We’re continuing on this exploration of what it takes to build world-class products in financial services. Today, we have a fascinating conversation with Melissa Douros, the Chief Product Officer at Green Dot.

Green Dot is an interesting amalgamation – it’s one of the first banking as a service companies. But it’s also a bank. With a configurable platform, Green Dot has carved out a kind of a unique space in the industry, as an OG fintech/bank.

In this episode, Melissa shares her insights on digital transformation, product development strategies, and the role of emerging technologies in the fintech space. With over 20 years of experience in financial services, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a forward-thinking approach to her role at Green Dot.

We delve into topics such as what it takes to build the best banking experience, accelerating partner onboarding, leveraging data for strategic insights, and exploring cutting-edge technologies like AI and biometrics. Melissa's passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences shines through as she discusses the pillars of a successful product strategy.

Whether you're a fintech enthusiast, a product professional, or simply interested in the future of banking, this conversation is sure to provide valuable insights and thought-provoking perspectives.

The big ideas

Focus on delivering the best customer experience. "Our real focus is having people giving people the ability to transact with us the way that they want to."

Have a clear long term vision while executing short term goals. "How do we create that roadmap within each one of those that’s going to deliver on our vision?" 

Understand partners' needs and build tailored solutions. "We build out the solutions for them. So while we're showing them the things that we have, and the things that we can do, we're truly understanding where their problems are and their pain points."

Build reusable features to accelerate delivery. "We want to make sure that we have this fantastic reusable architecture, we actually have a team right now and an offsite figuring out an exact way to do that for a partner opportunity."

Use emerging tech like AI to solve specific problems. "I want to know what problems we have to solve? And then how are we going to use an emerging technology to do so."

Joining us today is Cory Kampfer, President of Small Business Lending at Enova, which operates the leading small business lending brands OnDeck and Headway Capital.

Cory has been immersed in the small business lending space since 2011 when he joined OnDeck. Over his tenure, he's witnessed the evolution of fintech lending and how it has transformed access to capital for Main Street businesses like retailers, contractors, accountants and more.

In this episode, Cory provides his unique perspective on the key financial needs and challenges facing small businesses today based on data insights from Enova's $18 billion in originated loans. He discusses how fintech lenders like OnDeck are able to better service this market compared to traditional banks and other financing sources.

Cory also shares how the borrower experience and application process has progressed over the years to become quicker and more digital-friendly. We'll learn what metrics and approaches Enova uses to continually improve that journey.

Whether you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, or just interested in the lending landscape, this is an insightful discussion you won't want to miss. Let's dive in!

The big ideas

SMBs struggle to access financing from traditional banks: "There still is a real gap in terms of traditional banks and financing sources lending to small businesses, not because I don't think they may want to, but they're just not calibrated to do it very well."

Online lending has become more accepted and appealing to SMBs: "What we see more that's very different from what we started with is, people, in many cases, go first to an online lender, because the application process is just so quick and easy. And they can get the answer that they need."

Using technology and data analytics is key to efficiently underwriting SMB loans: "We need to leverage technology. We have lending algorithms that help us through machine learning to give offers in a much more automated way...you need to leverage the data and the analytics, which our teams ingest, and then can give you a loan offer in the matter of minutes or hours."

A smooth application experience is crucial for attracting and retaining SMB borrowers: "In the application process, we want it to be a quick and easy process for them to be able to get through it...it's great to see that kind of repeat traffic because obviously what we did is working to help them grow their business."

SMBs are optimistic about growth despite challenges:

"The survey we just did, what it screams is that small businesses are very optimistic. They're hiring – you can see that in the data in terms of their investing more in employees. That's kind of putting their money, where their mouth is."

Today, we're diving into the modern CFO stack, including corporate spend management and financial tech with our guest - Ben Gammell, the CFO of Brex.

Brex has been shaking up how companies large and small approach spending, providing an integrated platform for everything from corporate cards to spend analytics. It's been quite a journey for Ben, who started at Brex just as the firm was getting off the ground with 15 employees.

Ben gives us an inside look at Brex's evolution from scrappy startup to serving over 120 public companies today. We'll learn how the CFO role has transformed, expanding well beyond just finance into true cross-functional business partnership.

Ben doesn't hold back - offering refreshing insights about navigating the IPO journey for Brex clients – but also for Brex itself, managing finances through turbulent times, and the key transitions every CFO faces as their company goes public. You'll want to take notes!

