In this episode we continue the series powered by U.S. Bank and recorded at the University of Utah’s Fintech Xchange. CAUTION: The episode is hot!

Breaking Banks’ Hot Takes host Jason Henrichs, regulars Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes) and Jason Mikula (Fintech Business Weekly) are joined by David Ness, U.S. Bank’s SVP Innovation, R&D and Peter Renton, Fintech Nexus, Chairman & Co-Founder. The newcomers jump right in, going straight for Fintech on Fire (#11 on a scale of 1 – 10), and comfortably deliver hot takes from the hot seats, recapping major themes from the event, and making predictions as to what 2025 brings to our industry. Plenty of insights are shared and there’s plenty for the risky spice-takers to tackle including BNPL (acronym for a popular industry term, of course, and also our new Burn Now Pay Later hot sauce). Two other clues as to what the group might have talked about….the RegTech Reaper and Stable Coin Scorch . Don’t worry, there’s plenty more where these came from!

Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

It’s a hot conversation, worth being in the room for…to catch the visuals check it out on YouTube (@provokefm and while you are there, hit subscribe)!

This week we introduce you to a series profiling the digital banks and founders that are changing the world of banking. Focused on first hand accounts from founders all over the globe, the series chronicles the NeoBanking movement from the early days though to today, documenting the players building a new category of digital banking, reshaping the digital movement. Throughout our series we look at foundation stories, challenges each had, and the regulatory approach each took — a look at the pioneering history of the neo and challenger bank movement.

In this episode, Breaking Banks host Brett King connects with bunq’s Founder & CEO. Ali Niknam. bunq is based in The Netherlands, a small country doing big things. bunq, bank of The Free, offers mobile banking that makes life easy for every new chapter in one’s life, and for the digital nomad in everyone.

Born out of Ali’s interest in creating products that people like to use, bunq began in 2012 and its mobile app came out in 2015, all with the aim to help the world forward and do banking a little differently. bunq has brought lasting change to the European banking industry. Having built a product rooted in customer needs and wants, bunq quickly scaled to become the second largest neobank in the EU. Serving digital nomads across the European Economic Area, bunq makes life easy for location-independent people and businesses starting from the way they manage money: how they spend, save, budget and invest.

On a mission to build the first global neobank for digital nomads, bunq announced its bid to enter the US market (April 2023) by applying for a banking license.

It’s an intriguing story, not to be missed!

This week on Breaking Banks, we take you inside fintechXchange, hosted by the Stena Center for Financial Technology at the University of Utah. As a proud media partner of the event, we explore how industry, academia, and policymakers are coming together to drive the future of financial services.
Host Jason Henrichs sits down with Meghan Kober, VP of Fintech Partnerships & Investments at U.S. Bank, Taylor Randall, President of the University of Utah, and Ryan Christiansen, Executive Director of the Stena Center for Financial Technology. Together, they discuss the power of ecosystem building, highlighting the incredible human capital fueling innovation: VCs, startups, and institutions of all sizes collaborating to shape the next wave of fintech growth and banking transformation.

Then, it’s time for the first Hot Takes of 2025, recorded live from ‘Silicon Slopes’! Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes) and Jason Mikula (Fintech Business Weekly) are back in the hot seats with Jason Henrichs to break down the latest fintech headlines with sharp insights and no-holds-barred opinions. They dive into:

This episode is packed with insight, energy, and hard-hitting discussions you won’t want to miss!

We are excited to introduce you to Provoke.fm‘s newest podcast….a-spinoff-of-a-spinoff of Breaking Banks. Bankers Bookshelf brings cutting edge banking and fintech research to life, sharing the stories and strategies behind financial innovation, bridging the gap between technology and finance — a perfect fit for the Breaking Banks family! Host Paolo Sironi, global research leader in banking and financial markets at IBM Institute for Business Value, is a trailblazer in fintech himself.

In this episode, Paolo connects with Ronit Ghose who runs the Future of Finance team in Citi’s thought leadership unit “Citi Global Insights”, and is the author of Future Money: Fintech, AI and Web 3.

The world of money is rapidly changing, but what does it all really mean? The duo discuss insights from the book with Ronit bringing technical topics to vivid life via narrative deep dives into selected founders and their companies. From London to Lagos, via Ahmedabad, Dubai, Hong Kong, Karachi and more, this episode pulls together the story of how money is changing in the internet era.

Subscribe to Bankers Bookshelf https://provoke.fm/show/the-bankers-bookshelf/ or listen via your preferred podcast platform now!

Getting digital right can be challenging for anyone –small banks, big banks, incumbents, challengers, you name it.

