Leaders in Lending

Successful AI integration isn’t just about saving time or cutting costs—it’s about thoughtfully implementing the technology into areas where it can do the most good for the company and the customer.

On today’s episode, host Matt Snow speaks with Will Robinson, CEO at Encapture about AI’s application in financial institutions. Will has seen first-hand the challenges of legacy processes and resistance to change, and he shares specific use cases for successful AI implementation—along with the importance of partnering with experienced vendors.

Join us as we discuss:

• Understanding and assessing risks and trade-offs when considering AI applications
• The role of regulation and transparency in AI interactions
• How to navigate the “build vs. buy” question
• The process of identifying repetitive, rule-based tasks for automation before integrating AI

When it comes to the tech revolution, it’s not all about the coasts or the biggest cities. Although areas like Silicon Valley continue to dominate the headlines and the public imagination, there’s an undercurrent of tech growth and innovation in “Heartland” and “Rust Belt” areas like Ohio.

This week, host Lynn Sautter Beal talks with Chris Berry, President and CEO of OhioX, about the vibrant growth of Ohio's tech industry. Chris explains the industry’s historical evolution in the state, its current challenges, and significant breakthrough investments from major companies like Intel and Google.

Discussed in this episode:

• What strategic leadership and groundwork efforts led to multibillion-dollar investments from Fortune 500 companies
• The uniquely collaborative nature of Ohio’s tech industry
• How states like Ohio can leverage their geography to further develop their tech industry
• Initiatives to expose K-12 students in Ohio to skills and careers in tech

In today’s episode, host Lynn Sautter Beal talks with Jillian Murrish, CEO of Pier Asset Management, about the waves she and her firm are making in the market — targeting less liquid and underserved areas while focusing on secondary markets and early-stage credit facilities. Jillian shares her journey from working in online real estate to co-founding Pier Asset Management, while offering valuable lessons on flexibility, operational ease, and evolving borrowing bases for early-stage originators along the way.

Join us as we discuss:

• Why early-stage originators should avoid using expensive equity capital to fund loans
• The change in defining secured vs. unsecured lending
• How targeting less liquid areas can help generate alpha and deliver better returns for investors
• The role of privacy, reputational risk, and the regulatory environment play in decision-making in evaluating potential partners and deals

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to regulation in the world of financial services. Sometimes it’s a matter of encouraging fintech companies to engage in responsible behaviors—and other times it’s a matter of allowing responsible FinTech companies to continue operating responsibly without regulatory burdens.

This week’s host, Lynn Sautter Beal, is joined by Phil Goldfeder, CEO at American Fintech Council, and former New York State Assembly member. Phil has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the realm of regulatory policy—and all of it is informed by the idea of practical and realistic progress that doesn’t get in the way of responsible financial service providers doing their work, or get in the way of people receiving the financial services they need and deserve.

Join us as we discuss:

• How federal regulatory structures can evolve to support FinTech advancements
• The unintended consequences of “reactionary regulation”
• Key efforts in establishing industry standards without regulatory mandates
• The value of working groups and listening sessions involving various players in FinTech

For financial service professionals, it’s important to meet the needs of their customers and clients. But it’s equally important that they ensure they’re leaving no stone unturned when it comes to harnessing the latest technological solutions that can make their job — and the consumer’s experience — as frictionless as possible.

This week, host Matt Snow is joined by Greg Blausey, Senior Director of Banking Industry Solutions & Strategy at Salesforce, and Amir Madjlessi, Managing Director and Banking Industry Advisor at Salesforce. Greg and Amir bring a commitment to (and insights on) streamlining processes within financial institutions to better serve the customer, and allow financial professionals to focus on what they do best.

Discussed in this episode:

• The importance of fresh and representative data
• How finance can learn from the world of retail when it comes to the onboarding experience
• What it looks like to take an outcome-based approach in adopting new technologies
• Balancing using data usage for personalized service and addressing privacy concerns and regulations

On today’s episode, host Lynn Sautter Beal is joined by Matt Hrna, Senior Vice President at Regions Bank to discuss inflationary pressures and market volatility impacting banks today. Leveraging over a decade of expertise and experience, Matt covers a wide range of challenges and opportunities faced by players throughout the financial industry. 

