Attack of the Zombie SMBs!
Glen speaks with Rapid Finance’s Patrick Lord about Zombie Business Fraud and other threat vectors given a bump by AI. Also, Stripe ponders a big play in AI routing, and SMBs send mixed messages to their multiple (banking) partners.
Looking for the X-Factor in Stripe’s PayPal Bid
By now you’ve probably heard about Stripe’s recent $53 billion offer- alongside private equity firm Advent International as an essentially equal partner- to acquire PayPal. You’ve probably also heard that PayPal’s board has rejected the offer as insufficient. Odds are good this saga is far from over, however. Let’s explore a few of the angles that are poised to keep things interesting.
Join John Best at the next CU Town Hall Wednesday, July 15th, 2026 at 3 PM ET
Recorded live for the first time ever at ACU’s Strategic Growth Conference, this CU Town Hall took on a lively “Pardon the Interruption” format as John Best, Joe Keller (Visions), Karen Bejarano (TruWest), and Glen Sarvady (154 Advisors) tackled today’s most pressing industry issues. From the CFPB, open banking, stablecoins, AI & quantum, branch strategy, next-gen members/wealth transfer, fraud, and fintech partnerships—this fast-paced session delivered candid insights, audience interaction, and plenty of laughs.
CU Town Hall Episode 147: The ChatGPT Finance Era
In this session, John Best explores the launch of ChatGPT’s new finance capabilities and what the rise of AI-powered financial agents could mean for credit unions and financial institutions. The discussion covers personalized financial management, subscription tracking, agentic AI, data ownership, member relationships, and the opportunities — and risks — facing financial institutions as AI becomes more integrated into consumers’ financial lives.
Aurachain and Best Innovation Group Launch Fraud.Watch for Shared Fraud Defense
TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 10, 2026 — As fraud grows more coordinated and technologically sophisticated, credit unions and community banks face an urgent challenge: defending against networked threats with isolated tools.