Breaking Banks

Latest Episodes:

The Rise and Fall of the Branch Bank: Branch Tomorrow Aug 21, 2025

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In This Episode This week on Breaking Banks we're excited to introduce Brett King's latest book, Branch Tomorrow. This new book re-examines our understanding of bank branches, banking culture, and the future of financial services across the globe, from the US to India, China and Latin America. In a special Breaking Banks series, Brett interviews contributing authors Bruno Diniz, Efi Pylarinou, Jim Marous, Paolo Sironi, and Richard Turrin to deliver a multi-perspective global look at banking. Each author brings specialties in different markets; all analyzing changes and data from the past decade to what's been happening with branch banking and providing insights into the ongoing transformation in finance. In this conversation, Brett speaks with Bruno Diniz, Financial Innovation Expert, Bestselling Author, Speaker and Professor specializing in fostering financial innovation in Latin America. They delve into the evolution of banking in Brazil and LATAM, particularly the decline of traditional bank branches and the rise of digital banks like Nubank with its rapid growth in Latin America (123 million+ customers). They also explore the impact of regulatory changes, the economics of digital banking, and the role of innovative payment systems like PIX while discussing the challenges traditional banks face in adapting to this rapidly changing financial landscape. We encourage you to listen now and stay tuned for more in this series! Branch Tomorrow, releasing in September, is a must-read for bankers, regulators, fintech innovators, and future-focused leaders eager to thrive in the digital transformation of finance. The future of banking is here!

Building Financial Health Standards to Improve Lives and Institutions Aug 14, 2025

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In This Episode In this episode, Breaking Banks delves into the evolving landscape of financial health standards, exploring how the Financial Health Network is pioneering a new set of standards aimed at designing financial products that prioritize consumer well-being. These standards, set to transform financial services by focusing on customer-centric outcomes, start with a focus on checking accounts and credit cards. encouraging people to spend well, and will be part of a library of standards around how financial institutions and fintechs can design financial products and services with the user's financial health outcome in mind. A practical blueprint for building financial products with integrated financial health solutions. Listen as Jason Henrichs and Brett King catch up with frequent guest Jennifer Tescher, President and CEO of the Financial Health Network and host of the EMERGE Everywhere podcast to discuss these new finhealth standards launched at the recent EMERGE conference. The trio explore: Creating a financially inclusive global economy: challenges and opportunities How financial industry standards shape consumer outcomes and institutional practices Improving financial decision-making through standards and outcome-focused frameworks Managing personal finances effectively with standardized financial practices Understanding moral hazard in financial services and regulation The impact of incentives and leadership priorities on financial system trust and performance Do consumers trust artificial intelligence more than traditional financial institutions? Small changes can drive big impact and improve financial decisions, management and ultimately financial lives. There is a lot that financial institutions and fintechs can do right now and make a difference, but there's also a lot to get right -- tune in now!

Is There A Crisis Of Trust In Financial Services? Aug 07, 2025

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In This Episode This week on Breaking Banks, we focus on a fundamental topic in financial services: trust. Trust is the cornerstone of any successful banking relationship. Consumers trust their financial institutions to protect their information and funds—and that trust is warranted. We have guarantees like FDIC insurance to back it up. The importance of trust is acutely felt in community banking. In this episode, Jason Henrichs introduces us to Carie Kelly, Senior Vice President and Digital Banking Officer at Claremont Savings Bank, and Stephen Lewis, President and CEO of Thomaston Savings Bank. Listen in as they talk about trust, what their community banks are doing to build and enhance it, and how they’re preparing for advanced issues in banking. A $124 trillion opportunity in the U.S. lies in the current transfer of intergenerational wealth. Emily Cisek, Founder and CEO of Paige—a comprehensive life planning and succession software platform for families and small businesses—joins us to discuss a recent partnership with both Claremont Savings Bank and Thomaston Savings Bank, helping them serve as trusted advisors in generational transitions. It’s an engaging episode with implications and applications for all generations and age groups. Enjoy the episode, and let us know what you think!

