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 new Velera data reveals SMBs sending 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/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

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: https://www.fintechsouth.com/ USE CODE BEYO15 for a 15% REGISTRATION DISCOUNT Michelle's forthcoming book: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Future-Finance-Reshaping-Economy/dp/1394402074/ref=sr_1_1 Michelle's podcast: "Step into the Future of Finance": https://open.spotify.com/show/6tfflOY52ClLkLxgJEJSmo?si=49ac079afb1845de&nd=1&dlsi=b67da683833b4461 Finavator: https://www.finavator.com/ Speaking of trust, here's our recent interview with Deidre Campbell on the Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.big-fintech.com/is-trust-now-the-most-precious-metal/ Fintech Futures on the Samsung's new credit card collab with Barclays: https://www.fintechfutures.com/partnerships/samsung-credit-card-us-launch-barclays Glen's blog on PayPal's acquisition intrigue: https://www.big-fintech.com/looking-for-the-x-factor-in-stripes-paypal-bid/ 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/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

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: https://getcultivate.ai/ Our interview with CUltivate's three founders immediately after its March launch at GAC: https://www.big-fintech.com/chicken-wings-not-sharp-elbows/ Glen's blog on PayPal's acquisition intrigue: https://www.big-fintech.com/looking-for-the-x-factor-in-stripes-paypal-bid/ Glen's blog on the latest Federal Reserve Payments data: https://www.big-fintech.com/christmas-in-july-the-fed-delivers-new-2024-payments-data/ Coming soon to a Wednesday near you: the CU Town Hall! https://www.cutownhall.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

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: https://joinopenstandard.com/blog/introducing-open-usd
• Glen's blog on the newly released Fed payments data: https://www.big-fintech.com/christmas-in-july-the-fed-delivers-new-2024-payments-data/
• Andreesen Horowitz's take on stablecoins' outlook (from before the Open USD announcement: https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/p/why-stablecoins-wont-age-well

Follow us on LinkedIn:

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
• https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

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: https://www.edelmansmithfield.com/2026-Edelman-Trust-Barometer-Key-Insights-for-Financial-Services
• Edelman's 2026 Global Trust Barometer: https://www.edelman.com/trust/2026/trust-barometer
• Illinois' newly signed BNPL law: https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/illinois-enacts-bnpl-law-pritzker-consumer-crypto/823835/
• JD Power's Buy Now Pay Later customer satisfaction study (good news for FIs): https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2026-us-buy-now-pay-later-satisfaction-study
• PYMNTS.com on X Money's latest move toward general availability: https://www.pymnts.com/commerce/social-commerce/2026/x-opens-x-money-to-premium-subscribers-ahead-of-broader-launch

Mark your calendar to join the next CU Town Hall- Wednesday July 15 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- our live and lively interactive monthly conversation where credit union leaders tackle the biggest issues facing the sector today. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

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: https://georgiafintechacademy.org/
• Laura's recent post pondering A Tale of Two Georgias: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tale-two-georgias-stablecoins-financial-future-laura-gibson-lamothe-0t7bc/
• One of Laura's Money 20/20 interviews onsite in Amsterdam, with The Fintech Accord's West Richards on Stablecoins, AI & Global Fintech Policy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYNAZKFEcy0
• Fintech Futures' coverage of the Bank of England's new stablecoin policy: https://www.fintechfutures.com/regulatory-actions/bank-of-england-stablecoins-policy-draft-regulation-uk
• Glen's blog on a VERY eventful month for interchange: https://www.big-fintech.com/a-remarkable-month-for-interchange-but-what-has-really-changed/

Mark your calendar to join the next CU Town Hall- Wednesday July 15 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- our monthly live and lively interactive conversation where credit union leaders tackle the major issues facing the sector today. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

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: https://www.roxwrite.com/
• Poncho: https://www.poncho.us/
• Poncho CEO John Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnprestonbrown/
• The Financial Health Network: https://finhealthnetwork.org/
• Glen's blog on a VERY eventful month in interchange: https://www.big-fintech.com/a-remarkable-month-for-interchange-but-what-has-really-changed/
• A replay of Glen's favorite EMERGE session, featuring Alex Johnson posing "lightning round" questions to a panel including former OCC head Michael Hsu: https://finhealthnetwork.org/event-session/hard-questions-for-the-future-of-finance
• Sister publications Banking Dive and Payments Dive publish differing perspectives on Fiserv CEO Mike Lyon's surprise departure: https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/fiserv-ceo-exits-after-rocky-year/822882/ https://www.bankingdive.com/news/truist-ceo-lyons-rogers-fiserv/822878/

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

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: https://www.joindebbie.com/
• Prosprous.AI: https://prosprous.ai/
• The Financial Health Network: https://finhealthnetwork.org/
• Our interview with the Financial Health Network's Andrew Warren on a reconsideration of the definitions of un- and underbanked: https://www.big-fintech.com/is-the-underbanked-concept-ripe-for-a-rethink/
• Our interview with co-founder Eric Berg of Duome, the belatedly crowned winner of NACUSO's Next Big Idea Competition: https://www.big-fintech.com/two-conferences-two-coasts-one-exhausted-fintech-geek/
• Illinois has now double-punted on its interchange legislation and Colorado's governor vetoed its similar version; nonetheless, here's a savvy take on the underlying flaws that other states should consider before mimicking: https://www.rstreet.org/commentary/colorados-new-bill-on-interchange-is-a-test-case-for-unintended-consequences/
• Here's Colorado Governor Jared Polis' three-page letter explaining why he vetoed the bill: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s7NlfmaHRIArKyKg1ShBplEIgarJiXIV/view

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

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: https://www.reddit.com/r/agi/comments/1t73hw7/i_was_once_an_ai_true_believer_now_i_think_the/
• YouTube video on translating Claude's AI thoughts into language: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQgMCXPJRHXjjZvVNCqcswtpNNr?projector=1
• JB dissects ChatGPT's new personal finance features on our recent CU Town Hall: https://www.big-fintech.com/cu-town-hall-episode-147-the-chatgpt-finance-era/
• Last week's interview with Jack Henry's Lee Wetherington, including data on AI as a bank/credit union strategic priority: https://www.big-fintech.com/what-keeps-you-up-at-night-may-depend-on-your-charter/
• The assembly line video of a package sorting robot (which *may* outperform a human, depending on your yardstick): https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=luU57hMhkak&ra=m
• The Associated Press on Pope Leo's AI encyclical: https://apnews.com/article/pope-ai-tech-trump-vatican-anthropic-d92d0108730d146baa46da041b8523da
• A precursor to "slow tech"? The AP's obit for Slow Food Movement founder Carlo Petrini https://apnews.com/article/slow-food-petrini-founder-italy-85cde4ee84168207a3354281202720b1

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

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: https://discover.jackhenry.com/strategy-benchmark-study-2026
• FRB Services' Diary of Consumer Payment Choice: https://www.frbservices.org/news/research/2026-findings-diary-consumer-payment-choice
• The Kansas City Fed's paper on stablecoin use: https://www.kansascityfed.org/documents/15703/PaymentsSystemResearchBriefing26Noll0410.pdf
• The Federal Reserve Board's 2025 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED): https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/2025-report-economic-well-being-us-households-202605.pdf
• CU Today on the NCUA's proposed approach to implementing the GENIUS Act: https://www.cutoday.info/THE-feature/NCUA-s-New-Stablecoin-Framework-Sparks-Debate-Over-CUs-Best-Digital-Dollar-Strategy

Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday May 20 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. In this session, John will dissect OpenAI's new personal finance offering. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/