The Capital One/Discover Deal- A Test of Typical Battle Lines (and a Credit Union Angle?)
In a sector that’s seen no shortage of fascinating recent deals (PSCU/Co-Op, Fiserv/First Data, the aborted Visa/Plaid combination, the “never mind” FIS/Worldpay merger), this one may be the most fascinating yet.
Card Company Mergers: How They Started, How They’re Going
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.
Doing (Small) Business at the Beach
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.
Defying the DeFi Headwinds
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.
Credit Union New Year’s Resolutions
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.
NACUSO’s Big Ideas for Credit Unions of All Sizes
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.
Wrapping a VERY Newsworthy 2023
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.
Open AI’s Messy First Birthday Party
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.
Detangling OpenAI’s Palace Intrigue
In a world where personal privacy has essentially vanished, it’s ironic that we may never know the full story of OpenAI’s mid-November boardroom coup. John Best and I attempted to detangle the saga’s various threads on a wide-ranging episode of The BIGCast. As a companion piece, here’s a somewhat tidier synopsis of the complex and mysterious path leading to CEO/Co-Founder Sam Altman’s brief exile.
Venturing Further into VentureTech
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.