Consumer Reports has a new playbook for fairness in digital finance and fintech app developers might want to take notes.

Mary sits down with Delicia Hand, senior director, digital marketplace at Consumer Reports, to talk about building apps that are transparent, inclusive and designed for real financial well-being.

Plus, they get into AI’s role in scams and why now is the moment for stronger consumer protections (not fewer).

Show notes
- Fairness by Design Playbook


Subscribe to the Money Isn’t Everything podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/money-isnt-everything 

Chapters:
[00:00] – Intro: What the Fairness & Design Playbook Is
[01:00] – Why Consumer Reports Built a Fintech Playbook
[03:00] – Filling the CFPB Gap in Consumer Protection
[06:00] – AI Scams and Voice Cloning Threats
[08:30] – Building with Consumers, Not for Them
[11:00] – How Financial Apps Can Be Designed Responsibly
[16:30] – What “Financial Well-Being” KPIs Should Look Like
[22:00] – Making Financial Health Part of Product Success
[26:30] – Designing for Inclusivity and Accessibility
[29:40] – Advice for Fintech Developers + What’s Next from CR

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“The checking account hasn't had meaningful innovation in a decade,” says Christian Widhalm, CEO of Bloom Credit.

 In today’s show, Mary talks to Christian about what it takes to make the product stand out, the open banking pricing debate and the case for why it’s time for BNPL payments to show up on credit reports. 

Show notes

• Bloom Credit
• Insights from Finovate 2024
• Credit Score Management: The $110 Billion Deposit and Payments Magnet

Subscribe to the Money Isn’t Everything podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/money-isnt-everything 

Chapters:
 [0:00] Welcome & Intro to Bloom Credit
 [1:10] Reinventing Credit Reporting
 [4:00] Turning Checking Accounts Into Credit Builders
 [6:30] Why Gen Z and Millennials Want This
 [9:50] The 64 Million “Thin File” Problem
 [13:00] How Credit Karma Changed the Game
 [18:40] Doing Good and Doing Well in Banking
 [20:50] The Data Access Debate: Plaid vs. Banks
 [26:30] Should “Buy Now, Pay Later” Count Toward Credit?
 [29:40] What’s Next for Fintech & Credit Innovation

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Debt collection doesn’t have to mean fear and shame. Gwyneth Borden, Remynt’s founder and CEO, joins Mary to explore a friendlier way for financial institutions to collect debt. Among the newer approaches: offering financial therapy, building credit while paying down debt and turning delinquency into long-term loyalty.

Show notes:

• Remynt

Subscribe to the Money Isn’t Everything podcast here: 

https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/money-isnt-everything 

Chapters:
[0:00] Intro – Meet Gwyneth Borden of Remynt
[0:31] The Mission to Rethink Debt Collection
[2:05] Why Fear and Shame Don’t Work
[5:30] Gwyneth’s Personal Debt Story
[7:19] Why Debt Collection Is Stuck in the Past
[9:42] Building Credit While Paying Off Debt
[14:00] The Psychology of Money & Financial Therapy
[22:15] How the Industry Mislabels People in Debt
[27:55] Gen Z and the Debt Crisis
[30:18] The Future of Credit Recovery

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Financial health checks on transactions? It’s happening.

James Neville, the CEO of Yaspa, chats with Mary about how open banking enables greater transparency and control to the high-risk sector of gambling. They also talk about where AI hits its limits and why Yaspa recently set up shop in Atlanta.

Show notes:
- Yaspa

Chapters:
[0:00] Intro – Meet James Neville
[0:54] Fintech’s Role in Gambling & Overspending
[5:55] Why Europe Leads on Responsible Payments
[9:51] Moving Operations to Atlanta
[11:41] Open Banking Under Pressure in the U.S.
[16:01] Can Fintechs Survive New Data Fees?
[17:12] Startup Life vs. Corporate Life
[19:06] AI in Banking – Missing the Personal Touch
[23:10] Stablecoins: Hype or Game-Changer?
[26:55] Final Thoughts & Lock Screen Surprise

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Banking for older Americans doesn’t exactly scream TikTok. But Kevin Nazemi, co-founder and CEO of Charlie, discovered short videos about scams are resonating with people and their families.

On today’s show: Why fraud thrives on urgency, how slowing down payments can help and why Kevin thinks friction in banking might actually be a good thing.

Show notes:

• Charlie

Chapters:
[0:00] Meet Kevin Nazemi, CEO of Charlie
[1:29] Why a Neobank Turned to TikTok
[3:15] How Fraud Content Goes Viral
[6:05] Scam Tactics That Actually Work
[10:24] The Psychology Behind Scams
[16:10] AI & The Future of Fraud
[20:26] Introducing “Speedbump” for Payments
[32:18] Why Launching a Startup Is Always Nerve-Wracking
[35:00] Interviewing President Clinton at Age 11
[39:19] Where to Find Kevin & Charlie

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The U.S. CEO of Zip has heard all kinds of knocks against Buy Now, Pay Later. In a wide-ranging conversation, Joe Heck tells Mary why the critics are wrong and why judgment has no place in personal finance.

