Breaking Banks

In This Episode Have we reached the point where AI is beginning to matter in a commercial sense or are we still in the ‘figuring it out’ stage and it’s not driving outcomes yet? In this episode host Jason Henrichs is joined by Prashant Mehrotra, Chief AI Officer at U.S. Bank, and John Sun, Co-Founder and CEO of Spring Labs, for a deep dive into the frontier that is AI. Listen as these executives share insights on AI as a transformational force, not just one part of the organization. Everyone needs to be brought along on the journey which requires evangelization, education, building, and execution as one. Best techs just exist, it should not feel like you are doing AI, you should just be doing your work — a state where intelligence is embedded and is everywhere. The trio also explore the importance of balancing innovation with responsibility, and using AI thoughtfully. AI is complex, and organizations need to know where best to use it. There’s no need to overengineer every single solution. Generative AI costs every time you use it and human oversight remains essential, particularly in highly regulated environments. As we search for efficiency and transformation for good, is AI the next set of prosperity, similar to the invention of the automobile? This episode is part of the Hot Takes series, powered by U.S. Bank, and was recorded live at the University of Utah’s FintechXchange Conference.

In This Episode In this episode of Breaking Banks, industry leaders Jason Haas (First Electronic Bank), Mike Jorgensen (U.S. Bank), and Louis Mrachek, (Merrick Bank) connect with Jason Henrichs for a dynamic conversation centered on embedded finance. Embedded finance seamlessly integrates financial services into non-financial platforms. Some examples include BNPL, Lending: Business & Personal Loans, and P&C Insurance, simplifying the claim process and getting the payment. The panel explores how fintechs and banks are evolving from competitors into true partners—combining innovation, compliance, and trust to deliver better customer experiences. They also tackle tensions between speed, risk and regulation, and the critical role banks still play behind the scenes. The future of finance may be invisible — but the trust powering it cannot be. This episode is part of the Hot Takes series, powered by U.S. Bank, and was recorded live at the University of Utah’s FintechXchange Conference.

In This Episode We’ve recently seen growth in many areas, but a disconnect always seems to exist between economic growth, especially capital market growth, and what people on the ground are experiencing. In short, the macro story is strong; the reality is more fragile if you look at households. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, what is the first thing today’s consumer pays for every month? Mortgage/rent, health care, food? All good guesses, but no! The primary financial priority: the cell phone. In this episode, Robyn Burkinshaw, CEO of BlytzPay, and Jason Henrichs discuss the reality of financial health in the United States. With 30% of the population living at or below the poverty line and 25% considered unbanked or underbanked, the current system often widens the wealth gap. Jason and Robyn discuss redefining financial health through access, designing for real lives rather than ideal users, and using the system to create stability. And Robyn shares how BlytzPay is working to “break the box” by helping lenders and servicers meet subprime consumers where they are via text-to-pay and a flexible online payment system. The mission is increasingly vital as AI and new technologies can potentially bridge or widen the current wealth disparity. This episode is part of the Hot Takes series, powered by U.S. Bank, and was recorded live at the University of Utah’s FintechXchange Conference.

In This Episode Banks are evolving beyond traditional financial products to offer value-added services that deliver outcomes that matter in customers’ everyday lives. In this episode of Breaking Banks, we explore this shift through a very specific lens. Joining host Jason Henrichs are Marcy Allen, Head of Enterprise Financial Institutions at Carefull, a company focused on helping families protect aging loved ones from financial risk and fraud, and Drew O’Reilly, VP, Fintech Partnerships & Investments at U.S. Bank They discuss how banks approach value-based accounts and loans, the realities of delivering these services within large institutions, buying versus building, and what happens when financial services appear where customers actually need help, not just where banks traditionally operate. This episode is part of the Hot Take series, powered by U.S. Bank, and was recorded live at the University of Utah’s FintechXchange Conference. If you are looking to differentiate or interested in the future of value-added services, listen now!

In This Episode Which trends are genuinely reshaping and transforming banking? Is fintech hitting its “awkward adolescent phase”—past the hype but not yet fully mature? Today we sort through the signal and the noise. Which trends are actually changing how banks work and which are mostly theater. There are lots of pitches coming at banks, but just like in baseball, you can’t swing at them all. How do financial institutions decide what’s worth pursuing versus what’s just the latest headline? Joining host Jason Henrichs are two people who view the landscape from different vantage points: Alex Johnson, Founder of FinTech Takes who analyzes and challenges the narratives shaping fintech, and Meghan Kober, Head of Fintech Partnerships & Investments at U.S. Bank who sits on the side of who decides which innovations get deployed within one of the most innovative banks. Together, they dig into where fintech stands today and what the next phase might look like once the noise settles. This episode of Breaking Banks is part of the FintechXchange recording series at the University of Utah, powered by U.S. Bank.