In this episode, Brett King meets up with Akbank’s Consumer Banking & Digital Solutions, EVP, Burcu Civelek Yuce to talk about Akbank and Akbank LAB, Akbank’s Innovation Lab. The discussion focuses on the incumbent bank ‘s digital engagement and excellence in collaborating and partnering with fintechs and big tech.

Turkey is the 18th largest country in the world in terms of population size, with Akbank one of the largest banks (77 years young) in Turkey. Akbank has nimbly undergone a smoothe digital transformation with the majority of its customers now coming through digital channels — be it new customer acquisition, servicing or sales.

Akbank LAB is the innovation center that coordinates Akbank’s pioneering fintech developments. Here, they study best working models and implement solutions to make the lives of Akbank’s customers easier. Fintech partnership and collaboration are key components of Akbank LAB’s success, with partners working hard to create value for their customers.

Akbank is embracing AI with Banking IQ, hyper personalized information on customers, and is actively reskilling employees to lead the way forward.

Listen to this engaging conversation to learn best practices relevant for all banks and financial institutions.

For further information: akbanklab.com or [email protected]

Read the entire transcript here.

An introduction to the discussion on digital transformation in traditional banks. The host shares insights from a recent visit to Istanbul and the rapid changes observed in the Turkish banking sector.

EVP Bircu Sivilek shares key data on how Akbank has embraced digitalization, with significant growth in digital customer acquisition and engagement. The discussion covers the bank’s transformation into a digitally-led institution.

How Akbank fosters partnerships with fintechs and big techs through Akbank Lab. The conversation explores how the bank accelerates innovation through strategic collaborations.

A discussion on the role of artificial intelligence in banking, including how Akbank uses AI for hyper-personalized financial insights, enhancing the customer experience.

An exploration of how Akbank integrates fintech solutions to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) manage their financial operations, including a successful partnership with a Spanish fintech.

Comparing Akbank’s development process to digital-first banks like Nubank and Revolut. Insights into how Akbank has reduced time-to-market for new banking products.

A deep dive into how Akbank rebuilt its technology stack from the ground up to support seamless fintech integrations and AI-powered banking services.

How Akbank is positioning itself as a leader in AI-driven banking, with a focus on generative AI, customer experience, and further digital transformation in the next three to five years.

How Akbank’s digital push has reshaped the role of physical branches, transitioning to a cash-light model with a stronger focus on customer advisory services.

Final reflections on Akbank’s innovation journey and how fintech partnerships will continue to shape the bank’s future. An invitation for fintechs to collaborate with Akbank Lab.

What’s the key to financial security today? As technology and a shifting economy reshape how we save, spend, borrow, and plan for the future, mastering the art of money management is critical for achieving financial health. Listen as Jennifer Tescher, host of sister podcast Emerge Everywhere and Founder of the Financial Health Network, speaks with Suze Orman – personal finance expert, author, Emmy Award winner, and Co-Founder of workplace emergency savings platform SecureSave – about the critical role of savings and an important step companies can take to support employees’ financial success today.

Dedicated to improving financial health for all, especially the most vulnerable among us, Emerge Everywhere tackles the complex issues intersecting the financial well-being of people across America while exploring how to build an inclusive economy.

Listen now! Read the entire transcript here.

A reflection on how financial habits have evolved over the past two decades, with a focus on new tools, technology, and the challenges people face today.

Suze Orman discusses the stark difference between national economic indicators and individual financial realities, emphasizing that many Americans are still struggling despite a strong stock market.

A look back at how financial behaviors changed after the Great Recession, the long-term effects of financial fear, and how past economic crises still impact people’s financial decisions today.

Examining how government stimulus during the pandemic created short-term financial stability, only for many people to fall into debt when support was removed.

The debate between personal financial responsibility and the role of systemic challenges, including inflation, job access, and government policies in shaping financial well-being.

Suze Orman raises concerns about how young people are learning about personal finance, questioning whether influencers and social media platforms are reliable sources of financial education.

A deep dive into SecureSave, Suze Orman’s initiative to help employees build emergency savings, and why she believes savings—not investing—should be the foundation of financial security.

Suze speculates on the future of AI-powered financial advisors, discussing both the potential benefits and risks of AI replacing human financial guidance.

A discussion on financial security for aging populations, including how women often outlive their partners and the financial struggles they face later in life.

Suze Orman shares her final thoughts on how individuals and businesses can take action to improve financial stability, and the need for a more holistic approach to financial education.

Related Content:

2024 is a wrap! Listen as industry leaders and fintech influencers share insights on the year that was before turning the lens forward to 2025. What will be hot in this new year?

Back by popular demand, Breaking Banks hosts Brett King and JP Nicols assemble banking industry leaders and fintech influencers to get their takes and predictions on what 2025 has in store for the banking industry.