Although economic uncertainty continues to abound, there are systems and practices lenders can take advantage of to mitigate risk while adopting innovative solutions—all of which Matt helps us uncover.

Join us as we discuss:

• Consumers turning to Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) to address various financial needs
• The impact of the student loan repayment resumption on credit behavior
• Why all lenders should develop a “recession playbook” and remain proactive amid uncertainty
• The importance of maintaining primacy and deepening relationships with existing customers

For many in the financial industry, it’s not hard to see banks and financial institutions committed to providing services that are both effective AND ethical. But all that work is for nothing if fair and responsible banking practices aren’t carried out successfully.

Today, host Lynn Sautter Beal speaks with Lindsay Yousif (Executive Director of Compliance at Ally) and Nick Roesler (Fair and Responsible Banking Officer at U.S. Bank). In their roles as chairs of the CBA’s Fair and Responsible Banking Committee, Lindsay and Nick have done plenty of work and acquired plenty of knowledge on how to proactively and collaboratively address opportunities and concerns in the realm of fair and responsible banking.

Join us as we discuss:

• How to leverage a strong network of banks for guidance and best practices
• The challenges posed by non-prescriptive guidances and how financial institutions can navigate them
• Hiring and retaining talent in fair and responsible banking

This week, host Matt Snow talks with Mike Shepard, Senior VP - Head of Consumer Lending Partnerships at U.S. Bank, about trends, best practices, and concerns within the world of home equity lending. 2022 was a strong year for the industry despite the upward trajectory of interest rates, and homeowners are continuing to leverage home equity for purposes like debt consolidation and home improvement projects. Still, the industry remains in flux — with regulatory developments, consumer sentiment, and tech advancements shaping the scope of best practices.

Leveraging his years of experience in the industry, as well as his role as chair of the Home Equity Lending Committee, Mike provides plenty of actionable insights for lenders and consumers alike.

Join Matt and Mike as they discuss:

• The main challenges of today’s home equity lending market
• What factors are contributing to Matt’s sense of cautious optimism regarding home values
• The vital role of collaboration within institutions like the Home Equity Lending Committee.
• How the uses of home equity funds have shifted over the years

AI is top of mind for most financial services organizations, but the question of, 'where to begin?' remains. Upstart's new AI in Financial Services Professional Certification course is designed to give banking professionals a firm grounding for the potential of AI in financial services —with a particular focus on credit—as well as practical tools to help them begin the journey of applying AI inside their organizations. 
 
This week, host Lynn Sautter Beal is joined by Jeff Keltner, Startup Advisor at Upstart — and former “Leaders in Lending” host — to talk about Upstart’s AI in Financial Services Professional Certification course.

Discussed in this episode:

• Why Upstart decided to develop the course — and who it’s for
• The content and structure of the course modules
• Process of developing the course (from writing scripts to recording lessons)
• The importance of empowering financial services professionals with knowledge of AI tailored to their field

Register for the course, which is free for a limited time: https://live-upstart-ms.pantheonsite.io/ai-certification/

On today’s episode, host Matt Snow is joined by Melinda Zabritski, Sr. Director at Experian Automotive, and Mark Pregman, Head of Credit Operations at USAA. Whether due to rapid technological innovations (like the advent of electric vehicles) or economic factors (everything from lending rates to unemployment), the landscape of auto sales and lending is shifting more rapidly than ever. 

With their collective experience and expertise in lending and the auto market, Mark and Melinda are perfectly suited to help us make sense of this current moment — to give us a sense of where we may be heading.

Discussed this week:

• Why concerns surrounding affordability persist, despite the rise in average loan amounts
• The challenges hindering EV adoption
• How limited inventory impacts affects loan-to-value ratios and shapes consumer purchasing patterns
• Growing delinquency rates, and what they may be attributed to