In This Episode The current regulatory regime in the US promised a lighter touch and more de novo charters. Sure enough, there has been a flurry of activity with a wide range of applications being submitted from long time payment providers like Paypal, neobanks looking to break free from their BaaS sponsors, and even silicon valley insiders looking to build the bank of the future like Erebor. Reading the various applications and hearing the varied business plans raised a very fundamental question: What if bank charters are being issued to companies that don’t actually want to be banks? We tend to treat a charter like a finish line — as if the moment you get one, you’ve crossed into some higher state of legitimacy. But a charter is a regulatory status. Being a bank is an economic role. And those two things may be drifting apart. In this episode of Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs and Jeff Taft, Partner at Mayer Brown, dig into that tension. Jeff has advised on bank formations, regulatory strategy, and some of the most complex de novo and specialty charter conversations in the market. He has a front-row seat to how applicants think about charters — and how regulators evaluate readiness to operate as banks. This conversation was recorded live as part of FintechXchange put on by the Fintech Center at the University of Utah. This Hot Takes series is powered by U.S. Bank. Now let’s dig in to the question: are most charter applicants trying to become banks — or trying to become regulated?

In This Episode Payments are getting faster. From RTP to stablecoins, rails are modernizing. Speed alone doesn’t equal progress, however. As real-time payment systems expand, banks, businesses, and policymakers are asking a bigger question: how do new payment rails actually change how money moves, decisions get made, and value is created? In this episode of Breaking Banks, host Jason Henrichs brings together Dominic Venturo, SEVP and Chief Digital Officer at U.S. Bank and David Watson, President and CEO at The Clearing House to explore what is really changing beneath the surface. The trio discuss: Share with industry friends and colleagues. The episode is not to be missed!

In This Episode What happens when three fintech nerds gather to eat spicy wings, share some sauce and talk about industry trends? If you are a regular listener to Breaking Banks, you already know the answer: the latest episode of Hot Takes! Get some chips, your own sauce if you’d like, and listen now as Jason Henrichs, Alex Johnson (Fintech Takes) and Simon Taylor (Fintech Brainfood) — refereed by Peter Renton — offer Hot Takes fueled by hot sauce and spicy conversation. This episode was recorded live at the University of Utah’s 2026 FintechXchange. This candid discussion with leading voices in fintech is not to be missed! The wide-ranging conversation covers everything from AI and stablecoins to financial nihilism, and more. The panelists explore trends reshaping the banking and fintech landscape while sharing key insights, things to watch and some predictions. This episode is powered by U.S. Bank. Be sure to catch the entire series releasing this month from the Hot Takes stage, brought to you by U.S. Bank.

In This Episode The length of the sales cycle in financial services is legendary. Slow decisions, endless diligence, and constant risk reviews are practically an industry meme. To be fair, the stakes are real. When money moves, it has to arrive; when deposits sit in a bank, they have to be safe. Somewhere along the way, caution turned into paralysis. Banks ask more questions, add more steps, delay commitment, often increasing the risk by avoiding learning, accountability, and real-world feedback. In this episode of Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs connects with Lindsay Borgeson, President of Core Bank’s Partner Banking Division, and Kalyani Ramadurgam, CEO and Founder of Kobalt Labs. They discuss the dynamics of decision-making in banking, the importance of defining the problems to be solved, the role of proof of concepts, and the hurdles of implementation. By sharing the Core Bank and Kobalt Labs partnership journey, Lindsay and Kalyani offer practical strategies for navigating these processes more effectively. For financial institutions, speed doesn’t require cutting corners. For fintech providers, strong partnerships can be built by proving value early and enabling clients to make decisions based on real operational impact. Whether you are a financial institution seeking to modernize your technology stack or a fintech company looking to accelerate enterprise adoption, this conversation offers experience-based guidance for making faster, high-confidence decisions without sacrificing risk discipline. Listen now, share with your colleagues, and please reach out to share your feedback.