But don't worry, we'll keep it fun too by tapping into Ben's lead generation skills honed from his Goldman days. Who knows, you may walk away wanting to sign up for Brex as a customer yourself!

So get ready for an engaging discussion blending savvy business strategy with the realities of life as a startup CFO. Settle in and let's get started with Ben Gammell of Brex.

The big ideas

Brex has evolved from serving just startups to also catering to larger enterprise clients, including public companies: "I think there's been a big dynamic of, you know, how do we think about, you know, when we're early stage, we're primarily supporting our businesses with financial services products. But as we moved up into the enterprise customers, there's a greater need for a software solution...We have over 120 public companies on our platform today. Many of them are very much household names, especially in the tech space."

The role of a CFO has expanded beyond just finance to being more integrated with understanding the business drivers and partnering across functions: "I think that there is definitely a case where CFOs are expected to have more of a integrated sense of understanding of the business, I think, even if you look at how finance teams are structured, that's kind of gone the trend where it's, you know, it's having embedded teams within different functions, providing kind of finance support."

Brex is taking time in 2023 to integrate their products into a seamless enterprise solution rather than building new products rapidly: "A big hairy goal is just making sure that we have a really great product from a user experience perspective, and making sure that all the products we've built over the last several years, really work seamlessly with one another and really integrated in a really delightful experience for our customers."

The CFO community is surprisingly collaborative and tight-knit, willing to share learnings: "I think it's an amazingly collaborative community, which I think is fantastic, especially for more new entrants, such as myself, I think there's definitely an openness to help each other out."

There are key transitions a CFO needs to make as a company goes public around measuring success beyond just valuation: "I think there's this transition phase, especially the CFOs have to go through, you know, going up to an IPO of making sure the company measures its success and things that aren't just what is the value of the company? Because I think if you do that you're setting yourself up for failure."

Welcome to the Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller.

What's up FinTech fam? On today's episode, we're going deep on an innovative new way to tap into your home's equity - without taking on more debt.

Our guest is John Green, co-founder and CEO of Nada, the first SEC-qualified platform allowing homeowners to access their home equity in exchange for a share of the future appreciated value. John breaks down how Nada's unique "home equity investment agreements" provide much-needed liquidity for owners while offering investors access to the $30 trillion residential real estate market.

We learn about the multi-year journey John and his team undertook to navigate the regulatory minefields of consumer finance and securities laws. John pulls back the curtain on Nada's business model, including their creative distribution partnerships and their plans to take these equity funds public as REITs.

You'll hear John's bold vision to make home equity as liquid and accessible as checking your savings account balance. From debt relief to fueling consumer spending, he shares how unlocking this massive asset class could drive huge economic empowerment.

John also gets candid about leadership lessons he's learned as an "unreluctant extrovert" and former full-time punk rocker! It's an insightful discussion at the intersection of fintech disruption, regulatory innovation, and an audacious founder's journey.

Join us for this fascinating look into making one of the largest asset classes finally available to everyone. Let's go!

On today's episode, we're going behind the scenes at one of the most successful money apps out there - Cash App. Our special guest is Ryan Budd, the head of financial products at Cash App, and he's giving us an inside look at Cash App's evolution into a financial powerhouse.

Cash App started as a simple way to send money to friends, but as Ryan explains, it has become so much more. We're talking full-service banking, investing, crypto trading, tax services - the works! Ryan opens up about Cash App's bold vision to be a "one-stop shop" for all your money needs.

But how has this ambitious fintech company maintained its startup hustle and breakneck innovation pace even as it has exploded to over 57 million monthly users? Ryan pulls back the curtain on Cash App's unique team structure filled with "mini CEOs" laser-focused on different product verticals.

He also shares insights into Cash App's drive to bank the underbanked and economically empower communities that have been overlooked by traditional finance. From automated money management to increasing access to credit, Cash App wants to be the #1 choice for how people take control of their financial lives.

Ryan maps out their goal to create the "next gen community bank" by intelligently merging banking, commerce, and that powerful network effect. It's a candid conversation that you won't want to miss!

The big ideas

Cash App as a Comprehensive Financial Platform

Ryan highlights Cash App's evolution from a money transfer service to a comprehensive financial platform: "Everyone knows Cash App has this place to send money to their friends and their families. But a lot of them don't really realise that we've become so much more than that."

