Episodes

  • S9 E9: Not Fintech Investment Advice: Paydock, Bluespine, Astrada, and Rise

    S9 E9: Not Fintech Investment Advice: Paydock, Bluespine, Astrada, and Rise
    Nov 27 2024
    Welcome back to Not Fintech Investment Advice, where we spotlight new and exciting fintechs. I’m Alex Johnson, creator of Fintech Takes, joined by Simon Taylor who’s gracing us stateside in Washington, DC. It’s been a wild week—imagine the former FDIC chair on stage as news broke that the *current* FDIC chair, Marty Gruenberg, had resigned, all in a room packed with regulators and sponsor banks…and the two of us. Talk about a vibe shift. Big shoutout to the American Fintech Council for putting on a wonderful event. First up, Paydock is flipping the script on merchant acquiring—think "bank direct," but for acquiring, not issuing. They’re upgrading bank tech without the messy, painful internal overhaul. This way, banks can woo new customers with modern features they couldn’t offer before while staying price-competitive. Next, Bluespine is automating self-insurance for large employers with an AI-powered platform tailored to each company's plan. Self-insurance works for big companies, but being the insurer is costly. A recent Money 20/20 report highlights a clash: AI companies pushing for productivity gains VS others focus on cutting costs. How these forces play out will be key. Then, Astrada is reimagining embedded finance with “bring your own card” (BYOC) as a service, allowing platforms to offer financial perks without issuing cards. Given that Navan’s BYOC pivot unlocked partnerships with Citibank and Brex, and Visa and Mastercard are adapting, too, this trend raises a key question: Will Ramp stick to their proprietary system, or will BYOC become the new norm? And lastly, Rise is using stablecoins to solve the nightmare of paying global contractors. Could this decentralized approach be the future of seamless cross-border payments? Let's dive in and find out. Plus, we dive into the future of fintech innovation, from building regulatory visibility to exploring how a "call report" for fintechs could reshape market transparency and regulatory oversight. 00:03:28 - Paydock 00:14:35 - Bluespine 00:25:18 - Astrada 00:37:59 - Rise 00:50:38 - Manifesting Fintech Ideas Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page. Follow Simon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sytaylor/ Substack: https://sytaylor.substack.com Follow Alex: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson Companies featured: https://paydock.com/ https://www.bluespine.io/ https://astrada.co/ https://www.riseworks.io/
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    59 mins
  • Fintech in 2025: Where the Industry Goes Next - The State of Credit in 2025

    Fintech in 2025: Where the Industry Goes Next - The State of Credit in 2025
    Nov 25 2024
    Welcome to the Fintech Takes Podcast, live from Money 2020. Today, we’re diving into the state of credit—a topic I’m passionate about—but I’ve brought in two experts to lead the way. Joining me are Matthew Goldman, publisher of Cards for the Win and founder of Totavii, a consultancy for building fintech products, and Todd Pollak, CRO at Marqeta. We'll unpack insights from Marqeta’s latest U.S. credit report and explore why credit cards are so weird–and why even satisfied customers are quick to switch on a dime. With 3,000 credit cards on the market, differentiation is tough. So, who’s got the right formula for success? As fintechs chase profitability, credit cards are being reimagined with embedded finance, but is convenience the key, or is there a hidden danger lurking in the drive for seamlessness? From the "unsexy" stuff (loan servicing, collections) to the sexy innovations (virtual cards, digital wallets), we explore what’s next for credit and whether it’s time to rethink how credit works. Teaser: The real value of credit cards isn’t the money…it’s something else. Tune in to find out! Transform your business with Marqeta's modern card issuing platform. Our open API platform allows businesses to instantly issue cards and process payments. Integrate end to end credit and payment solutions into your business processes using our modern card issuing platform. Learn more at marqueta.com Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page. Follow Matthew: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgoldman/ Follow Todd: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-pollak-991b6/ Follow Alex: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson
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    34 mins
  • S9 E8: Special Solo Recap on Deregulation, Marqeta, and Crypto’s Paradox