In This Episode Could up to 80% of existing credit cards be canceled or see credit reductions under the proposed 10% interest rate cap? That’s the stark prediction from industry research and leading credit providers like JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon. Instead of helping consumers, the policy could trigger an evaporation of available credit, shrink access, and push borrowers toward less regulated alternatives. In this episode of Breaking Banks, Jason Henrichs connects with leading industry voices Ron Shevlin, Managing Director & Chief Research Officer of Cornerstone Advisors and author of Forbes‘ Fintech Snark Tank, and Rhett Roberts, Co-Founder and CEO of LoanPro. As the trio discuss benefits, tradeoffs, and risks, they recognize that one size doesn’t always fit all, and explore where innovation might fill the gap: buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) models, bespoke lending products, and how stablecoins could be a market-based alternative to blunt the access problem, a way to lower costs without breaking the system. Could “loan-on-card” structures or embedded finance preserve convenience while reshaping risk? If credit migrates outside traditional card networks, are we undermining decades of consumer protection? For anyone shaping the future of banking, fintech, consumer lending and credit, or just trying to better understand the benefits, potential tradeoffs, and risks of interest rate caps and stablecoins as a market-based alternative, this episode is essential listening. Credit has a very long history of teaching us that quick fixes often create new problems.

In This Episode Just as mobile was once a separate vertical within banking, has digital transformation simply become part of everything we do? In this week’s episode of Breaking Banks, hosts Jason Henrichs, Brett King, and JP Nicols debate this and more as they discuss the current state of banking, the impact of fintech, and the evolution of digital banking. They cover the challenges posed by legacy systems, the rise of digital-only banks, and the role of AI and stablecoins in shaping the future of finance. The top 50 fastest growing FIs in the world are all digital direct players, pure players. Is AI going to be a vector in the growth of banks? Will AI change how banks are structured? Is it time to rewrite the rules? Think about things differently? Reimagine what the future of financial services looks like? Brett, JP and Jason look forward to another year of exploring the future of banking and financial services together. Reach out, send us your thoughts and any topics you’d like to see us address in a future episode of Breaking Banks.

In This Episode This week on Breaking Banks, we spotlight our sister podcast, The Bankers’ Bookshelf, hosted by Paolo Sironi. In this episode, Paolo sits down with frequent Breaking Banks guest Leda Glyptis to discuss her book, “Beyond Resilience: Patterns of Success in Fintech and Digital Transformation”. Drawing from candid interviews with leading entrepreneurs, Leda moves past the typical success stories to uncover the raw realities of building groundbreaking ventures. She offers an honest exploration of digital transformation, including the lessons learned, inevitable mistakes, course-corrections, and the personal and professional growth required to lead through the messiness of digital change. Leading fintech transformation demands more than sheer resilience: it’s about wielding control amid chaos, maintaining consistency and integrity, and standing firm, whether solo or with a team. This conversation is essential for anyone navigating the complexities of fintech transformation. Listen now!

In This Episode What's your favorite holiday movie? It's a Wonderful Life? Miracle on 34th Street? Scrooged? Plot twist (literally): These are all banking movies. This week on Breaking Banks hosts Jason Henrichs and JP Nicols invite you to an Alloy Labs virtual holiday gathering. Joined by Amber Frye, Pam Kaur, and Samer Saab, they share favorite holiday movies with good cheer and a twist — the need to tie the cinematic selections back to banking and fintech. Tie back to banking and fintech, you say? Think fraud, legal contracts, loan workouts, wealth management, alternative investments, identity theft — you get the picture! It's a lively and animated conversation. No spoiler alerts, so let's get this party started ... listen and watch now!! It's not too late to check out some of the favorite recommendations and to let us know if you agree with their takes, or have suggestions of your own. We're listening!!

In This Episode What if someone told you you’ve been underpaid by more than two million dollars across your career? In this episode, Jason Henrichs speaks with fintech entrepreneur Tom Sosnoff. You may know Tom from founding thinkorswim and tastytrade, two billion-dollar exits that transformed retail investing. His newest venture, Lossdog, launching this month, focuses onsalary transparency. Traditional compensation platforms rely on legacy salary benchmarks and anonymous, unverified self-reports that create wide ranges. Lossdog's approach to compensation data is one that uses AI and verified data sources to deliver personalized valuations rather than vague, crowdsourced ranges. Think of it as whole-person valuation meets Machine Learning -- a worth engine combined with AI onboarding surfacing overlooked value in resumes, including skills, certifications, pivots, and even career gaps. It's all about fair value and knowing your worth! Lossdog aims to give individuals institutional-grade tools to negotiate salary on equal footing with employers by generating accurate compensation valuations. Listen, share, and subscribe for more weekly fintech insights from Breaking Banks.

In This Episode This week, Breaking Banks offers a human interest story from Brett's conference travels. Listen as Brett connects with Arwa Damon, former CNN reporter based in Istanbul, and current President and Founder of INARA, an NGO working in Palestine.INARA, International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance, is a humanitarian organization providing rapid response and treatment to refugee children, its mission to ensure every child has the agency to create a dignified life.Arwa provides a first-hand look at the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and discusses how it impacts the basic needs and access to financial services for people living there.

