Episodes

  • News From The Fintech Front: AI, Stablecoin Strategy & Fintech M&A
    Apr 24 2025
    In This Episode This week on Breaking Banks, Don Ginsel, host of our sister show Breaking Banks Europe, takes our mic and brings the conversation stateside. Don is joined by Nik Milanović, founder of This Week in Fintech, for a wide-ranging and energizing discussion of the latest forces shaping the fintech landscape. From the evolving role of traditional banks and increasing interest in stablecoins to the current state of fintech M&A, the rise of fraud, and the impact of AI on financial services, Don and Nik cover the topics on everyone's mind. Whether you're a founder, investor, or financial exec, this overview of the trends, risks, and opportunities is not to be missed.
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    39 mins
  • What The Future Looks Like in Finance and Fintech: Jo Ann Barefoot, Nick Hughes and Brett King Live From Virgin Unite
    Apr 17 2025
    In This Episode In a rare and inspiring crossover episode, Breaking Banks teams up with Barefoot Innovation to bring you a special dispatch from Necker Island, BVI. Hosted by Brett King and Jo Ann Barefoot, this episode captures the energy and insight of a one-of-a-kind fintech gathering organized by Virgin Unite: an event bringing together innovators from around the world, from a cross section of industry, exploring what the future of finance could (and should) look like. Podcasts hosts and speakers Brett and Jo Ann share their talks and insights from this carbon neutral event, connecting with Dr. Nick Hughes, OBE, father of M-Pesa, co-founder of M-Kopa and now Managing Director 4rdigital.com, the fourth revolution is digital, to cover all things fintech. Listen as these leaders discuss applications of fintech in other markets and all that is possible if we come out of our silos and collaborate -- the combination of problem solving perspectives, resources, networks and more can make an impact on some of the world's toughest challenges. We have the tech to do what we need to do, the potential is enormous! If you're looking for inspiration and forward-thinking ideas this episode delivers!
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    41 mins
  • Insider Advice From A Serial Entrepreneur, Cokie Hasiotis
    Apr 10 2025
    In This Episode Killing It is back! Jason Henrichs' series on banking and fintech entrepreneurs returns with Cokie Hasiotis In this episode of Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs connects with Cokie, serial entrepreneur and exited founder of Twali and drippi. Cokie candidly shares her entrepreneurial journey, providing insights into the emotional challenges and tolls inherent in entrepreneurship, and the stress of pivoting business. She also reflects on how these experiences have shaped her, underscoring the significance of community, the importance of self-awareness and filtering advice from others. Tune in to hear more about identity as a founder, navigating loss, soft landings, and transitioning to new opportunities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar6NpEoUw4Y
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    35 mins
  • Fintech Podcast Mashup: Breaking Banks x Fintech Daydreaming
    Apr 3 2025
    In This Episode This week on Breaking Banks, it’s a powerhouse podcast mashup you won’t want to miss. What happens when two leading voices in fintech join forces? You get a fast-paced, insight-packed conversation on the future of finance, banking innovation, and emerging technologies—recorded live in Finland. Breaking Banks host Brett King teams up with Pål Krogdahl and Ville Sointu, hosts of the Nordics’ #1 fintech podcast Fintech Daydreaming, for a high-level exploration of where the industry is headed next. In this episode, they dive into some of the most important developments shaping the future of financial services, including: *The rise of mobile money and how it's reshaping economies *The role of digital identity in secure, seamless transactions *The concept of Q-Day and its long-term implications for cybersecurity in banking *Smart contracts and business process in an autonomous algorithmic marketplace *Agentic AI, KYM (Know Your Machine) and AI in Financial Transactions, and *A sneak peek at Brett’s upcoming book, Branch Tomorrow This wide-ranging conversation serves as both a primer and a deep dive into the innovations transforming fintech right now. Whether you're tracking the next big trend or trying to stay ahead of digital disruption, this episode delivers high-value insights from three thought leaders at the forefront of change. Listen now and get future-ready! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_SjmoJZlY4
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    48 mins
  • Foiling the Invisible Heist: The New Banking Playbook to Land and Expand Commercial Relationships through Digital Banking
    Mar 27 2025
    In This Episode There’s something happening beneath the surface of every pizza order, every childcare payment, and every invoice sent by businesses across America. A quiet revolution that most people— sometimes even business owners themselves— have barely noticed. Traditional banks are being methodically extracted from the daily financial lives of businesses, replaced by something more streamlined, more embedded, as banking becomes just another node in a business operating system. We dug into those threats last episode on “The Invisible Heist”. This week, Jorge Garcia, Founder and CEO of Linker Finance, and Samer Saab, SVP of Product for Alloy Labs, join host JP Nicols and co-host Barb MacLean as we look at some viable options for banks to foil the heist and create a competitive response. We’ll look at the surprising opportunities sitting right in front of us, and how banks are rewriting the playbook to land and expand commercial customers through digital banking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX2D6ZE2DdM
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    48 mins