Focus on Banking the Base

Cash App aims to deepen its user engagement by becoming the primary banking service for its users: "When we think about banking the base, it's how do we get more customers to actually use us as their primary banking utility?"

Automation and Financial Health

The platform's automation features aim to simplify financial management for users: "You can deposit your paycheck and then we rolled out this auto allocation feature a few months back automatically set a percentage of it to savings, automatically set a percent to investing into Bitcoin."

Incentives to Retain User Funds

Cash App provides significant incentives for users to keep their money within the app, such as high savings yields and overdraft features: "If you deposit your paycheck to Cash App, you get 4.5% savings yield, you get this incredible overdraft feature that allows you to go negative without any interest or fees or anything of the sort."

Synergy Between Cash App and Square

Integrating Cash App with Square's merchant services enhances user experience and creates a seamless ecosystem: "I'm sure you've probably seen at Square point of sale systems, there's oftentimes a little Cash App barcode that's there that you can scan and use Cash App Pay."

Innovative Team Structure and Culture

Cash App's success is driven by a lean, autonomous team structure that empowers employees to innovate: "Every single person knows that they're supposed to own that vertical and they look at name X competitor in that space, and they say we're going to beat them... And they're really incentivized and empowered to kind of really think outside the box and push things."

Welcome to the Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller.

Today I'm joined by Luke Voiles, CEO of Pipe, a high profile revenue-based lender that’s evolving into a platform – we’ll talk a lot about this evolution.

Luke has had an extensive career journey that has prepared him for his role at Pipe. After starting in private equity, he joined Intuit where he helped build and lead the QuickBooks Capital team, providing capital to small businesses during the PPP loan program. He then went to Square to run their banking division before being recruited to join Pipe as CEO. I’ve actually interviewed Luke in each one of these roles and it’s been fascinating for me to watch his own growth as a product-driven leader.

In our conversation, Luke shares insights from his experience at companies like Intuit and Square that have shaped his leadership approach and methodology for building products. We discuss how he has applied lessons around having a clear mission, focusing on the customer experience, and balancing speed with compliance in regulated industries like fintech.

Luke provides a look inside Pipe's evolution from its original vision to the newly launched "Capital as a Service" offering. He explains the strategic prioritization that enabled them to build a scalable product quickly. We also get a preview into Pipe's future plans, including AI-powered tools to streamline operations for small business owners.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, operator at a startup, or just interested in financial technology and product development, I think you'll find Luke's perspectives insightful. So enjoy my conversation with Luke Voiles of Pipe.

Welcome to another episode of The Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller

Banks and other FIs continue to look for higher engagement with their customers. Logging into an account and refreshing a balance doesn’t create relationships. So, what’s an FI to do to drive real engagement. Michigan State University Federal Credit Union has rolled out a loyalty program that delivers gift cards directly to customers inside their accounts by merchants trying to acquire new customers. The program uses customer data to target offers that matter. And this is just the beginning as banks and credit unions find ways to extend their value proposition, building and strengthening relationships with their customers.

I’m joined by Ben Maxim, Chief Innovation Officer at Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, and Brendan Grove, CTO of PrizeOut, who are to share their insights on how financial institutions are looking to provide more value to their customers, extended beyond that tried and true toaster.

We’ll discuss the power of partnerships between credit unions and fintech companies, and explore topics like the evolution of loyalty solutions, the challenges of integrating new technologies into existing credit union infrastructures, and the exciting possibilities for enhancing member engagement through personalized data-driven experiences.

So, whether you're a bank or credit union product person, a fintech aficionado, or just curious about the future of banking, you're in for a treat. Let's get started!

We recently held a LinkedIn Live event, entitled "Card Launch 101," where we dove deep into the strategies, insights, and best practices for launching and growing successful card products in the fintech and banking industries.

Featuring industry experts:

Scott Johnson, Vice President of Revenue at Galileo Financial Technologies

Marc Butterfield, SVP of Innovation and Disruption at FNBO 

Jack Rubin, SVP of Consumer Financial Solutions at DailyPay

Listen is as these professionals share their wealth of knowledge and experience in scaling partnerships, driving innovation, and navigating the complexities of launching card products in today's dynamic landscape.

