Recapping last week's Fintech South conference, Glen interviews founders of the three startups selected as Innovation Challenge finalists- Hussain Punjani of Agentix, Nyah Chapman of LUXE AI and John Patton of Street Charity- then asks you to guess which the judges chose for the grand prize. Also- Rich & Regular hosts Julien and Kiersten Saunders get real about everyday finances, and Spirit Airlines' data is worth how much to AI developers?!

Links related to this episode:

Agentix: https://agentixpay.ai/

LUXE AI: https://unlock.luxe/

Street Charity: https://streetcharity.org/

Rich & Regular: https://richandregular.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@richandregular

DM the Best Innovation Group's LinkedIn page to share your pick among these startups: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/

Fintech South: https://www.fintechsouth.com/ For event highlights, photos, and updates for next year, follow @Fintech South on LinkedIn

A pair of stories about Google's bid to buy Spirit Airlines' data:
https://www.phocuswire.com/news/technology/what-googles-purchase-spirit-airlines-data-signals-travel
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-court-delays-hearing-googles-purchase-spirit-airlines-data-union-objects-2026-08-19/

Last week's interview with Fintech Sandbox's Luke Timberlake: https://www.big-fintech.com/the-new-oil-fueling-the-fintech-sandbox/


Check out the Innovation Club- a curated group of credit union tech, data and strategy leaders that meets virtually each month- and twice a year in person- to extend their R&D budgets and collaborate on tangible solutions to the latest challenges. Learn more to see if you're a fit and if so, request a guest pass to an upcoming meeting: https://www.big-fintech.com/innovation-club/

Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

Glen speaks with Prismm Founder/CEO Martha Underwood about a new metric- the Deposit Mortality Index- gauging an FI's risk of deposit loss from the Great Wealth Transfer. Also- PayPal's acquisition drama draws to a close (for now) and Walmart opens its wallet for Apple Pay.

Links related to this episode:

Prismm's Deposit Mortality Index: https://getprismm.com/dmi (a link to the complementary 12 -page market report is near the bottom)

Martha Underwood's book "The Death of Deposits": https://www.amazon.com/dp/1953653200

Axios' take on why Stripe and Advent's pursuit of PayPal led to nothing: https://www.axios.com/2026/09/01/paypal-takeover-stripe-advent

Tech Crunch on Walmart's Apple Pay 180: https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/21/walmart-to-finally-start-accepting-apple-pay-and-google-pay

Last week's BIGCast featuring interviews with three standout startup founders: https://www.big-fintech.com/fintech-souths-got-something-to-say/

A vreplay of the most recent CU Town Hall, featuring Brian Ley's introduction of scam protector VerifyDial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_jGtQ3p1nw


Mark your calendar to join us Wednesday September 16 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for our next CU Town Hall- a live, lively and interactive discussion of the top topics confronting CU leaders. The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required. Come prepared for an engaging discussion! https://www.cutownhall.com/

Check out the Innovation Club- a curated group of credit union tech, data and strategy leaders that meets virtually each month- and twice a year in person- to extend their R&D budgets and collaborate on tangible solutions to the latest challenges. Learn more to see if you're a fit and if so, request a guest pass to an upcoming meeting: https://www.big-fintech.com/innovation-club/

Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

Glen connects with Fintech Sandbox Executive Director Lucas Timberlake to discuss the state of fintech investing- with and without AI- and to learn about his nonprofit's mission to bring critical financial data access to early stage fintechs. Also- friends say that PayPal and Stripe are… "talking," and JD Power's credit card rankings have a K-shaped tilt- and an asterisk for Navy Federal.

Links related to this episode:

Fintech Sandbox: www.fintechsandbox.org

Boston Fintech Week: https://bostonfintechweek.org/

America's Credit Unions and the DCUC call on the FCC to rein in Caller ID spoofing: https://www.cutoday.info/site/Fresh-Today/Credit-Unions-Press-FCC-to-Crack-Down-On-Caller-ID-Spoofing

JD Power's Credit Card Satisfaction Study (scroll down for FI rankings): https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2026-u-s-credit-card-satisfaction-study/

TechCrunch on the ongoing PayPal/Stripe/Advent conversations: https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/14/talks-to-sell-paypal-to-stripe-and-advent-are-heating-up/

Mark your calendar to join us Wednesday August 19 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for our next CU Town Hall. Our guest speaker will be Brian Ley, whose new venture VerifyDial takes a fresh approach to scam detection by deploying a 411-style national phone line free of charge to community FIs. The Town Hall is free to attend as well, but advance registration is required. Come prepared for a lively discussion! https://www.cutownhall.com/

Check out the Innovation Club- a curated group of credit union tech, data and strategy leaders that meets virtually each month- and twice a year in person- to extend their Learn more to see if this is for you and if so, request a guest pass: https://www.big-fintech.com/innovation-club/

Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

Glen catches up with Finovate's Greg Palmer to preview September's NYC Demo Parade and the evolution in the startup ecosystem he's noted. Also- the Fiserv Follies extends its run, and how CLARITY and credit cards suddenly became tied at the hip.

