Our esteemed panel (Anne Legg of Thrive Strategic Services, John Janclaes of Nymbus CUSO, Glen Sarvady of 154 Advisors) join John Best to opine on the biggest stories impacting credit unions and fintech in 2025- Mergers and Fraudsters and AI, oh my!   Links related to this episode:   THRIVE Strategic Services: https://www.anneleggthrive.com/ Nymbus CUSO: https://www.nymbus.com/cuso/   The language translator earbuds John Janclaes discussed (NOTE: John says this is NOT an endorsement as he has not tested them yet):  https://www.amazon.com/Language-Translator-Real-time-Translation-Bluetooth/dp/B0CFQWQL86/?th=1 CU Today’s coverage of the ransomware attack on Patelco Credit Union: https://www.cutoday.info/Fresh-Today/Number-Of-People-Impacted-By-Patelco-Breach-Tops-1-Million CU Times’ coverage: https://www.cutimes.com/2024/11/05/patelco-loses-39-million-during-last-summers-hack/ The NY Times podcast John Best mentioned re: Chinese hackers and the US phone network: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/12/podcasts/the-daily/china-hack-america-phone-network.html  Our recent Thanksgiving episode, where the same panel shares what they’re grateful for in the credit union/fintech world:  https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=a-credit-unionfintech-thanksgiving   Here’s a great 2025 Resolution- Join the Innovation Club, an ideal way to stretch your CU’s limited R&D dollars and stay on top of the latest technology trends. Find out if your CU qualifies: https://www.big-fintech.com/Innovation-Club/Technology   Find us on BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen connects with Payfinia CUSO General Manager Keith Riddle and Star One Credit Union’s EVP of Operations Minal Gupta about the newly minted CUSO aiming to streamline CUs’ provision of instant payment services. Also, newly released FedNow data- plus reporting from the more mature RTP network- reveals some unexpected twists.   Links related to this episode:   Payfinia: https://tyfone.com/payfinia/ (or contact Keith Riddle: [email protected]) Star One Credit Union: https://www.starone.org/   FedNow volume statistics through September 2024: https://www.frbservices.org/resources/financial-services/fednow/quarterly-volume-value-stats Glen’s 2023 article featuring Minal Gupta/Star One (as well as other early FedNow Adopters) in Credit Union Magazine: https://media.americascreditunions.org/articles/123351-real-time-relevance   Join us for our final CU Town Hall of 2024- Wednesday December 11 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. It’s free to attend (credit union employees might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/ 

Find us on BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors

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

Insightful conversations with three founders whose startups stood out at VentureTech: Joe Gracia of Pitch Competition winner Nickels/CardFit, Blesson Abraham of Aviary AI and Danial Jameel of Saris AI. Also, the Kelce brothers and Joe Montana unexpectedly find their way into the discussion.   Links related to this episode:   CardFit, the new offering from Nickels: https://nickels.us/acquire Saris AI: https://www.saris.ai/ Aviary AI: https://www.helloaviary.ai/ Our previous VentureTech episode, featuring interviews with Ribbon and Wysh: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=good-ideas-good-investments Glen’s blog recapping VentureTech highlights: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=going-deep-hitting-the-gaps-at-venturetech VentureTech: https://myventuretech.com/   Join us for our final CU Town Hall of 2024- Wednesday December 11 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. It’s free to attend (credit union employees might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  Find us on BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Continuing our annual tradition, John and Glen glide through a fintech wonderland with Anne Legg (Thrive Strategic Services) and John Janclaes (Nymbus CUSO), sharing thoughts on things they’re thankful for across our collaborative community- from the expected (AI, the innovative spirit) to the counter-intuitive (fraud levels, fintech funding).      Links related to this episode:   THRIVE Strategic Services: https://www.anneleggthrive.com/ Nymbus CUSO: https://www.nymbus.com/cuso/ BIG’s Innovation Club: https://www.big-fintech.com/Innovation-Club/Technology Open AI’s Sam Altman discusses the prospects for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXCBz_8hM9w After our podcast discussion of real time payments, the Fed issued its first data on FedNow volumes: https://www.frbservices.org/resources/financial-services/fednow/quarterly-volume-value-stats   Join us for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday December 11 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. It’s free to attend (credit union employees might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/ 

Find us on X at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Freshly back from the VentureTech conference, Glen shares interviews with Launch Party winner Ribbon and main event standout Wysh- plus plenty of key takeaways from investors, regulators, entrepreneurs and their prospective credit union partners.     Links related to this episode:   Ribbon: https://www.trustribbon.com/ Wysh: https://www.wysh.com/ VentureTech: https://myventuretech.com/ Our recent interview with Further/Union Credit: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=digging-further-at-finovatefall Glen’s blog on Money 20/20 key takeaways: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=money-2020-takeaways-gen-ai-open-data-and-a-cloud-of-dust   Join us for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday November 20 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. In this session we'll explore likely impacts for credit unions and fintechs from the recent election outcome, including shifts in the regulatory environment. It’s free to attend (credit union employees might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/ 

