Fintech Nexus

While the fintech lending space is maturing with a number of lenders achieving significant scale today, the longevity of most platforms goes back barely more than a decade. But there is one lender today that was already seven or eight years old during the financial crisis of 2008-09. I am not saying the turbulent times we are experiencing today are equivalent to what become known as the Global Financial Crisis, but there are important lessons that can be learned from companies that survived that time.

My next guest on the Fintech One-on-One Podcast is Al Crawford, the CEO and Co-Founder of BHG Financial. Al founded the company back in 2001 and has been the CEO and Chairman since that time. He has some very interesting lessons to share from running a fintech lender for more than 20 years. I interviewed Al at the recent Fintech Nexus USA event in New York City, where this session led off the Credit and Underwriting track.

In this podcast you will learn:

• Background on the founding of BHG back in 2001.
• The different lending verticals they operate in today.
• What makes their loan funding marketplace unique.
• The recent volume they have seen on their marketplace.
• What they are learning from their borrowers today.
• The lessons they learned from the 2008-09 financial crisis.
• How their bank partners have adjusted their credit boxes.
• How BHG is taking advantage of the pullback in originations from other lenders.
• Details of the ABS deal they closed just after the SVB blowup.
• How BHG runs their credit team.
• Where their borrower demand is coming from.
• How their credit and fraud team helps prevent loan stacking.
• The keys for lenders to survive in turbulent times like we are experiencing now.

Connect with Al on LinkedIn
Connect with BHG Financial on LinkedIn

Connect with Fintech One-on-One:

• Tweet me @PeterRenton
• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Find previous Fintech One-on-One episodes

Last month at Fintech Nexus USA in New York City we announced that Fintech Nexus has acquired Fintech Blueprint, one of the leading fintech newsletters. It is led by Lex Sokolin, who is one of the great thinkers in our space, so I used the opportunity of being together in person to record an interview.

The latest episode of the Fintech One-on-One podcast is a discussion with Lex Sokolin (I last had him on the show two years ago) recorded in the podcast theater at the event. While we touch on the acquisition of Fintech Blueprint, most of the episode is spent discussing many of the hottest fintech topics of the day.

In this podcast you will learn:

• A description of his Fintech Blueprint newsletter
• Why he agreed to the partnership with Fintech Nexus.
• Some of the broader platform shifts he is tracking today in fintech.
• How Lex views decentralized finance in the context of today's risk-off environment.
• The two strategies that are bringing traditional finance and crypto together.
• His views on the government crackdown on crypto.
• The different regulatory climates in the US, UK, and Europe.
• How decentralized finance might impact the payments landscape.
• His vision for self-driving money and the role AI will play.
• The technologies Lex is looking at most closely over the next two to three years.

Connect with Lex on LinkedIn
Connect with Fintech Blueprint on LinkedIn

Connect with Fintech One-on-One:

• Tweet me @PeterRenton
• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Find previous Fintech One-on-One episodes

On today's episode, we conclude PitchIt 2023. Before we start, I wanted to share a special thanks to our judges and participating companies.

You will hear from the following finalists:

• Boss Insights 
• Calque
• Debbie 
• FinGoal
• Grounded Technologies
• Momnt
• Neofin
• Uplinq

PitchIt is a personal passion project for me; getting a peak into what’s coming next in fintech is a privilege. All the founders are building fascinating companies. Innovation is alive and well.

One quick PSA. If you want to reach the best fintech community, we have all the tools you need to shape your message and reach new clients. Sponsor an episode, sponsor a webinar, buy ad space; we have it all. Please reach out anytime: [email protected].

Without further ado, I present the finals of PitchIt 2023. I hope you enjoy the show.

Connect with PitchIt:

• Tweet me @ToddFintech
• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Find previous PitchIt episodes
• Email me at [email protected]

Until next time.

Making news this week was Chime, Generative AI and Ocrolus, ChatGPT, JPMorgan Chase, the CFPB, the OCC, PayPal,the  European Central Bank, Stripe and more.

This recording is from Fintech Nexus USA held at the Javits Center in New York City on May 10-11, 2023.

Session: "How Emerging Fintechs Benefit Banks" from the Lending, Banking & Payments: SMB Fintech Comes of Age track - Sponsored by Discover.

Featuring:

• Liz Nutting, Discover
• Fonta Gilliam, Wellthi

To receive updates about the 2024 Fintech Nexus USA event, join our LinkedIn event here:  https://www.linkedin.com/events/fintechnexususa20247063890713540734977/

This recording is from Fintech Nexus USA held at the Javits Center in New York City on May 10-11, 2023.

Session: "How Banks are Embracing Automation and Innovation" from the Lending, Banking & Payments: SMB Fintech Comes of Age track - Sponsored by Discover.

Featuring:

• Matthew Nicolosi, BayFirst National Bank
• Joe Quiroga, Texas National Bank
• Francisco Lopez, DreamSpring
• Alan Thomes, Cadence Bank
• Moderator: Brock Blake, Lendio

To receive updates about the 2024 Fintech Nexus USA event, join our LinkedIn event here:  https://www.linkedin.com/events/fintechnexususa20247063890713540734977/

This recording is from Fintech Nexus USA held at the Javits Center in New York City on May 10-11, 2023.

Session: "How SMB Leaders Will Support Small Business in a Downturn" from the Lending, Banking & Payments: SMB Fintech Comes of Age track - Sponsored by Discover.

Featuring:

• Todd Denbo, Intuit
• Catherine Lynn, Amex
• Greg Ott, Nav
• Moderator: Jacob Haar, CIM

To receive updates about the 2024 Fintech Nexus USA event, join our LinkedIn event here:  https://www.linkedin.com/events/fintechnexususa20247063890713540734977/

This recording is from Fintech Nexus USA held at the Javits Center in New York City on May 10-11, 2023.

Session: "How SMB Lenders Can Improve Their Targeting (and Conversions)" from the Lending, Banking & Payments: SMB Fintech Comes of Age track - Sponsored by Discover.

Featuring:

• Scott Steinberg, Enigma
• Kristopher Lazzeretti, FMCG Direct

To receive updates about the 2024 Fintech Nexus USA event, join our LinkedIn event here:  https://www.linkedin.com/events/fintechnexususa20247063890713540734977/

This recording is from Fintech Nexus USA held at the Javits Center in New York City on May 10-11, 2023.

Session: "Small Business Lending Update: The Credit Squeeze, New CFPB Rules, SBA 7(a) and More " from the Lending, Banking & Payments: SMB Fintech Comes of Age track - Sponsored by Discover

Featuring:

• Ryan Rosett, Credibly
• Steve Allocca, Funding Circle
• Moderator: Julapa Jagtiana, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

This recording is from Fintech Nexus USA held at the Javits Center in New York City on May 10-11, 2023.

Session: "Reshaping a Fintech Growth Story: What's Next for Fintech and SMB Financing" from the Lending, Banking & Payments: SMB Fintech Comes of Age track - Sponsored by Discover.

Featuring:

• Luke Voiles, Pipe
• Moderator: Billy Libby, Upper90

To receive updates about the 2024 Fintech Nexus USA event, join our LinkedIn event here:  https://www.linkedin.com/events/fintechnexususa20247063890713540734977/