Happy 15th Dodd Frank! Jul 31, 2025

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In This Episode Today we celebrate the 15th anniversary of Dodd-Frank! Tune in as Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes), Kiah Haslett (writer and former banking and fintech editor at Bank Director), and Dara Tarkowski (Tech on Reg host and Partner at Actuate Law) join host Jason Henrichs. They dive deep into Dodd-Frank, discussing its successes and shortcomings as the most significant piece of regulatory overhaul of the last century. Consider this a master class on the topic! Does the GENIUS Act have similar potential? Don't miss these "Sweet Takes" on legislation! Listen now!

Smarter Lending: Expanding Credit Access and Improving Risk Decisioning at Scale Jul 24, 2025

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In This Episode This week on Breaking Banks, join us as we explore how real-time data is helping lenders understand financial behaviors beyond traditional credit scores, as Plaid, the largest financial data network, and Experian, a leading data technology company join forces via their new partnership. Listen as Michelle Young, Credit Product Lead at Plaid and Ashley Knight, SVP of Product Management at Experian connect with host Brett King to discuss how this new partnership is providing proven risk insights and real-time cash flow data to banks, credit unions and consumer lenders, and the potential it brings for a major change in lending. Datos Insights' Stewart Watterson also joins to offer insights on two critical industry challenges that the availability of real-time cash flow data addresses: creating pathways to credit for underserved consumers, and for financial institutions, expanding the consumer lending addressable market while improving the ability to manage credit risk. It's a win-win! This episode is not to be missed! Lend smarter and get ahead of the curve to learn how cashflow and credit data can fuel business performance and competitive advantages now!

Is Open Banking Dying—or Just Growing Up? Jul 17, 2025

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In This Episode JPMorgan Chase has fired the first shot, announcing their plan to charge fintechs what some are calling exorbitant fees for access to customer data. It has the potential to shake the foundations of the open banking movement in the U.S. At the same time, the Section 1033 rule itself is under assault in the courts, and the future of consumer-driven finance hangs in the balance. In this episode, host JP Nicols is joined by two power players with a front-row seat to the action: Phil Goldfeder, CEO of the American Fintech Council, and Penny Lee, President and CEO of the Financial Technology Association. Together, they debate the billion-dollar question: Should banks control and charge for access to your data, or is true open banking the only way to foster competition and innovation? No topic is off-limits: Are “data toll roads” an overdue necessity, or just a new barrier to competition? Should financial data be as open and regulated as our power grid? Who wins and who loses among big banks, community banks, fintechs, consumers, and small business. If you care about the future of money, data, and consumer power, you can’t afford to miss this episode. Listen in for a spirited debate that could decide the next decade of financial innovation.

Fintech Tribute: Her Song Lives On Jul 10, 2025

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In This Episode In June we lost a pillar of our community, Barb MacLean, a brilliant fintech mind and a beloved colleague. A guest turned co-host on Breaking Banks and an invaluable member of Alloy Labs. She was truly special, she never hesitated to pay it forward or to speak truth, albeit in the most polite Canadian way, whether on podcasts or the stages of Finovate. Every week she curated a list of the most impactful things she had read and paired them with a song, publishing the Fintech Playlist. It was an honor to be included. She exposed us to new writers and new songs. For her, music was more than a backdrop — it was a language, a way to connect, to feel, to make fintech more human. This week's episode is a rerun of a favorite episode featuring Barb, JP Nicols and Alex Johnson discussing the invisible heist of business customers as part of our 'Unbreak the Bank' series. We hope to honor her legacy the way she lived it: with meaning, creativity, and community. There's a GoFundMe initiative started by her sister to support her family: https://gofund.me/81a8d4c5 And a Fintech Playlist T-shirt, with 100% of the proceeds going to Barb's family: https://www.bonfire.com/fintech-tribute-t-shirt-her-song-lives-on/ Let's keep her song playing!

