John and Glen riff on the role Bitcoin is suddenly playing in the presidential election, and the thorny issue of how the US government should “manage” its crypto holdings. Also- assessing the prospects beyond the bluster for productive crypto legislation, and the bizarre backstory of HODL.
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Media
The Illinois Credit Union League’s Tom Kane and Ashley Sharp go deep on the turmoil surrounding Illinois’ problematic new interchange law and the steps being taken to course correct. Also- Sam Altman’s Worldcoin moves fast and scans (personal) things, and…Backpedaling as a Service (BaaS)?
Glen chats with Finovate’s Greg Palmer about the state of fintech investment and startup momentum in anticipation of September’s Finovate NYC event. Also- soft landings, long bike rides, $2.5 billion bets and honest borrowers.
In this session, we discussed the transformative power of embedded finance for credit unions. As competition grows and economic challenges persist, this innovative approach allows credit unions to integrate financial services into everyday shopping and e-commerce experiences, effectively reaching new audiences. We explored how leveraging embedded finance can enhance brand visibility and improve the financial well-being of communities, helping credit unions thrive in a competitive landscape
Cybersecurity expert Roger Grimes demystifies the changing ransomware landscape- how much money do criminals usually demand? How often are they paid, and how much? What is “dwell time,” how do ransomware and wiperware differ, and what constitutes offline backup? Also- the first HODL President?
Glen speaks with the Atlanta Fed’s Claire Greene about takeaways from the latest Survey of Consumer Payment Choice- including card’s dominance, mobile’s ubiquity, BNPL’s ascent and cash’s resilience. Also, the NY Times offers an unexpected backstop for the paper check.
In this session, we explored how AI is revolutionizing accessibility for people with disabilities. We discussed recent innovations, such as Synchron's integration of OpenAI models in brain-computer interfaces, which offer new avenues for communication and independence. We explored the implications for the financial industry, examining how credit unions can leverage these technologies to enhance inclusivity and transform services for members with disabilities.
Glen’s wide-ranging conversation with Deluxe CEO Barry McCarthy and Technology Association of Georgia CEO Larry Williams spanning five decades of innovation, leadership in turbulent times, reinvention and civic responsibility. Also- another cautionary angle to the CrowdStrike mess, and Fintech Nation comes to Atlanta in August.
Best Innovation Group today announced that two new credit union leaders have joined the Innovation Club: Willis Chang, Digital Transformation Officer at Kinecta Federal Credit Union and Scott Lindley, Chief Information Officer at Kitsap Credit Union. Their addition further expands the club's network of forward-thinking leaders in the financial sector.
Glen speaks with Co-Founder/CEO Austin Wentzlaff about Nook’s mission to reclaim a personalized credit union member experience, and why his team planned to be a CUSO from the start. TruStage’s Danielle Sesko explains how Payment Guard revamps a legacy loan insurance model for today’s digital personal lending. And Glen senses a shift in the media narrative on Banking as a Service and FDIC insurance.
his session, we focused on the recent cyber-attack that targeted Patelco Credit Union in California as well as other significant cyber-attacks throughout history—a growing issue of critical importance within our industry. Roger Grimes, renowned cybersecurity expert, joined us to provide expert insights into current cybersecurity threats and shared his top 5 things organizations should be doing right now to prevent a ransomware attack.
Glen speaks with Bonifii CEO John Ainsworth about his firm’s new collaboration with Metal and the next wave of identity solutions. Also- branches as community centers, the ongoing interchange/reward points battle, more “fun” in class action lawsuit land, and screen scraping stages a comeback.
Meet The BIGcast Network
The fintech industry is evolving rapidly, and the BIGcast is here to delve into its impact on the credit union industry. Our esteemed guests from across the financial, technology and security sectors will provide thrilling perspectives on the latest fintech innovations that are poised to revolutionize the way we handle our finances. Each week join thought-leader, John Best and subject matter expert, Glen Sarvady as they take a quick dive into the financial industry’s current breakthroughs and latest hot topics.
John Best
CEO, Best Innovation Group
Glen Sarvady
Managing Principal, 154 Advisors