Here's what we discussed:

Understanding Card Launches: Gain insights into the key components of a successful card launch strategy, including strategic planning, market research, and product development.

Identifying Your Audience: Learn how to identify and understand your target audience through effective market research and data analysis.

Creating Your Card: Explore the process of designing and developing card products, from features and branding to user experience and regulatory compliance.

Partnerships and Business Development: Discover the role of partnerships in scaling card programs and expanding market reach, with real-world examples of successful partnership strategies.

Marketing and Promotion: Get insider tips on marketing and promoting your card product effectively, including targeted messaging, branding, and customer acquisition tactics.

Case Studies and Success Stories: Hear real-world examples of successful card launches and gain valuable insights and lessons learned from industry leaders.

To download Tearsheet's Card Guide 101, from ideating, partnering, building, launching and optimizing a card program, go to http://tearsheet.co/cardguide

Welcome to another episode of The Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller.

In this episode, we'll be diving deep into the world of customer experience (CX) transformation with Vanguard, one of the leading names in investment management. Joining us are Aaron Taylor, Chief Information Officer, and Marco De Freitas, Head of CX and Digital, two seasoned professionals who have been instrumental in Vanguard's CX modernization journey.

Throughout our conversation, we'll explore Vanguard's approach to modernizing its digital channels, client journeys, and service platforms. From laying down the foundational pillars to unlocking the potential of ‘CX Alpha’, Aaron and Marco share invaluable insights into how Vanguard is improving the way clients interact with their services.

We'll delve into the parallel advancements made by Vanguard, the impact of fintech innovations on their CX strategy, and how they measure the success of their initiatives both internally and with clients.

Stay tuned as we uncover the seminal steps behind Vanguard's CX transformation, explore the significance of data accessibility and personalized interventions, and discover what lies ahead in their journey towards even greater CX innovation.

So sit back, relax, and get ready to embark on an insightful episode into Vanguard’s CX modernization journey. Let's dive in!

Welcome to another episode of The Tearsheet Podcast, where we explore financial services together with an eye on technology, innovation, emerging models, and changing expectations. I’m Tearsheet’s editor in chief, Zack Miller.

Today, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Dee Choubey, CEO of MoneyLion.

In our chat, Dee takes us on a journey through MoneyLion's evolution, from its early days as a venture-backed neobank to its current position as a headline fintech stock. With a blend of insight and humor, he shares the company's shift from a growth-at-all-costs mindset to a more sustainable position focused on distribution, strategy, and morale. Through market ups and downs,

Dee underscores the vital role of staying mission-driven and the focused dedication of MoneyLion's team to empower Americans with better financial tools and literacy.

Looking ahead, Dee paints a vibrant picture of MoneyLion's future, where AI-driven search capabilities impact how consumers interact with their finances. MoneyLion isn’t the same company it was when I spoke with Dee almost 5 years ago. Since then, the firm has acquired two businesses which now function as an embedded banking product platform and an influencer content studio.

With a comprehensive product catalog, a dynamic consumer marketplace, and trendy media business capabilities, MoneyLion is poised to lead a charge in reshaping the future of finance.

So buckle up for an enlightening and entertaining conversation as we explore the past, present, and future of MoneyLion with the ever-insightful CEO, Dee Choubey.

The big ideas

Shift from Growth-At-All-Costs to Sustainable Strategy: "In 2019, we were a venture-backed, serious business. The expectation was continued growth of 100 to 150%. Keep burning. Don't worry about the burn."

Maniacal Obsession with Mission: "What got us through it was a maniacal obsession with mission. Our mission is to rewire the financial system, to give every American the right tools to make the best financial decisions."

AI-Driven Financial Search Capability: "Our search capability, AI-driven search across all of your financial institutions, you can talk to MoneyLion very soon and say, 'Hey, what happened this day, last year? This day, two years ago?'"

Empowering Americans with Financial Literacy: "Our ability to actually offer at scale, consumers the right financial basket, I think we're probably further ahead on that than most because we have the consumer in the marketplace."

Focus on Distribution, Strategy, and Morale: "My role has moved from being much more tactical and execution-oriented to much more focused on distribution, strategy, and morale, kind of like the vision and the mission."

Staying Mission-Driven Amid Market Volatility: "It's always better to multiply your options by a larger number than a lower number. We've had our days. At one point, the market cap had fallen below $100 million. But it's just owning your destiny."