BIG Podcast

John and Glen check in with PSCU Co-Op CEO Chuck Fagan to learn about progress combining the two organizations. Plus- initial thoughts on Capital One’s proposed Discover acquisition.      Links related to this episode:   FAQs on the PSCU/Co-Op combination: https://www.pscu.com/combination  PSCU Member Forum April 10-12 in San Antonio: https://web.cvent.com/event/45895c24-6cc9-49c5-95d2-b0d0b877dead/websitePage:18a4262f-d222-41c0-b7c7-70aaf6121bd2  Co-Op Think! Conference May 7-10 in Nashville: https://campaigns.coop.org/think-2024/p/p/1  The Government Affairs Conference, March 3-7 in Washington DC: https://www.cuna.org/events/the_governmentalaffairsconference2024.html  Chuck Fagan’s recent interview with Tampa Bay Business & Wealth: https://tbbwmag.com/2024/02/13/ceo-of-pscu-and-co-op-solutions-talks-about-growth-and-maintaining-company-culture/    Join us for our next CU Town Hall this Wednesday February 28 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive discussion of the key issues facing credi

From the windy shores of Miami Beach, Glen chats with Barlow Research about the often overlooked banking habits of small and mid-market businesses. Also- some fresh (and well-sourced) AI nuggets, and Chase places a contrarian bet on the future of the branch.     Links related to this episode:   Barlow Research: https://barlowresearch.com/index.php  Deluxe: https://www.deluxe.com/  CNN’s coverage of JPMorgan Chase’s plans to open 500 new branches: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/business/jpmorgan-chase-open-new-branches/index.html  AI Futurist (and OpenAI alum) Zack Kass: https://zackkass.com/    Join us for our next CU Town Hall this Wednesday February 14 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive discussion of the key issues facing credit unions. (Did we mention there’ll be a cool tech giveaway to one FI attendee?) It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/     Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-

Glen speaks with Becky Reed about a proposed new Web3-focused credit union, and how it actually represents a return to the CU movement’s roots. Also- a Whole New Worldpay, and data on some unexpected consumer payment behavior.     Links related to this episode:   Defy, a proposed federal credit union: https://defy.coop/  BankSocial: https://www.banksocial.io/  Becky Reed’s new book, “Credit Unions and DeFi: A Financial Renaissance”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CS9ZW1VV    The Federal Reserve’s Diary of Consumer Payment Choice: https://www.frbservices.org/news/research.html/2023-findings-from-the-diary-of-consumer-payment-choice   Join us for our next CU Town Hall on Wednesday February 14th at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive discussion of the key issues facing credit unions. (Did we mention there’ll be a cool tech giveaway to one FI attendee?) It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/       Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www

John shares the resolutions for 2024 he’d make as the leader of a credit union. Also, Glen discusses Klarna’s bizarre new BNPL subscription model, updates the Fed’s efforts to reduce debit interchange, and offers a differing view on data sharing.     Links related to this episode:   Full replay of the January 10 CU Town Hall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1XmSJtyft8    The Fed’s latest data regarding its proposed debit interchange reduction: https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/RegII_Additional_information_proposed_methodology.htm  “Future of Global Fintech” report from the World Economic Forum: https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Future_of_Global_Fintech_2024.pdf    BIG’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) services- Combining state-of-the-art technology and collaborative innovation, we work alongside our credit union partners to develop tailored AI solutions: https://www.big-fintech.com/Products-Services/AI-Development    Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/compa

John and Glen share thoughts on Bitcoin’s underreported comeback and dig deeper into Generative AI’s 2024 outlook, good and bad.. Plus- more gloating about crypto price predictions, and why we should all be glad John is not the product manager for fire.    Links related to this episode:   Our prior 2024 predictions BIGCast  (including Bitcoin’s price guesstimates at the end): https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=chatting-and-generating-2024s-fintech-predictions-hopefully-intelligently  Highlights of the Economist’s interview with Open AI CEO Sam Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella: https://www.economist.com/business/2024/01/17/the-bosses-of-openai-and-microsoft-talk-to-the-economist  The full 30-minute version (behind a subscriber login): https://www.economist.com/subscriber-events/a-conversation-with-openais-sam-altman-and-microsofts-satya-nadella-hub?utm_campaign=r.the-economist-this-week&utm_medium=email.internal-newsletter.np&utm_source=salesforce-marketing-cloud&utm_term=1/18/2024&u

