“The checking account hasn't had meaningful innovation in a decade,” says Christian Widhalm, CEO of Bloom Credit. In today’s show, Mary talks to Christian about what it takes to make the product stand out, the open banking pricing debate and the case for why it’s time for BNPL payments to show up on credit reports. Show notes Bloom CreditInsights from Finovate 2024Credit Score Management: The $110 Billion Deposit and Payments Magnet Subscribe to the Money Isn’t Everything podcast...

Debt collection doesn’t have to mean fear and shame. Gwyneth Borden, Remynt’s founder and CEO, joins Mary to explore a friendlier way for financial institutions to collect debt. Among the newer approaches: offering financial therapy, building credit while paying down debt and turning delinquency into long-term loyalty. Show notes: Remynt Subscribe to the Money Isn’t Everything podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/money-isnt-everything Chapters: [0:00...

Financial health checks on transactions? It’s happening. James Neville, the CEO of Yaspa, chats with Mary about how open banking enables greater transparency and control to the high-risk sector of gambling. They also talk about where AI hits its limits and why Yaspa recently set up shop in Atlanta. Show notes: - Yaspa Chapters: [0:00] Intro – Meet James Neville [0:54] Fintech’s Role in Gambling & Overspending [5:55] Why Europe Leads on Responsible Payments [9:51] Moving Operations to A...

Banking for older Americans doesn’t exactly scream TikTok. But Kevin Nazemi, co-founder and CEO of Charlie, discovered short videos about scams are resonating with people and their families. On today’s show: Why fraud thrives on urgency, how slowing down payments can help and why Kevin thinks friction in banking might actually be a good thing. Show notes: Charlie Chapters: [0:00] Meet Kevin Nazemi, CEO of Charlie [1:29] Why a Neobank Turned to TikTok [3:15] How Fraud Content Goes Viral [6:...

The U.S. CEO of Zip has heard all kinds of knocks against Buy Now, Pay Later. In a wide-ranging conversation, Joe Heck tells Mary why the critics are wrong and why judgment has no place in personal finance. Loans through Zip are originated by WebBank. Show notes: Zip Chapters: [0:00] Welcome & Intro to Joe Heck, CEO of Zip [1:01] Defending BNPL Against the Skeptics [2:39] From Flint to Fintech: Joe’s Early Money Views [5:07] Why Budgeting Tools Fail Like Fad Diets [7:44] The Role of AI...

There’s plenty of buzz about “self-driving money.” But what about those moments when people want more than an algorithm? Mary talks with Sam Lewis, CEO of Fruitful, a fintech firm betting on both humans and AI. Sam shares what’s broken in the traditional advisor model, how Fruitful’s subscription approach works, and why TikTok isn’t the place for personal finance advice. Show notes: Fruitful Chapters: [00:00] Welcome & Guest Intro – Sam Lewis, CEO of Fruitful [00:30] Blending Huma...

JPMorgan Chase lit a fire under the fintech world. The biggest U.S. bank says it wants to start charging aggregators for access to data through the bank's API. Some call it a smart business move. Others say it’s a threat to open banking. So, who’s right? Today on the show: Mary talks with Huw Davies, co-founder and chief executive at open finance company Ozone API, about what this shift could mean for banks, fintech firms and the rest of the industry. From pricing models to global lesso...

The federal government is phasing out a range of paper checks in favor of digital payments. On the show: Mary speaks to Lurein Perera, CEO and co-founder of GiveCard, a fintech company that helps nonprofits and government agencies issue and manage prepaid debit cards for direct cash assistance programs. They chat about the slow disappearance of checks, the importance of financial inclusion, and why money apps need to understand a variety of languages to help build trust. Show notes: •GiveCa...

Sophia Goldberg, CEO and co-founder of Ansa and author of "The Field Guide to Global Payments," views Girl Math as a joyful expression. Sophia explores the social media trend with Mary and shares her view on why it matters to all brands. They also discuss what’s broken with gift cards and opine on reward programs that resonate with people. Subscribe to the Money Isn’t Everything podcast here: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/money-isnt-everything Send us a text

Mary chats with Keith Armstrong, chief operating and compliance officer at Stretch, a startup that began as a neobank for people who were returning home from incarceration but has since made a notable pivot. Keith shares the early lessons from building a product for a misunderstood audience, the limits of academic research and how buying sneakers can carry deep meaning. Plus: They explore Stretch’s new goals and the realities of banking-as-a-service post Synapse crisis. Show notes: StretchE...

