The global banking industry has entered an irreversible phase of transformation: the decline of physical branches and the rapid rise of digital-first financial institutions. Evidence shows that the world reached peak branch in 2015, with G20 economies and the Eurozone marking the turning point. Since then, fintechs have reshaped customer acquisition economics, acquiring customers for…
Read MoreIntroduction: The Future of Branch Banking HOST (Brett King): Welcome to this special series exploring my new book Branch Tomorrow. After Bank 4.0, which launched in 2018/2019, the conversation has only intensified about the future of branches in financial services. Today, we look at why branch banking peaked in 2015, why digital acquisition models are…
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The financial services sector stands at a pivotal moment where regulation, technology, and customer trust intersect. At the recent Emerge Conference, new financial health standards were introduced to guide banks, fintechs, and policymakers. Importantly, these standards shift the focus from checking compliance boxes to supporting consumer well-being. In addition, they create a clear way to…
Read MoreIntroduction: Financial Health at a Regulatory CrossroadsHOST (Jason Henrichs):Welcome to another week of Breaking Banks. Joining me today are co-host Brett King and frequent guest Jennifer Tescher, CEO of the Financial Health Network, to unpack the newly released financial health standards presented at the Emerge Conference.These standards come at a time when the financial services…
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In today’s financial landscape, trust has become the most valuable, and vulnerable, asset for banks. With a $124 trillion generational wealth transfer underway, community banks face a critical inflection point. They must either redefine their role as trusted advisors or risk being replaced by more agile competitors. The forces reshaping trust in financial services today…
Read MoreWhat Is the Most Valuable Asset in Banking Today? HOST (Jason Henrichs): This episode pivots from trending topics like stablecoins and agentic AI to something more fundamental: trust. Community banks are at a crossroads, facing pressure from both technological disruption and evolving consumer expectations. The stakes are high with the $124 trillion wealth transfer currently…
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Fifteen years after the Dodd-Frank Act reshaped the U.S. financial system, a panel of fintech and regulatory experts—Dara Tarkowski, Alex Johnson, and Kia Haslett—sat down with Jason Henrichs and Brett King to dissect its legacy. What emerged was a layered analysis of the Dodd-Frank fintech impact—how legislation born from crisis laid the groundwork for both…
Read MoreSpeakersHOST: Jason Henricks CO-HOSTS: Brett King, J.P. Nichols GUESTS: Dara Tarkowski – Managing Partner, Actuate Law; Host, Tech on Reg Alex Johnson – Creator, Fintech Takes Kia Haslett – Financial Journalist; Former Editor, Bank Director What Sparked Dodd-Frank in the First Place?HOST (Jason Henricks):2008’s financial crisis became the crucible for change, setting the stage for…
Read MoreGuests:– Michelle Young, Credit Product Lead at Plaid– Ashley Knight, SVP of Product Management at Experian Host:– Brett King What Sparked the Plaid–Experian Collaboration? HOST: How did this collaboration between two industry giants come about? ASHLEY KNIGHT: Open banking has been around for years, but its application in credit decisioning is now gaining serious momentum….
Read MoreSummary Open banking regulation in the U.S. is undergoing a major transformation. A transformative battle is underway in U.S. financial services as stakeholders clash over Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act—commonly known as the CFPB’s open banking rule. Open banking regulation in the U.S. At the heart of the debate is consumer data ownership. In…
Read MoreHOST: J.P. NicholsGUESTS: Phil Goldfeder (American FinTech Council), Penny Lee (Financial Technology Association) What Is Section 1033 and Why Is It Creating Industry Tension? HOST: Let’s start with the core of today’s discussion. Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act has become the epicenter of the open banking battle. Finalized in October 2024 by the CFPB,…
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Summary In June, the world of fintech disruption in banking lost one of its brightest lights: Barb MacLean. She wasn’t just a strategist or operator. Rather, she was a connector of people, ideas, and industries. A vital force behind Alloy Labs and a co-host of Breaking Banks, she made complex ideas accessible.Moreover, she brought clarity…
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