Battling Fraud in Fintech: How Banks and Fintechs can Stay Ahead Jun 26, 2025

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In This Episode This week on Breaking Banks, we feature our sister podcast, Social Currency, powered by Sunrise Banks. Social Currency introduces us to some of the most innovative changemakers in finance, technology, and social impact—leaders who are dismantling barriers and reshaping their industries for a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. Hosts Tyler Seydel, Chief Fintech Officer, and Eric Schurr, Chief Strategy Officer at Sunrise Banks, speak with those at the forefront of positive change through social entrepreneurship, unveiling the stories behind the revolution that’s propelling us toward a world where everyone has equitable access to opportunity. In this episode, Tyler and Eric connect with John Barbella, Founder and President of Neighborli—a network of financial institutions aligned to prevent and fight fraud in fintech. With over 30 years of experience in financial services, John shares insights on compliance, the evolving fraud landscape, and how banks and fintechs can collaborate to stay ahead. Tune in to learn how Neighborli is bridging the gap between financial institutions and fintechs to build a more secure and innovative digital banking future. Enjoy the episode, and check out other episodes of Social Currency at provoke.fm or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

Fintech FMK: Hot Takes on the Regulatory Wild West Jun 19, 2025

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In This Episode Live from the main stage at American Banker’s Digital Banking 2025, this high-energy episode of Breaking Banks brings the regulatory heat. Host Jason Henrichs is joined by Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes) and Dara Tarkowski (Actuate Law) for unfiltered, rapid-fire takes on the most urgent—and divisive—issues shaping digital finance regulation today. In a fintech twist on the classic ‘90s game FMK, the trio tackles which regulatory bodies to "love, leave, or reform"—from the CFPB and OCC to the NCUA and beyond. No topic is off-limits as they debate the shifting landscape around Section 1033, Open Banking implementation, UDAP enforcement, and the growing tensions between innovation and compliance. Plus: what do the STABLE Act, the GENIUS Act, and Stablecoin policy have in common? They all point to a regulatory future that’s as complex as it is critical to get right. This episode is not for the faint of heart, but essential listening for anyone working at the intersection of fintech, policy, and consumer protection.

Breaking Borders: Africa’s Digital Leap and the Future of Global Payments Jun 12, 2025

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This week we bring you more insights from Cape Town South Africa as we continue to explore some great startups on the African continent and beyond from Crossfin's Circle of Fintech event. In our first segment, Brett speaks with Karl Westvig, CEO of TymeBank South Africa. Since receiving its banking license in South Africa in 2019, TymeBank has grown to 80 million customers globally, focusing on financial inclusion through accessible and frictionless banking. The expanding neobank has plans for further growth in several Asian markets. Key motivations include the immense scale of the Asian markets: the Philippines with 120 million people and Indonesia with 280 million alongside South Africa's 60 million. These regions boast young, digitally savvy populations that are largely underserved. Tune in as Brett and Karl discuss new opportunities, TymeBank's innovative "phygital" distribution strategy, tech stacks, Agentic AI, new products, and more Then, Brett sits down with Unitey Founder & CEO, Muzaffar "MK" Khokhar, for an engaging conversation about the payments ecosystem. Based in the UAE, Unitey's mission is to democratize financial services and level the playing field. MK is a veteran payments ecosystem player, creating and operating payment ecosystems for central banks and governments. With Unitey, he is focused on the serenity of the ecosystem. With our current system built back in the 60s / 70s, we now have better tech for more robust payment rails. Change is happening, efficiency is coming into the system, and interoperability with other rails coming up fast with RTP, mobile money, and more. Unitey specializes in demystifying the card payment rails but has clear roadmaps focused on creating interoperability with other rails, ensuring multiple rails can actually interoperate. Want fintech & banking insights every week? Subscribe to The Provoke.fm Briefing: https://mailchi.mp/91ca869a66ec/provoke-fm-newsletter Listen and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform: https://provoke.fm/follow-provoke-fm/ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-SWmY7HswQ5hI9LiIHJd7Q Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10459295 Connect With Karl Westvig: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-westvig/ Connect with Unitey: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitey-digital/ Connect with Brett King: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettking/

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