On the show today, Mary talks to Elizabeth Osborne – COO at Great Lakes Credit Union – about preparing for open banking regardless of what happens to the rules. As she says: “Whether it's a credit union or a bank, we should treat it as a threat. And if it doesn't become a threat, that's great. You're prepared.” They also explore how the credit union’s bet on bilingual chatbot Olive is working and ways Great Lakes is serving gig workers, asylum seekers and longtime members alike. Plus, Eliza...

On the show today: Mary chats with Amy Loh, head of marketing at Pipe and former Square veteran, about how fintech is shaking up small business finance. Amy shares how Pipe approaches granting small businesses, like nail and hair salons, capital through their software partners at a time when some Pipe customers are seeking more money to prepare for tariff shocks. Amy also talks about Pipe’s recent acquisition of Glean.ai and shares career advice on being intentional and vocal about your gr...

Designing for death might not be the usual founder journey—but it’s exactly what Ben Hopf is doing. On today’s show, Mary talks with Ben, the founder and CEO of Atticus, about building tech that helps families navigate the financial chaos that follows a death. They chat about: How to design for grief without adding frictionHow inheritance stands to change as Gen Z comes of ageAnd yes… funeral playlists. Show notes: Estate planning reportSend us a text

Sure, some auto tariffs are softening. But the cost of car ownership is on the rise. On the show today, Mary sits down with Jacob Zachs, founder and CEO of Fasten, to talk about how his startup wants to reward consumers for one of their biggest discretionary expenses – their cars. The new product, called Fasten Rewards, gives consumers rewards for their auto loans and leases, maintenance, gas and more. Jacob talks to Mary about his ambition, auto tariffs and what's it like building a st...

Today on the show, Mary talks to Shreenath Regunathan about a fresh way credit unions can prove their value to members: unlocking government benefits. Shree is a co-founder of Starlight, an early-stage fintech company that partners with credit unions. He talks to Mary about the shrinking middle class, misconceptions around financial health and how to make government benefits sound more approachable. Show notes: StarlightCan fintech and banks truly help people build savings habits?Send ...

Today on the show: Dr. Leda Glyptis, author, advisor, keynote speaker and former banker, talks about her newer book, "Beyond Resilience" with Mary. One spoiler? Her interviews with entrepreneurs for the book were weary of being labeled as successful. As Leda says on the show: "Most people are like, 'I'm not done yet.'" She talks to Mary about the uglier realities of being an entrepreneur, what the duo noticed at Fintech Meetup (a large fintech conference held in March), and why it's important...

On the show today, Mary talks to Sam Miller, co-founder and CEO of Kasheesh, about what he believes is a dangerous pattern with consumers payments: buy now, pay later. They also explore what he’s building at Kasheesh, how to create a brand where customers don’t feel shame over their money patterns and how his company pursues talent in an AI era. As he says: “Talent is forever shifting. Now, obviously with the advances in AI, it's definitely a volatile market where you're looking at talent dif...

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies are under all kinds of political and regulatory scrutiny right now. On the show today: Mary chats with Elizabeth McCluskey, a managing director of TruStage Ventures' Discovery Fund, which is a fund geared at underrepresented founders who are building products and services to expand financial access. They chat about the business case for investing in diverse founders, how credit unions are using fintech firms to attract Gen Z and the need for int...

Among the industry’s many challenges is finding talent who understands COBOL, a programming language that is still critical for financial institutions and other companies worldwide. Today on the show: Mary speaks with Bill and Eileen Hinshaw, the co-founders of Cobol Cowboys, a firm that sends in the pros who understand the "legendary language." They also talk to Mary about their work to help younger adults learn the older language. Show notes: Bill Hinshaw featured in CIO TODAYCobol CowboysS...

As Ryan Falvey sees it, 2025 will mark a very favorable period for fintech startups. Today on the show: Ryan, who is the co-founder and managing partner at Restive (a venture fund for early-stage fintech companies), talks to Mary about why. They also get into regulation wishes, productivity trends with startups and what interferes with innovating. Show Notes: Restive's State of the Market 2025Send us a text