Glen speaks with NACUSO CEO Ronaldo Hardy about his collaborative vision for the organization he joined last summer, and the opportunity ahead for the industry overall. Also- Fiserv’s application for a limited banking charter, and conference season begins to rev up again.   Links related to this episode:   NACUSO: https://www.nacuso.org/  The NACUSO Network Conference, April 15-18 in Orlando: https://www.nacuso.org/conferences/2024-nacuso-network-conference/ The “Opportunity Knock$” PBS series: https://www.opportunityknocks.net/  Next Big Idea competition application: https://www.nacuso.org/conferences/2023-nacuso-network/2024-next-big-idea-competition/  Payments Dive’s coverage of Fiserv’s limited purpose bank charter application: https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/fiserv-seeks-special-purpose-bank-charter-payments-merchant-acquiring/704520/ Futurist Zack Kass on why he left Open AI: https://fortune.com/2023/09/22/openai-support-ai-revolution-real-change-epicenter-careers-tech-zack-kass/  Our prior BIGC

Our annual New Years rite of passage- Anne Legg and John Janclaes join John and Glen to forecast the big fintech/credit union stories of 2024- leading to a healthy blend of consensus and spirited debate. Will Gen AI continue its rocket-like ascent or become bogged down in regulation? Will instant payments take center stage?  How good were the team’s 2023 predictions…and what inside scoop did JB have on Bitcoin?   Links related to this episode:   THRIVE Strategic Services: https://www.anneleggthrive.com/ Nymbus CUSO: https://www.nymbus.com/cuso/  Keep us honest by checking back on our 2023 predictions: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=fintech-predictions-for-2023  Cathie Wood’s TED Talk on her case for “exponential economic growth”: https://www.ted.com/talks/cathie_wood_why_ai_will_spark_exponential_economic_growth/transcript?language=en  Glen’s article for America’s Credit Unions (a BIGCast sponsor!) on the 2023 stories that will continue to shape 2024: https://news.cuna.org/articles/123444-top-2023-issu

2023 was so packed with major stories it’s hard to believe some are still less than a year old. Anne Legg and John Janclaes join John and Glen for a lively discussion of these events and their continuing aftermath.    Links related to this episode:   THRIVE Strategic Services: https://www.anneleggthrive.com/ Nymbus CUSO: https://www.nymbus.com/cuso/  John suggests watching this 60 Minutes segment on Quantum Computing:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&si=iky7jzNOd7HiB0AH&v=K4ssT6Dzmnw&feature=youtu.be  The BIGCast’s March coverage of the Silicon Valley Bank/broader liquidity crisis: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=silicon-valley-bank-through-a-credit-union-lens  Join our next CU Town Hall on Wednesday, January 10 at 3pm ET/Noon PT, as we kick off another year of interactive discussion of the biggest real-time issues facing credit unions.  Attendance is free, but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/    Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.

John and Glen sort through what we know about the ransomware attack that knocked 60 small (under $100 million) credit unions offline, including why it should be neither a surprise nor a sign of small CU weakness. Also- updates to last week’s OpenAI coverage.    Links related to this episode:   CU Today’s coverage of the ransomware attack: https://www.cutoday.info/THE-feature/Agency-Frustrated-Over-Early-Info-Delays  Ongoing Operations’ latest update (as of Dec 11): https://ongoingoperations.com/incident-status/  A cybersecurity view of the attack: https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/02/ransomware_infection_credit_unions/ More on CirtixBleed: https://doublepulsar.com/what-it-means-citrixbleed-ransom-group-woes-grow-as-over-60-credit-unions-hospitals-47766a091d4f  Glen’s blog post detailing OpenAI’s board room drama: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=detangling-openais-palace-intrigue   Last week’s BIGCast discussion of OpenAI’s boardroom coup: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=open-ais-messy-first-birt

John and Glen dive into the mysterious, fascinating and perhaps still ongoing Open AI governance saga, dissecting the role of concepts like effective altruism, artificial general intelligence, reinforcement learning and board responsibility (There’s a credit union tie-in, we promise.). Also, John’s special offer to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.       Links related to this episode:   Glen’s blog post detailing more of the board room background: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=detangling-openais-palace-intrigue Wikipedia’s Open AI entry (note the 2015-19 history): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenAI  Harvard Business Review’s postmortem on Open AI’s “failed governance model”: https://hbr.org/2023/11/openais-failed-experiment-in-governance  The Australia Financial Review’s profile of the Open AI board that dismissed Sam Altman: https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/firing-squad-the-openai-board-members-who-sacked-sam-altman-20231123-p5emcd   Open AI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever’s TED Talk on Artificial