In This Episode In this episode of Breaking Banks, hosts Jason Henrichs, Brett King and JP Nicols delve into the transformative impact of AI and technology on the banking industry, and share insights on what institutions must do to not only survive, but thrive as AI rewrites playbooks. The conversation covers the role of stablecoins, agentic AI, the future of smart contracts, smarter digital infrastructure, and how accelerated innovation cycles are reshaping the global financial system. They explore the structural changes they see coming and the potential of AI in automating cross-border transactions and business banking platforms, while discussing challenges and opportunities for larger and smaller banks in adapting to new systems of trade. How best for bankers to get ready for this transition? All banks, regardless of size, need to get their data house in order, ensuring better access to their data and data capabilities, and need to assess their cultural agility. The banking industry is entering a new era where data fluency, cultural adaptability and use of available AI tools and AI-driven automation will define the competitive frontier and spark innovation. As the hosts remind us, “Adapt or be left behind.” Listen now to hear how leaders across banking and fintech can navigate the shift and prepare for what comes next.

In This Episode Today, we turn the show over to our friends at Breaking Banks Europe, as we celebrate their 6th anniversary. What began as a podcast experiment has grown to over 280 episodes, more than 570 guests, thousands of listeners from every corner of the world, and countless debates. Over the past 6 years, the show has: Shaped conversations around open banking, fintech, DeFi, payments, digital innovation and every trend and highlight you can think of. Featured founders, heads of state, college students, academics, executives, regulators, dreamers, disruptors & troublemakers. Connected Europe with the Middle East, Africa, Asia, LATAM and beyond Helped spotlight voices that deserve to be heard Today we’re celebrating with a special throwback episode. Host Matteo Rizzi welcomes back Serena Torielli, CEO and founder of WealthHype, who first joined the show back in Episode 3.In this new conversation, Matteo and Serena dive into Revolut’s explosive growth in Italy, the future of private banking, and how AI, Bitcoin, and gold are reshaping investing. They also explore regulation, stablecoins, and global market shifts, with Serena sharing her optimistic view on innovation in AI, energy, and biotech as drivers of the next financial revolution.

In This Episode Today on Breaking Banks we feature the newest addition to the Provoke.fm family, Breaking Banks Africa. In this episode Breaking Banks Africa Host and Executive Producer Matteo Rizzi sits down with Sandra Yao, Ecobank's Group Head: Cross Border Remittance, Payments & BaaS (Fintech). With 20 years of experience driving fintech and payment innovation across Africa, Sandra brings a unique “builder’s mindset” into one of the continent’s largest financial institutions, operating in 39 markets. From pioneering mobile money to tackling fragmented infrastructure and regulatory environments, Sandra shares how interoperability, accessibility, and digital transformation are reshaping the future of payments in emerging economies. Additionally, Sandra reveals how Ecobank is empowering young African talent, forming major tech partnerships (including Google), and creating API-first solutions to help fintech founders scale across borders. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about Africa’s digital growth story, inclusive innovation, and hearing about those turning vision into execution—from Nairobi to the world.

In This Episode Markets are whipsawing, rate paths are murky, and headlines keep revising “the facts”, but no matter where we are in the economic cycle, the future presses on regardless. Our resident futurist Brett King and our resident “recovering banker” JP Nicols debate what that means for incumbent financial institutions and insurgent fintechs. We unpack how AI is shifting from pilots to profit (and where it’s still hype), why deposit mobility and funding stability will be the quiet kingmakers of 2026, and how the inevitable continued rise of agentic AI and its insatiable need for energy collide with real world Monday morning priorities. If you’re ready to retire the 2006 playbook and win in 2026, you’ll want to give this one a listen.

In This Episode This episode of Breaking Banks features host Jason Henrichs sharing thoughts and key take-aways fresh from Money 20/20 USA. Stablecoins, Agentic AI and especially Agentic Commerce dominated many conversations at this year's Money 20/20 event. Cross Border Payments another big topic not to mention AI, how it's changing the game and being used by financial institutions. Jason had the opportunity to speak with Harriet Rees, CIO of Starling Bank (UK), who discussed the exciting announcement made at Money 20/20 regarding Starling Bank's collaboration with Google on fraud detection. Through this AI-powered partnership, Starling Bank can now help customers identify warning signs of purchase scams. Their new tool, Scam Intelligence, allows customers to upload images of items and ads from online marketplaces. It then analyzes them for signs of fraud and provides personalized guidance within seconds. This tool, built with Google Gemini in collaboration with Google Cloud, is available today for personal, joint, and business account customers. This UK-first initiative by Starling and Google has the potential to save billions of pounds annually. Listen now, and enjoy the episode!