Links related to this episode:

Finovate Fall, September 9-11 in New York City: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/

Use code BIG20 for a 20% discount on Finovate registration: https://informaconnect.com/finovatefall/purchase/select-package/?vip_code=BIG20

Our recent interview with CUltivate AI CEO (and Finovate rookie demoer) Anthony Volpe: https://www.big-fintech.com/can-credit-unions-collaborative-superpowers-extend-to-ai/

CU Today on Sens. Lummis and Moreno's sudden addition as CCCA sponsors: https://www.cutoday.info/THE-feature/Lummis-Moreno-Join-Credit-Card-Competition-Act-As-Interchange-Threat-Grows

Fiserv's Q2 earnings and fiscal 2026 outlook, in its own words and that of its hometown paper: https://investors.fiserv.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fiserv-reports-second-quarter-2026-results https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2026/08/06/fiserv-reports-quarterly-earnings-miss-in-first-report-under-new-ceo/91194333007/


Mark your calendar to join us Wednesday August 19 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for our next CU Town Hall. Our guest speaker will be Brian Ley, whose new venture VerifyDial takes a fresh approach to scam detection by deploying a 411-style national phone line free of charge to community FIs. The Town Hall is free to attend as well, but advance registration is required. Come prepared for a lively discussion! https://www.cutownhall.com/

Check out the Innovation Club- a curated group of credit union tech, data and strategy leaders that meets virtually each month- and twice a year in person- to extend their R&D budgets and collaborate on tangible solutions to the latest challenges. Learn more to see if you're a fit and if so, request a guest pass: https://www.big-fintech.com/innovation-club/

Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

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 new Velera data reveals SMBs sending mixed messages to their multiple (banking) partners.

Links related to this episode:

Rapid Finance (for FIs and other SMB lenders): https://enterprise.rapidfinance.com/

Rapid Finance (for SMBs): https://www.rapidfinance.com/

Patrick Lord's LinkedIn (he loves to talk fraud!): https://www.linkedin.com/in/lordpcarl/

Velera's SMB report: https://www.velera.com/insights/market-research/cu-growth-outlook-2026

Stripe's reported $10 billion level of interest in OpenRouter: https://www.wellesleyhillsfinancial.com/2026/08/02/stripes-10-billion-bet-on-the-ai-economy-why-openrouter-matters/

Which begs the question, "What about PayPal?": https://www.big-fintech.com/looking-for-the-x-factor-in-stripes-paypal-bid/

Fintech South, Tuesday August 18 at Truist Park in Atlanta: https://www.fintechsouth.com/ USE CODE BEYO15 for a 15% REGISTRATION DISCOUNT

Mark your calendar to join us Wednesday August 19 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for our next CU Town Hall. It's free to attend but advance registration is required. Come prepared for a lively discussion! https://www.cutownhall.com/

Check out the Innovation Club- a curated group of credit union tech, data and strategy leaders that meets virtually each month- and twice a year in person- to extend their Learn more to see if this is for you and if so, request a guest pass: https://www.big-fintech.com/innovation-club/

Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

Glen speaks with author and Finavator CEO Michelle Beyo about her forthcoming book, her takes on the power of data and "trust as the new currency," and her open banking sessions at August's Fintech South Conference. Also, US instant payment volumes spike (relatively speaking) and Samsung/Barclays aim to take a bite of the Apple.

Links related to this episode:

Fintech South, Tuesday August 18 at Truist Park in Atlanta: https://www.fintechsouth.com/ USE CODE BEYO15 for a 15% REGISTRATION DISCOUNT

Michelle's forthcoming book: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Future-Finance-Reshaping-Economy/dp/1394402074/ref=sr_1_1

Michelle's podcast: "Step into the Future of Finance": https://open.spotify.com/show/6tfflOY52ClLkLxgJEJSmo?si=49ac079afb1845de&nd=1&dlsi=b67da683833b4461

Finavator: https://www.finavator.com/

Speaking of trust, here's our recent interview with Deidre Campbell on the Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.big-fintech.com/is-trust-now-the-most-precious-metal/

Fintech Futures on the Samsung's new credit card collab with Barclays: https://www.fintechfutures.com/partnerships/samsung-credit-card-us-launch-barclays

Glen's blog on PayPal's acquisition intrigue: https://www.big-fintech.com/looking-for-the-x-factor-in-stripes-paypal-bid/

Mark your calendar to join us Wednesday August 19 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for our next CU Town Hall. It's free to attend but advance registration is required. Come prepared for a lively discussion! https://www.cutownhall.com/

Check out the Innovation Club- a curated group of credit union tech, data and strategy leaders that meets virtually each month- and twice a year in person- to extend their Learn more to see if this is for you and if so, request a guest pass: https://www.big-fintech.com/innovation-club/

Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

Glen checks in with CUltivate co-founder Anthony Volpe for an update on his CUSO's progress in bringing practical AI to the back offices of a broad base of credit unions. Plus, ruminations on lesser covered aspects of the Stripe/PayPal intrigue.
Links related to this episode:

CUltivate AI: https://getcultivate.ai/

Our interview with CUltivate's three founders immediately after its March launch at GAC: https://www.big-fintech.com/chicken-wings-not-sharp-elbows/

Glen's blog on PayPal's acquisition intrigue: https://www.big-fintech.com/looking-for-the-x-factor-in-stripes-paypal-bid/

Glen's blog on the latest Federal Reserve Payments data: https://www.big-fintech.com/christmas-in-july-the-fed-delivers-new-2024-payments-data/

Coming soon to a Wednesday near you: the CU Town Hall! https://www.cutownhall.com/


Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/

John and Glen discuss the latest maneuvers in the stablecoin world- particularly the newly announced Open USD initiative spearheaded by Bridge, bringing its parent company Stripe into the game. Is it a game changer or a press release destined for Libra-land? Also, new Fed data finds credit cards in overdrive.

Links related to this episode:

• Open Standard's Open USD announcement: https://joinopenstandard.com/blog/introducing-open-usd
• Glen's blog on the newly released Fed payments data: https://www.big-fintech.com/christmas-in-july-the-fed-delivers-new-2024-payments-data/
• Andreesen Horowitz's take on stablecoins' outlook (from before the Open USD announcement: https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/p/why-stablecoins-wont-age-well

Follow us on LinkedIn:

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
• https://www.linkedin.com/n/glensarvady/