    S9 E8: Special Solo Recap on Deregulation, Marqeta, and Crypto’s Paradox
    Nov 20 2024
    Welcome to Fintech Takes, the podcast breaking down the latest in fintech news and trends. I'm Alex Johnson, your self-proclaimed Fintech nerd and creator of the Fintech Takes newsletter. We’re shaking up our regular schedule with a special solo episode of my 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀. What’s that, you ask? It’s my monthly hangout with fellow fintech nerds where we unpack the latest industry news, field audience questions, and have a candid chat. If you haven’t joined one yet, mark your calendar for December! Now, let’s dive in. First up: The Election. While I’m staying out of politics, I’m exploring what Trump’s reelection could mean for fintech. Deregulation is on the horizon, and early shifts in financial services are already happening. But will this “Amish rumspringer” in finance trigger another speculative frenzy? Is deregulation the right answer, or could it lead to long-term consumer challenges? Next: Marqeta. The card issuer processor’s stock plummeted 30% after Q3 earnings. Big clients are bringing program management in-house, signaling a major shift. As regulatory scrutiny rises, the old model where Visa and Mastercard acted as quasi-regulators may crumble. For intermediaries like Marqeta, it’s adapt or lose key revenue. Then, FDIC’s new report on financial inclusion: progress is being made, but many Americans are still left out of traditional banking. Can fintech close the gap, or is the system too rigid to change? Finally, crypto remains a paradox. New FDIC data shows it’s mostly for wealthy, young, banked investors—not the empowerment tool many promised, contrary to what Coinbase et al would have us believe. Is crypto reshaping financial services, or actually deepening divides? Tune in to find out. 00:02:32 - The “Amish Rumspringa” of finance begins 00:29:13 - Marqeta and the canary in the coal mine 00:36:20 - The unbanked and underbanked 00:48:17 - Crypto’s paradox Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page. Follow Alex: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson
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    55 mins
  • Fintech in 2025: Where the Industry Goes Next - The Optimists' Case for Fintech in 2025

    Fintech in 2025: Where the Industry Goes Next - The Optimists' Case for Fintech in 2025
    Nov 18 2024
    Alright, folks—let’s ditch the doom and gloom. In this episode, recorded live from Money 2020 with the CEO of Marqeta, Simon Khalaf, we’re breaking down why there’s actually plenty to be optimistic about in the world of fintech as we head into 2025. Regulators catching up to fintech might seem like a buzzkill, but here’s the twist: it’s a sign the industry has finally made it. We dive deep into why regulatory clarity, infrastructure upgrades, and smart AI adoption are setting the stage for the next wave of fintech innovation. Plus, Simon shares why now is the perfect time to align incentives and leverage tech for sustainable growth. If you’re tired of all the negativity around fintech’s future, tune in for a refreshing take on why the best is yet to come. Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page. Follow Simon: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonkhalaf/ Twitter: https://x.com/simonkhalaf Follow Alex: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson
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    35 mins
  • S9 E7: Bank Nerd Corner: CFPB, All Day, Every Day

    S9 E7: Bank Nerd Corner: CFPB, All Day, Every Day
    Nov 13 2024
    Recording the day after the election, vibes are strange, and the future’s a question mark—but fintech regulation? Still full steam ahead. This week on Bank Nerd Corner, Kiah and Alex welcome special guest Evan Weinberger, Bloomberg Law’s banking and fintech regulatory correspondent, to break down the latest from the CFPB. Together, they dig into comment letters from banks and fintechs alike (Kiah takes the bank letters; Alex, the fintech ones), shedding light on why traditional banks are pushing for tighter fintech regulations as fintechs like Mercury make their case. Both banks and consumer advocates agree that regulators *can* police fintechs under the Bank Service Company Act, but there’s a catch: the Act is vague, resources are thin, and regulators are swamped. It’s a tug-of-war over control of your deposits. Not to mention, they tackle recent CFPB orders exposing cracks in fintech-bank partnerships—from Goldman-Apple’s costly fumbles to VyStar’s tech mess with Nimbus. And to wrap it up, Kiah, Alex, and Evan play "Bank Nerd Draft," sharing their all-time favorite moments in CFPB history. Ah, fintech regulation—here’s lookin’ at you, kid. Raising the standard of quality for embedded finance infrastructure, Newline™ by Fifth Third is an API platform that enables enterprises to launch and scale payment, card and deposit products directly with Fifth Third Bank. Learn more at newline53.com Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page. Follow Evan: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-weinberger-3746aa4/ Follow Kiah: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaslett/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/khaslett Follow Alex: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson
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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • S9 E6: Money20/20, 2024: BaaS and Open Banking and AI (Oh My!)

