In this episode of the FinWise EYE ON Fintech Podcast, host Simon Darchis, Head of Fintech Products and Strategic Initiatives at FinWise Bank, sits down with Justin Jones, Vice President of Sales at TrueML, to explore how technology, AI, and data-driven strategies are reshaping the collections industry.

Justin shares his journey from SaaS technology sales into the collections space and highlights the importance of clean, accessible data, sharing how TrueML developed integration capabilities that allow organizations to overcome data complexity and accelerate implementation without extensive system overhauls.

The conversation dives into several key trends transforming collections today, including:

• The shift from one-size-fits-all collections approaches to personalized, data-driven engagement strategies powered by machine learning and AI.
• Why financial institutions are consolidating vendor ecosystems and prioritizing strategic technology partners that can deliver multiple solutions across the collections lifecycle.
• The growing scrutiny surrounding AI adoption, including the increased role of risk governance, model validation, and compliance oversight in vendor evaluations.
• How modern sales teams must move beyond traditional product pitches to become consultative advisors focused on solving business challenges and delivering measurable outcomes.
• The reality behind organizations attempting to build collection technologies in-house, and why speed-to-market, expertise, and operational integration often make partnering with experienced providers the more effective path.

Throughout the discussion, both Justin and Simon emphasize that the future of collections belongs to organizations that can combine technology, compliance, data intelligence, and human expertise to deliver better outcomes for both businesses and consumers.

The episode concludes with a broader discussion on what separates transactional vendors from true strategic partners and why financial institutions should focus their efforts on their core competencies while leveraging specialized experts to drive innovation and ROI.

In this episode of EYE ON Fintech, host Nick Chiappetti sits down with industry powerhouse Stacy Bishop—CEO and Founder of Selling Fintech and Fintech Partnership Strategist—to unpack what really drives successful (and unsuccessful) bank–fintech partnerships.

Drawing from her unique perspective across both fintech founders and sponsor banks, Stacy shares candid insights on why partnerships fail, how fintechs can better prepare for sponsor bank relationships, and what it takes to build scalable, long-term programs in today’s evolving ecosystem.

From ecosystem complexity to trust-building and future trends, this episode delivers practical guidance for anyone navigating embedded finance.

Episode Highlights

• Why partnerships fail—and how to avoid it Misaligned expectations, unclear success metrics, and unsustainable pricing are some of the fastest ways to derail fintech-bank partnerships.

• Sponsor bank readiness requires realism, not hype Banks expect clear business cases, conservative forecasts, and operational transparency—not just investor-style growth projections.

• Success depends on the full fintech ecosystem Beyond the bank, fintechs must navigate a complex network of processors, networks, and providers—where every player impacts program success.

• Trust and relationships still win deals Building credibility across “layers and players”—especially through real-world connections—is critical to gaining traction and navigating the space.

• The future: evolution, not replacement While more fintechs may pursue charters, embedded finance and sponsor banking models will remain essential as demand for seamless financial experiences continues to grow.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept in financial services—it’s here. But moving from experimentation to real, measurable impact is where many institutions still struggle.

In this episode, Erin Earl, Industry Executive Advisor for Financial Services at SAP, sits down with host Sarah Grotta, Chief Fintech Officer at FinWise Bank, for a practical, no‑nonsense conversation about what it really takes to make AI work in banking.

Drawing on decades of leadership experience across global banks, fintechs, and enterprise technology, Erin cuts through the hype and shares what financial institutions actually need to focus on to turn AI investments into business outcomes.

Listeners will learn:

• Why so many AI pilots fail—and how to avoid “pilot purgatory” by anchoring every initiative to a clear business case and ROI.
• How banks of all sizes can prioritize the right AI use cases, with real examples where mid‑sized and community institutions are outperforming larger peers.
• What “AI‑ready data” really means, and why data foundation—not models—is the biggest determinant of AI success.
• How to structure ownership and governance for AI, balancing innovation, risk management, and regulatory expectations in a highly regulated industry.

Whether you’re just beginning your AI journey or looking to scale what’s already in production, this episode delivers practical guidance for building data‑led, ROI‑driven financial services—today and for the future.