More highlights from the VentureTech conference: Penny Finance founder Crissi Cole on her startup’s “women-first” approach to financial planning, QCash CEO Seth Brickman on getting an offer his CUSO couldn’t refuse, and Vertice AI co-founder Mitch Rutledge on collaborating with Wellby Financial’s Richard Sowell to fuel member engagement.         Links related to this episode:   Penny Finance: https://www.penny-finance.com/  QCash: https://qcashfinancial.com/  Vertice AI: https://verticeanalytics.ai/  Wellby Financial: https://www.wellbyfinancial.com/  Launch Party winner Peacefully: https://www.peacefully.com/  VentureTech: https://myventuretech.com/  Join us for the next LIVE CU Town Hall Wednesday November 29 at 3pm ET/ Noon PT as we revisit the most impactful fintech/credit union events during BIG’s first ten years. It’s free to all, but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/ (Use the same link for a replay after December 1).   

Continuing our annual BIGCast tradition, John and Glen are joined by Anne Legg and John Janclaes for a roundtable discussion of the credit union and fintech developments they’re most thankful for. Also- a quick look back at the Best Innovation Group’s first ten years.   Links related to this episode:   THRIVE Strategic Services: https://www.anneleggthrive.com/ Nymbus CUSO: https://www.nymbus.com/cuso/  Join our next CU Town Hall on Wednesday, November 29th at 3pm ET/Noon PT, when we’ll be recounting the major fintech developments of the past ten years. We’ll also hold John to account for his A Digital Day in 2025 predictions made in…2015! Attendance is free, but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/  “Blood in the Machine: Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech”: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/brian-merchant/blood-in-the-machine/9780316487740/?lens=little-brown  VentureTech: https://myventuretech.com/    Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.c

Just back from last week’s VentureTech conference, Glen has interviews with a trio of founders from standout startups: Sparrow’s Harrison Hochman, Debbie’s Rachel Lauren, and Legal Karma’s Kory Kelly. Also- the PSCU/Co-Op merger, and the relentless pursuit of deposits and the elusive Generation Z.       Links related to this episode:   Sparrow: https://www.sparrowfi.com/  Debbie: https://www.joindebbie.com/   Legal Karma: https://www.legalkarma.io/  CU Today’s coverage of the PSCU/Co-Op Merger: https://www.cutoday.info/site/THE-feature/Addtional-Details-Around-Huge-Deal-Are-Released  VentureTech: https://myventuretech.com/  Glen’s History of Money 20/20 in Three T-Shirts: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=the-history-of-money-2020-in-three-t-shirts    Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  Connect with Glen on LinkedIn or X (@154Advisors) Connect with John on LinkedIn or X (@jbfintech)

In Part 2 of our Money 20/20 coverage, Glen speaks with Guppy CEO (and Money 20/20 Wizard!) Sanjib Kalita about how Unicorns have given way to the Age of Centaurs. MSUFCU’s Ami Iceman and Prizeout founder David Metz discuss an adtech solution that leaves everyone better off, and Glen recaps other key takeaways from Vegas.     Links related to this episode:   Glen’s Money 20/20 coverage at CUNA.org: https://news.cuna.org/articles/123262-embedded-finance-regulatory-dynamics-dominate-money-20-20  Money 20/20’s white paper on the Age of Centaurs: https://www.money2020.com/content/whitepapers/welcome-centaurs  Sanjib Kalita’s startup Guppy: http://www.guppyfin.com/  Prizeout: https://prizeout.com/  Reseda Group: https://www.resedagroup.com/  MSUFCU: https://www.msufcu.org/  The CFPB’s proposed Section 1033 rule on Personal Financial Data Rights: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/notice-opportunities-comment/open-notices/required-rulemaking-on-personal-financial-data-rights/   Details on the approved C

