2025 Predictions: A Bingo Card for the Ages
May you live in interesting times…. John and Glen join with Anne Legg and John Janclaes to speculate on the big events poised to frame the coming year. Our panel foresees the best of times and worst of times for AI, a flurry of mergers, breakthroughs in mortgage lending, and regulatory roulette. Oh, and our annual disagreement on Bitcoin and crypto.
Well, That Just Happened….
Our esteemed panel (Anne Legg of Thrive Strategic Services, John Janclaes of Nymbus CUSO, Glen Sarvady of 154 Advisors) join John Best to opine on the biggest stories impacting credit unions and fintech in 2025- Mergers and Fraudsters and AI, oh my!
Discovering the Drama in Interchange
John and Glen explore the machinations of the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, the potential impacts that extend well beyond Illinois, and how it could alter prospects for the Capital One/Discover merger. Also- initial thoughts on the DOJ’s antitrust suit against Visa’s debit business, and a gratuitous swipe at Ticketmaster.
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.
The CUNA/NAFCU Merger- An Inside View
CUNA Board Vice-Chair and Cornerstone League CEO Caroline Willard shares her inside perspective on the pending CUNA/NAFCU merger. Also- Glen compares financial and grocery self-service, shares a new avenue for credit unions to aid Ukraine, and John checks an item off his bucket list.