  • The Invisible Heist: How Software Companies Are Quietly Stealing Your Commercial Relationships
    Mar 20 2025
    In This Episode Banking executives, your business customers aren’t leaving you for another bank—they’re leaving banking altogether— at least partially. For now. As a part of our “Unbreak the Bank” series we dissect the most significant existential threat to community financial institutions since the 2008 crisis: the systematic extraction of business banking services into everyday business software. Community banks are hemorrhaging 12-18% of operational deposits annually to companies that don’t even consider themselves “banks”, and they’re moving upmarket. The competitive battlefield has shifted, and “relationship banking” is not enough to compete. Customers are integrating business solutions into their daily workflow, and banks risks being shut out altogether. Discover why the future isn’t about being the best business bank – it’s about being a relevant layer in the best business experience. Fintech Takes founder Alex Johnson and Velocita founder Barb MacLean join host JP Nicols to reveal how embedded lending is systematically dismantling banking relationships as Quickbooks, Square, Toast, and others integrate financial services directly into business workflows, and explore some options for how banks can respond. https://youtu.be/FV5wUyhng6c?si=KpsHDtG0V4rRXSWt
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    43 mins
  • Hot Takes on Banking Regulation, Standards, AI, and Fraud
    Mar 6 2025
    In This Episode Powered by U.S. Bank and recorded live at Fintech Xchange hosted by the Stena Center for Financial Technology, this episode dives into the most pressing issues shaping financial services today. In our first segment, Jason Henrichs chats with Sima Ghandi, Sr Advisor FS Vector, Co-Founder of Coalition of Financial Ecosystem Standards (CFES) and Phil Goldfeder, CEO American Fintech Council (AFC). AFC, a standards-based organization representing large financial technology (Fintech) companies and innovative banks, promotes a transparent, inclusive, and customer-centric financial system supporting innovation and access to responsible financial products. CFES is a new (2024) industry-led organization with the goal of developing standards that promote safety and soundness for non-banks participating in financial services. They cover: · The growing role of bank-fintech partnerships in innovation and growth, and expanding access to financial services.· The importance of clear risk management and compliance standards in maintaining operational and business viability in the fast-moving world of financial services Then, the conversation shifts to AI and fraud prevention as Jason speaks with John Sun, CEO of Spring Labs, and Simon Taylor, Head of Content & Strategy at Sardine. Sardine offers an AI risk platform for fraud, credit and compliance, and Spring Labs provides an AI-Native conversational intelligence platform that turns chatter into actionable insight. Together, they explore: · The future of financial services in a world increasingly reliant on automation and robots· The broader implications of AI and Generative AI in shaping the future of financial services From standards setting in banking and fintech to AI and fraud this episode delivers hot takes and expert insights on the opportunities, risks, and evolving landscape of financial technology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBdMjPG1rvE
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    37 mins
  • Fintech Xchange ’25: Hot Takes into BaaS and the Future of Banking
    Feb 28 2025
    In This Episode This week, we bring you Part III of exclusive insights from Fintech Xchange '25 at the Stena Center for Financial Technology and the University of Utah, powered by U.S. Bank. Host Jason Henrichs engages in a dynamic discussion with Jason Mikula of Fintech Business Weekly and Chris Black, CEO & President of Thread Bank. Their conversation spans topics from Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and regulatory shifts under the new administration to the dual-edged nature of innovation in today's financial landscape. Chris delves into Thread Bank's unique transformation as it evolved from the historic Civis Bank—established in 1906—into a fintech-enabled community bank. In 2021, new leadership recapitalized and revitalized the institution by adopting an industrial approach to BaaS and launching Thread. Thread's goal is to deliver the unparalleled value of a community bank to individuals and businesses, leveraging intuitive technology to meet customers where they are. Maintaining two local branches, Thread is delivering on its mission of embedded banking -- deposits, loans, and payments, and exemplifies the integration of traditional banking services with modern embedded banking solutions. By transcending geographical limitations and focusing on scalable, durable models, Thread collaborates with partners to manage risks and capitalize on the strengths of partnership banking. In the second segment, University of Utah alumnus Rhett Roberts, CEO & Co-founder of LoanPro, joins "the Jasons" to discuss the evolving fintech ecosystem and APIs. Are they coming of age? Naturally they talk about cores, and how banks are in the process of conscious decoupling to build resilient infrastructures in order to weather future disruptions. Rhett shares LoanPro's journey from inception to powering some of the biggest lenders in fintech. LoanPro offers a scalable, API-first lending and credit platform that fosters innovation by streamlining origination, servicing, collections, and payments across various loan types, lines of credit, and credit cards. This narrative underscores the transformative impact of fintech solutions in modernizing financial services. Listen and watch to explore these compelling stories! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RC9Gt9PodA
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    52 mins
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