    S9 E6: Money20/20, 2024: BaaS and Open Banking and AI (Oh My!)
    Nov 6 2024
    Welcome to another special Fintech Takes episode. I’m Alex Johnson, just back from four intense days at Money20/20 in Las Vegas, and here to unpack it all with me is my friend Jason Henrichs, CEO of Alloy Labs and co-host of the Breaking Banks podcast. In this crossover, we’re breaking down the major topics of Money20/20, 2024 edition. This year, it was all about major topics: bank-fintech partnerships, banking as a service, open banking (1033, anyone?), and, of course, AI. First up, open banking stole the show. Just last week, the CFPB finalized the 1033 rule, igniting some serious debates. I even interviewed Director of the CFPB, Rohit Chopra, on stage, where he tackled the ongoing lawsuit from big banks trying to block the Personal Financial Data Rights Rule (AKA open banking 👋). Meanwhile, the conversations around bank-fintech partnerships, third-party risk management, and BaaS were less dramatic and more…solutions-oriented, circling around setting standards and ensuring that smaller fintech companies have access to bank partnerships. As for AI? Even OpenAI admitted that AI might be overhyped heading into 2025, and the industry is ready for real talk on its utility. Innovation may headline Money20/20, but this year’s main act? Regulators. Gone are the days when crypto and disruption headlined; in 2024, it’s all about regulatory stakes grounding the industry in today’s…reality—fancy that. Raising the standard of quality for embedded finance infrastructure, Newline™ by Fifth Third is an API platform that enables enterprises to launch and scale payment, card and deposit products directly with Fifth Third Bank. Learn more at newline53.com Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page. Follow Alex: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson Follow Jason: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhenrichs/ Breaking Banks podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-banks/id641357669
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    29 mins
  • S9 E5: The CFPB, Cash + Culture Party Podcast (Live from MX's Money Experience Summit)

    S9 E5: The CFPB, Cash + Culture Party Podcast (Live from MX's Money Experience Summit)
    Oct 30 2024
    Welcome to a special edition of Fintech Takes, recorded live from MX's Money Experience Summit in beautiful Park City, Utah. Big shout-out to MX for letting me squeeze in some live podcasting–my favorite thing to do! First up, I chat with Ashwin Vasan, senior advisor at FS Vector, and Kelvin Chen, head of policy at the Consumer Bankers Association—two ex-CFPB experts who help untangle the knots of financial services regulation. We dive into policy talk (recorded before the CFPB's open banking rule dropped), and the messy middle ground of banking and fintech. Plus, we explore how banks are scrambling to stay relevant as embedded finance and BaaS dominate, and why seamless customer experience is the new battleground. Next, I sit down with Jesse Mecham, founder of YNAB, to unpack his philosophy of mindful money management. We chat about how YNAB encourages users to think intentionally about managing their money, challenging the usual fintech rush for speed and convenience that leaves users out of the loop on their own financial decisions. And last but not least, MX founder and freshly returned CEO, Ryan Caldwell, joins to chat about MX’s real secret sauce: its culture. And his passion for culture is contagious. Ryan highlights how leadership, values, and intentional culture is the driver for team dynamics *and* customer outcomes: culture drives results, leadership makes the difference, and in fintech, both are non-negotiable. 00:01:34: Ashwin Vasan, FS Vector + Kelvin Chen, Consumer Bankers Association 00:28:01 Jesse Mecham, YNAB 00:53:45 Ryan Caldwell, MX Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page. Follow Alex: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson Companies featured: https://fsvector.com/ https://consumerbankers.com/ https://www.ynab.com/ https://www.mx.com/
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • S9 E4: Trust is a Two-way Street

    S9 E4: Trust is a Two-way Street
    Oct 23 2024
    In this special guest episode, Alex catches up with founder and CEO of Bloom Money, Nina Mohanty, about a pressing yet overlooked issue: first-party fraud. They kick off by exploring the viral "infinite money glitch" trend on TikTok—yep, it’s first-party fraud, whether people know it, admit it, or not…and it’s on the rise. During the pandemic, neobanks like Chime, PayPal, and Cash App saw explosive growth, but that came with an explosive surge in fraud and disputes, too. In their quest for top-line numbers, many overlooked rising first-party fraud, exploiting gaps like the ACH settlement window. While traditional banks clamped down on this behavior, fintechs allowed it to thrive. This shift in consumer behavior poses major concerns. How do we balance protecting consumers while holding them accountable? What impact does this have on product development, customer communication, and overall trust in fintech? What does it mean for the wider ecosystem when people are being encouraged to engage in first party fraud? Tune in for a candid discussion on fraud and its broader implications for financial services. Raising the standard of quality for embedded finance infrastructure, Newline™ by Fifth Third is an API platform that enables enterprises to launch and scale payment, card and deposit products directly with Fifth Third Bank. Learn more at newline53.com 00:07:29 – Chase ATMs meet the infinite money “glitch” trend 00:20:01 – The explosion of disputed credit card transactions 00:35:31 – Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud in the UK 00:45:23 – Who bears responsibility: financial services or consumers? Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/ And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page. Follow Nina: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninamohanty/ Follow Alex: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson
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    1 hr and 9 mins