Find us on X at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Round 2 of our Money 20/20 highlights includes Glen’s interviews with a trio of founders- Andre Vellozo of DrumWave and Brittany Kaiser of the Own Your Data Foundation about a model allowing consumers to control and monetize the data they generate, and Eli Wachs of Footprint about combating fraud by whitelisting the good guys. Also- Bitcoin blows up and Cap One/Discover makes a comeback.    Links related to this episode:   Footprint: https://onefootprint.com/ DrumWave: https://drumwave.com/ Glen’s blog on Money 20/20 key takeaways: Part 1 of our Money 20/20 coverage, including interviews with Paze and Eisen: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=onboarding-and-offboarding-at-money-2020 Part 2 of our Money 20/20 coverage,Gen AI, Open Data and a Cloud of Dust: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=money-2020-takeaways-gen-ai-open-data-and-a-cloud-of-dust McKinsey’s Digital Payments Survey: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/banking-matters/state-of-consumer-digital-payments-in-2024 “The Great Hack” documentary, featuring whistleblower Brittany Kaiser (now of DrumWave): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX8GxLP1FHo The Innovation Club, curated by John Best of BIG: https://www.big-fintech.com/Innovation-Club/Technology   Join us for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday November 20 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. It’s free to attend (credit union employees might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/ 

Find us on X at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors

You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen’s annual Money20/20 highlights include a detailed update from Paze’s Head of Operations Catherine Murchie, a conversation with Allen Osgood, the founder of featured startup Eisen, and first-person reflections on CFPB Director Rohit Chopra’s unscripted comments regarding the agency’s personal data rights rule.   Links related to this episode:   Paze: https://www.paze.com/ Eisen: https://www.witheisen.com/ Eisen’s FinovateFall demo: https://finovate.com/videos/finovatefall-2024-eisen/ Money 20/20’s own highlights reel: https://us.money2020.com/experience/highlights  Glen’s blog on the CFPB’s Section 1033 final rule: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=the-cfpbs-personal-data-rights-rule-exhale-but-dont-get-comfortable   Our CU Town Halls are taking a brief break during this busy season, but will be back to brighten your Wednesday afternoons soon!  In the meantime, check out our Fraud-a-Palooza session: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=cu-town-hall-episode-124-fraud-a-palooza  

Find us on X at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors

You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen speaks with the founders of Starlight and Credit Mountain, two award-winning startups with a goal of smoothing the turbulent patches of consumers’ financial journeys. Also- a first look at the CFPB’s 594-page magnum opus on personal data rights.   Links related to this episode:   Starlight: https://www.get-starlight.com/ Credit Mountain: https://www.creditmountain.co/ Glen’s blog on the CFPB’s personal data rights rule: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=the-cfpbs-personal-data-rights-rule-exhale-but-dont-get-comfortable For masochists only, the CFPB’s full 594-page final rule in all its glory: https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_personal-financial-data-rights-final-rule_2024-10.pdf CU Today’s coverage from the day the final rule was announced: https://www.cutoday.info/site/THE-feature/CFPB-Finalizes-Open-Banking-Rule   Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen speaks with Jessica Heuer and Carrie Stapp about Velera’s recent Psychology of Payments study and strategies for engaging various segments of card users. Also- Durbin and Putin attempt workarounds, and Fiserv wades into uncharted waters.   Links related to this episode:   Velera’s Psychology of Payments report: https://www.pscu.com/insights/white-papers/the-psychology-of-payments Velera’s website: https://www.velera.com/ The Economist’s story on Russia’s proposed “BRICs Bridge” payment system: https://www.economist.com/international/2024/10/20/putins-plan-to-defeat-the-dollar Payments Dive’s coverage of Fiserv’s special purpose banking charter: https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/fiserv-georgia-special-banking-charter-payments-processing-merchants/728933/ Arnall Golden Gregory’s take on Fiserv’s charter: https://www.agg.com/news-insights/publications/fiservs-georgia-malpb-charter-implications-for-the-payments-industry/ CU Today on the CCCA potentially being tucked into hurricane relief legislation: https://www.cutimes.com/2024/10/18/credit-card-competition-act-may-be-included-in-disaster-relief-bill   Join us for Fraud-a-Palooza! Wednesday October 23 at 3pm ET/Noon PT  The next CU Town Hall, a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today, will focus on a fraud environment that John Best calls the worst he’s seen.  It’s free to attend (credit union employees might even win a door prize), but registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   Contribute info to our fraud survey: https://forms.monday.com/forms/d76e9b3df9f4f42cec6c16d74b581be2?r=use1   Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen checks in with Money 20/20 President Tracey Davies for a preview of the upcoming four-day Las Vegas extravaganza. Also- a slew of updates on Illinois’ interchange fiasco, a countdown to the CFPB’s open banking rule, and a desperate attempt to tie 1990s funky divas to 2024 payment headlines.        Links related to this episode:   Money 20/20 USA, October 27-30 in Las Vegas: https://www.money2020.com/ Last week’s CU Town Hall- featuring insights from the Illinois Credit Union League’s Tom Kane- on the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=cu-town-hall-episode-123 Glen’s blog on the IFPA: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=battle-lines-being-drawn-on-illinois-interchange The OCC’s amicus brief to the IFPA: https://bankingjournal.aba.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/OCC-Amicus-Brief-IFPA.pdf The OCC’s amicus brief to the IFPA: https://restaurant.org/getmedia/d5f460e3-3cb6-4d77-9e82-2bf4ae3dc972/2024-10-04-Exhibit-A-to-Corrected-Unooposed-Mtn-of-RLC-IRA-RLC.pdf Glen’s History of Money 20/20 in three t-shirts: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=the-history-of-money-2020-in-three-t-shirts   Join us for the next CU Town Hall on Wednesday October 23 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing CUs today. For this session John Best will lead Fraud-a-Palooza!  It’s free to attend (credit union employees might even win a door prize!), but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/   And contribute info to our fraud survey here: https://forms.monday.com/forms/d76e9b3df9f4f42cec6c16d74b581be2?r=use1   Find us on X and BlueSky at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors

You can also follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/