Glen shares highlights from an even more rousing than usual Money 20/20, including Silicon Valley Bank’s Chief Product Officer Gagan Kanjlia on a bold branding decision, Cushion Founder Paul Kesserwani on BNPL’s awkward evolution, and Twentyfold’s William Mellis on a new fintech research platform. Also- Debit’s demolition derby and the Points Guy feels the heat.    Links related to this episode:   Silicon Valley Bank: https://www.svb.com/   Cushion: https://cushion.ai/  Twentyfold: https://www.twentyfold.com/  Money 20/20: https://www.money2020.com/  McKinsey’s Digital Consumer Payments Survey: https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/banking-matters/consumer-digital-payments-already-mainstream-increasingly-embedded-still-evolving    Check Out FIVEGPT, the new collaboration between the Best Innovation Group and Bonifi: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=best-innovation-group-and-bonifii-announce-joint-development-of-fivegpt   Plus, the latest BIG Blog: Hold onto Your Wallets- Debi

Glen speaks with Doug Brown, President of Digital Banking for NCR Voyix, about the birth of a new public company, the importance of a 139-year legacy, and the continuation of a digital-first mission. Also- a debit interchange battle breaks out, and Glen gets academic.   Links related to this episode:   NCR Voyix: www.ncrvoyix.com Fed Debit: https://www.pymnts.com/news/payment-methods/2023/fed-will-float-reduced-debit-card-fees-for-merchants/  Georgia State University/Review of Financial Studies Fintech Conference: https://gsufintechconf.com/    Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  Follow Glen on X @154Advisors Follow John on X @jbfintech

John and Glen provide a special peek inside the Innovation Club, as forward thinking credit union leaders brainstorm on the opportunities presented and risks posed by the new FedNow real-time payment rails.     Links related to this episode:   The Innovation Club: https://www.big-fintech.com/Innovation-Club/Technology  The Federal Reserve’s FedNow site: https://www.frbservices.org/financial-services/fednow/organizations     Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  Follow Glen on X @154Advisors Follow John on X @jbfintech

John speaks with Respell’s Harpriya Bagri about using her firm’s AI workflow tool to fight through the frustration of lost luggage. Also, Glen shares conference nuggets and ponders the meaning of the word “cashless.”     Links related to this episode:   Respell: https://www.respell.ai/   Harpriya’s viral tweet/video (that’s right- we said Tweet) on her lost luggage pursuit: https://twitter.com/harpriiya/status/1682165101867175936  The full Town Hall video featuring Harpriya’s Respell on-screen demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcPws0YWMiQ  FIVEGPT press release: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=best-innovation-group-and-bonifii-announce-joint-development-of-fivegpt   FIVEGPT video: https://vimeo.com/871619836/f6309935c5  Equifax Market Pulse: https://www.equifax.com/business/trends-insights/marketpulse    Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  Follow Glen on X @154Advisors Follow John on X @jbfintech

Glen speaks with Nick Evens, President/CEO of the Curql Collective, about the process of deploying over $300 million of additional credit union capital through its strategic investment fund. Also- keeping tabs on the startups potentially vying for some of that investment.     Links related to this episode:   Curql Fund: https://www.curql.com/  VentureTech, November 6-8 in Frisco, Texas: https://myventuretech.com/   Videos of company demos from Finovate Fall: https://finovate.com/videos/?filtertype=&showtypes=FinovateFall&videostartyear=2023&showletters=A-Z  TTV Capital: https://ttvcapital.com/  BIG’s Innovation Club: https://www.big-fintech.com/Innovation-Club/Technology    Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  Follow Glen on X @154Advisors Follow John on X @jbfintech

Part 2 of our Finovate recap features interviews with the founders of Best of Show winner Chimney and Top Emerging Fintech winner Union Credit. Also- Glen reveals his Best of Show ballot and the Credit Card Competition Act takes to the airwaves.   Links related to this episode:   Chimney: https://chimney.io/   Union Credit: https://www.unioncredit.app/   Finovate: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/  Last week’s episode, featuring interviews with CD Valet and Best of Show winner Wysh: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=finovates-window-into-an-evolving-landscape  Our August interview with True Digital: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=fintech-hotter-than-the-headlines  Glen’s Finovate recap for CUNA.org: https://news.cuna.org/articles/123055-generative-ai-deposit-gathering-are-hot-topics-at-finovate-fall  VentureTech, November 6-8 in Frisco, Texas: https://myventuretech.com/     Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  Follow Glen on X @15