Joining the discussion are Jim Marous (The Financial Brand, Banking Transformed), Ron Shevlin (Chief Research Officer, Cornerstone Advisors and Forbes Contributor), and Mary Wisniewski (Cornerstone Advisors, Money Isn’t Everything). Together, they explore critical topics shaping the industry, from fraud, risk, and efficiency to cutting-edge innovations like Agentic AI and LLMs, as well as developments in open banking, 1033, and the CFPB.

And what about the lingering impact of the Synapse story from 2024? Will 2025 bring a reckoning, or are brighter days ahead for the industry? Tune in for a lively and engaging conversation packed with expert insights and bold predictions.

Happy New Year from the team at Breaking Banks

Read the entire transcript here.

The discussion opens with reflections on the major events of 2024, from economic shifts to major fintech and banking milestones. The panelists explore how the industry evolved and what lessons were learned.

The fallout from the Synapse failure and regulatory challenges dominated 2024. The discussion highlights how fintechs have adapted, and why, despite hurdles, optimism is growing for 2025.

AI took center stage in 2024, from fraud detection to customer service enhancements. The conversation explores how AI’s role in banking is expanding and what that means for both traditional banks and fintechs.

While much of the conversation is U.S.-focused, the panel examines key developments worldwide, including digital banking growth in Latin America, China, and Africa.

With Section 1033 and the CFPB’s evolving stance, the discussion turns to the state of open banking and data ownership. What are the regulatory barriers, and how will they impact fintech innovation?

The emergence of AI-driven financial agents is set to reshape personal finance. The panel debates how AI could soon manage customer financial lives better than traditional advisors.

With Klarna and Chime considering IPOs, the panel speculates on the first big fintech public offering of 2025. They also discuss when the first AI fintech unicorn might emerge.

The conversation wraps up with a bold look at how fintech, AI, and regulatory shifts will shape the financial industry. Will 2025 truly be a stellar year for banking?

Regular listeners of Breaking Banks are likely familiar with the Killing It series, hosted by Jason Henrichs and Alex Johnson, where they explore candid stories of success, failure, and the pivotal and sometimes tough decisions that drive the journey from VCs to unicorns in the high stakes world of entrepreneurship. (If you’re not, check it out!)

In this episode, Brett King shifts gears with a “Starting It” theme, sitting down with industry veteran Anthony Thomson —an entrepreneur, marketer, speaker, author, and founder of Metro Bank, Atom, and 86 400. Metro Bank challenged traditional banking in the UK, while Atom and 86 400 brought innovation as neo-banks in different markets, with 86 400 later acquired by NAB (National Australia Bank) and then merged into UBank.

Join this enlightening discussion as Brett and Anthony dive into the unique missions and lessons behind each of these groundbreaking ventures. And who knows? You might even get a sneak peek at the next big breakthrough in the industry! 

Read the entire transcript here.

Brett King and Jason Henricks open the episode, reflecting on their history of exploring financial disruption. Special guest Anthony Thompson joins from Abu Dhabi, sharing memories of past debates on the future of banking.

Anthony recounts his journey from marketing in financial services to founding Metro Bank. The discussion highlights how Metro Bank disrupted traditional banking by focusing on customer-centric value and trust.

The hosts and guest delve into the dual dimensions of trust: competence versus intent. Anthony explains how Metro Bank leveraged customer-centric policies, like dog-friendly branches, to foster associative trust.

Anthony reflects on the rise of digital banking, including his transition to founding Atom Bank. The conversation examines how mobile banking became the cornerstone of modern financial services.

The discussion explores Atom Bank’s founding principles, focusing on delivering a superior mobile experience and balancing liabilities with assets. Anthony contrasts Atom’s approach with competitors like Monzo and Starling.

Anthony describes his move to Australia to establish 86 400. He shares how lessons from Atom influenced his strategy, particularly the importance of engagement and transaction accounts.

The conversation shifts to why traditional banks struggle with digital transformation. Anthony and Brett critique cultural and regulatory hurdles faced by legacy institutions.

Anthony discusses how regulators worldwide are adapting to digital banking innovations, emphasizing the importance of competition and better consumer outcomes.

Anthony shares his hopes for the future of banking, emphasizing customer-centricity as the industry’s ultimate goal. Brett and Anthony speculate on the next breakthrough, pointing to adjacencies and AI in banking.

The hosts summarize the key themes of the episode, including trust, customer value, and the evolution of banking. They close with a call to action for listeners to engage with the podcast and its community.

