about the community bank’s unique B2B strategy, working with fintech – and fellow bank – partnerships to establish a nationwide footprint. The bank has seen tremendous growth with its plan, increasing its asset size by nearly five times to almost $10 billion by the end of last year.