Loans through Zip are originated by WebBank.

Show notes:

• Zip

Chapters:
[0:00] Welcome & Intro to Joe Heck, CEO of Zip
[1:01] Defending BNPL Against the Skeptics
[2:39] From Flint to Fintech: Joe’s Early Money Views
[5:07] Why Budgeting Tools Fail Like Fad Diets
[7:44] The Role of AI in Personal Finance
[10:17] Happy vs. Sad Spending: Making Money Simple
[14:11] BNPL for Groceries & Small Purchases
[18:05] Loan Stacking, Credit Scores & Myths
[26:08] Zip’s Global Roots & BNPL Adoption
[29:38] Final Thoughts & How to Reach Joe

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There’s plenty of buzz about “self-driving money.” But what about those moments when people want more than an algorithm? Mary talks with Sam Lewis, CEO of Fruitful, a fintech firm betting on both humans and AI. Sam shares what’s broken in the traditional advisor model, how Fruitful’s subscription approach works, and why TikTok isn’t the place for personal finance advice.

 Show notes:

• Fruitful

Chapters:
[00:00] Welcome & Guest Intro – Sam Lewis, CEO of Fruitful
[00:30] Blending Human Guidance with AI in Finance
[03:20] Building Trust & Transparency in Financial Services
[06:50] Why Personal Connection Matters for Financial Advice
[09:30] Business Model: $48/Month Membership Explained
[12:00] Data Aggregation, Open Banking & Payment Rails
[15:20] Coffee vs. Big Expenses: Rethinking Money Habits
[19:30] Self-Driving Money & AI’s Role in Personal Finance
[23:00] Overcoming Inertia: Making Finances Effortless
[27:50] TikTok Finance Advice & Final Thoughts

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JPMorgan Chase lit a fire under the fintech world. The biggest U.S. bank says it wants to start charging aggregators for access to data through the bank's API. 

Some call it a smart business move. Others say it’s a threat to open banking. So, who’s right?

Today on the show: Mary talks with Huw Davies, co-founder and chief executive at open finance company Ozone API, about what this shift could mean for banks, fintech firms and the rest of the industry. From pricing models to global lessons, Huw weighs into the money, the timing and the soap opera of U.S. banking regulation. Plus, they explore what many are not talking about right now: how banks are some of the biggest users of the technology.

Show notes:

• Ozone API

Chapters:
[00:00] Welcome & API Soap Opera Setup  
[00:41] Meet Huw Davies: Ozone API & Global Banking Lens  
[01:27] JP Morgan’s Bold Move to Charge Aggregators  
[03:06] Who Owns the Data? Industry Reactions & Murky Debates  
[05:02] API Monetization: A Bank’s Right or Overreach?  
[08:06] Pricing Models & Global Regulatory Lessons  
[13:13] Open Banking Blueprints: UK, UAE, and India Compared  
[19:47] Monetization Use Cases: Identity, Payments, Embedded Lending  
[24:00] What Should U.S. Banks Do Now? Strategic Advice Amid Confusion  
[28:15] Wrap-Up: Contact Huw & Lock Screen Fun

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The federal government is phasing out a range of paper checks in favor of digital payments.

On the show: Mary speaks to Lurein Perera, CEO and co-founder of GiveCard, a fintech company that helps nonprofits and government agencies issue and manage prepaid debit cards for direct cash assistance programs.

They chat about the slow disappearance of checks, the importance of financial inclusion, and why money apps need to understand a variety of languages to help build trust.

Show notes:

•GiveCard

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & The Origin of GiveCard
04:30 – Fixing Broken Systems: How GiveCard Works
07:00 – Disaster Relief in Action: LA Fires & Emergency Aid
12:00 – The Power of Cash: Real-Life Impact Stories
18:00 – Just Give People Money: Lessons from the Pandemic
25:00 – Branding with Purpose: Welcome to Giftopia
30:00 – Building for Trust & Dignity
35:00 – Founder Advice & Wrap-Up

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Sophia Goldberg, CEO and co-founder of Ansa and author of "The Field Guide to Global Payments," views Girl Math as a joyful expression. Sophia explores the social media trend with Mary and shares her view on why it matters to all brands. They also discuss what’s broken with gift cards and opine on reward programs that resonate with people.

Subscribe to the Money Isn’t Everything podcast here: 

https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/money-isnt-everything 

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