This week, host Brett King sits down with Colin Walsh, Founder and CEO of Varo Bank, to explore the journey of building the first all-digital, FDIC-insured de novo bank in U.S. history. Designed to improve financial health and serve a diverse range of customers—from those with financial abundance to those facing economic hardship—Varo Bank is on a mission to create a banking experience that truly works for everyone.

With the unique distinction of being the first consumer fintech to be granted a bank charter in US history, Varo is redefining banking with innovative products tailored to modern consumers’ needs. From managing fraud and credit risk to building trust and leveraging a cutting-edge tech stack, they delve into the strategies that power Varo’s ability to stay agile and customer-focused. Whether it’s delivering accessible savings and lending solutions or tackling the challenges of financial inclusion, Varo Bank’s story is one of innovation and impact.

Tune in for a wide-ranging discussion on how Varo is using digital banking to create financial inclusion by addressing the real financial challenges that Americans face every day.

Read the entire transcript here.

Brett King introduces the episode and welcomes Colin Walsh, founder and CEO of Varo Bank, to discuss their journey as the first pure-play digital bank with a de novo charter.

Colin reflects on the pandemic’s impact, funding market changes, and navigating regulatory challenges while focusing on profitability and customer-centric innovation.

A discussion on Varo’s strategic decision to pursue a de novo national bank charter, contrasting it with fintech sponsorship models and highlighting its benefits.

Colin details Varo’s proprietary technology investments, including AI, machine learning, and the migration to React Native, ensuring agility and innovation in product offerings.

Varo’s approach to cash-flow-based lending and leveraging technology to responsibly serve non-prime, paycheck-to-paycheck consumers is explored in depth.

The team discusses how Varo combats sophisticated fraud through advanced tech and the advantages of being a technology-first bank in risk management.

A look at Varo’s approach to disciplined customer acquisition, organic growth, and creating high lifetime value customers through deep engagement.

Colin explains Varo’s mission to become a financial operating system for underserved Americans and discusses innovations like embedded financial tools.

The conversation shifts to Varo’s long-term goals, including profitability milestones, potential IPO timelines, and strategic opportunities in a consolidating market.

Colin previews upcoming initiatives, including a new app launch and partnerships, and emphasizes Varo’s role in addressing financial stress for customers.

Southeast Asia’s fintech revolution is here, and GXBank is leading the charge. From its roots as a ride-hailing service to becoming Malaysia’s first digital bank, GXBank is transforming how Malaysians access and manage their money.

This week on Breaking Banks, host Brett King sat down with GXBank’s Chief Commercial Officer, Kaushik Chowdhury, and Mastercard’s Senior Vice President & Country Manager for Malaysia and Brunei, Beena Pothen. They discuss the incredible journey of GXBank, the partnership with Mastercard, and how the bank is reshaping financial inclusion in Southeast Asia.

GXBank, a subsidiary of GXS Bank Pte. Ltd. (a joint venture between Grab and Singtel), officially launched operations September 1, 2023, introducing its app two months later. In a year, the bank has amassed over 750,000 customers, offering innovative and personalized solutions to support financial resilience and inclusion. Learn how GXBank is making banking accessible to all Malaysians while setting a new standard for digital banking in the region.

Discover how Mastercard’s cutting-edge technologies and deep fintech expertise are empowering GXBank to deliver smarter, more inclusive financial solutions. As fintechs look to build, launch, and grow their business, Mastercard is helping to drive smarter decisions for better outcomes through strong partnerships across the payments ecosystem.

Resources:
Learn more about GXBank: gxbank.my
Explore how Mastercard supports fintech innovation: Mastercard Fintech Services

Read the entire transcript here.

Brett King introduces the episode, focusing on digital banking trends in Southeast Asia with GXBank and Mastercard as key players.

Kaushik Chowdhury discusses GXBank’s journey, from user research to creating a mobile-first digital bank in Malaysia.

Bina Pothan highlights the rapid adoption of digital banking in Southeast Asia, driven by smartphones, internet access, and changing consumer expectations.

Exploring how GXBank and Mastercard aim to serve underserved and financially vulnerable populations across Malaysia and the region.

Insights into GXBank’s partnership with Mastercard, enabling rapid launches and delivering impactful financial products to consumers.

Examining GXBank’s focus on payment solutions, including QR systems, debit cards, and embedded banking experiences with Grab.

Kaushik discusses the challenges of building a digital bank, including hiring, partnerships, and balancing innovation with trust and security.

GXBank outlines its roadmap, aiming for profitability and becoming a top bank in Malaysia by leveraging its ecosystem and customer-centric strategies.

Bina and Kaushik emphasize trust, utility, and collaboration as essential elements for succeeding in the digital banking revolution.

Recorded end of September