Turning the Page… or Marking a Checkpoint?
The BIGCast Gang convenes for its annual roundup of the biggest stories impacting credit unions and fintechs (zero points awarded for guessing #1 on the list). Some Q1 headlines seem like ancient history, while others are gifts that just keep on giving. Bitcoin delivered its usual wild ride- but in 2025 it had plenty of company.
CU Town Hall Episode 142: 2025 Credit Union Wrapped
It’s our final episode of the year, and we closed it out with a special wrap-up of our 2025 Predictions BIGgo game! We revisited all the moments that had us wondering who would be the first to shout “BIG-GO!” and snag a free admission to any America’s Credit Union Council event in 2026.
Grab your cards and jump in to this recording as we dive into the biggest stories and hottest trends that shaped the fintech and credit union industry in 2025. We celebrated the predictions we nailed, laughed about the ones we whiffed, and ran through every last bingo call in a fun, interactive finale.
Calling “Bingo!” in a Crazy Year
We have a winner! John and Glen sort through the squares of our 2025 Bingo (or BIG-Go) cards to assess the “gimme” events, items that occurred but differently than expected, and a few things that didn’t wind up happening… yet.
Humans in the Loop, on the App, and Sometimes in the Branch
Glen puts a bow on the 2025 conference calendar, wrapping up interviews with SAP Fioneer Global Head of Payments Carlos Figueredo and banking lifer/Association for Cannabis Banking co-founder Michael Beird. Also- constructive yet cautious takes on AI from a multitude of perspectives.
CU Town Hall Episode 141: The Digital Wallet Revolution w/ Keith Riddle
In this session, we welcomed Keith Riddle, General Manager of Payfinia, as our special guest to guide us through “The Digital Wallet Revolution: From Convenience to Default”.
Digital wallets are no longer just a payment option—they are rapidly becoming the default financial operating system for the global consumer. This session provided a critical look at the market shift, analyzing how convenience, advanced security, and expanded functionality are driving unprecedented adoption.
Agents, Stablecoins, and a Touch of Friction
Glen boils down the prevailing themes from this year’s Money 20/20 conference, upping the ante via interviews with a pair of compelling startups (Eloquent AI and RentFlow) and Paze’s update on securing identity through the digital wallet. Also- Fiserv shakes investors to the core, and open banking continues to ruffle feathers.
Muddying the Stablecoin Waters- Not a Genius Move
John and Glen tackle the key takeaways from recent market headlines: Open Ai’s commercial relationship with Walmart, the temporary “de-pegging” of so-called stablecoin Ethena (USDe), and the warning flare it sets off for broader stablecoin adoption. Plus- Zelle goes global, and people still have a lot to say about Section 1033.
CU Town Hall Episode 140: The Future of Quantum Computing
In this session, we discussed a quantum computing breakthrough with real-world financial services applications and explored a path for credit unions to participate. The conversation covered how this emerging technology is moving from theory to practice and what it could mean for data security, transaction speed, and predictive analytics in the credit union space. We also examined how credit unions can begin preparing to take advantage of quantum innovation as it becomes more accessible across the industry.
Join John Best at the next CU Town Hall Wednesday, January TBD, 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.
Getting Real About Artificial Intelligence at Finovate
Key takeaways from last week’s Finovate Fall conference, including interviews with the founders of Best of Show winners Casap and Vertice AI. Also- Glen’s recap of the full Best of Show slate, and thoughts on what the 63 demo firehose tells us about today’s state of fintech.