What community banks and credit unions get right when they start with strategy instead of chasing deposits? In this episode of Next Best Action, host Alex Jimenez sits down with Chris Rigoni, EVP, Head of Partner Banking and Payments at Axiom Bank. With more than a decade of experience working with fintechs at Evolve, Coastal Community Bank, Webster Bank, Sterling National, and BBVA, Chris shares practical lessons on what separates successful partnerships from expensive failures.The conversation begins with the OCC's recent approval of new fintech charters and what that could mean for the future of Banking as a Service. Chris explains why sponsor banking will continue to play an important role, why many fintechs still won't want to become banks, and how increased regulatory oversight could influence the way fintechs innovate.Chris then breaks down the biggest mistakes financial institutions make when pursuing fintech partnerships. He explains why banks often confuse outcomes like deposits or fee income with strategy, chase new technologies without a clear objective, and expand into areas where they lack the expertise to succeed. He also discusses the importance of building on an institution's strengths, hiring specialized talent, and creating products around customer needs instead of technology.Alex and Chris also explore embedded finance, AI, and the future of banking experiences before closing with practical advice on building partnerships based on shared expectations, trust, clear strategy, and long-term success instead of short-term hype.In This Episode:[00:37] Introduction to Chris Rigoni[01:26] The future of banking-as-a-service[04:32] Common mistakes in fintech partnerships[08:42] Developing strategic thinking in smaller institutions[11:43] Lessons from payments innovation[15:26] The rise of embedded finance[18:20] The threat of super apps and AI[19:44] What fintechs get wrong about banks[21:28] Creating successful, scalable partnerships[24:39] The one question a CEO must answer[27:53] Lightning round [29:11] Wrap up and thanks Our GuestChris Rigoni is EVP, Head of Partner Banking and Payments at Axiom Bank. He has spent more than a decade building and leading fintech partnerships at some of the most innovative sponsor banks in the country, including Evolve Bank & Trust, Coastal Community Bank, Webster Bank, Sterling National Bank, and BBVA. He also brings consulting experience from Level.io, giving him a 360-degree view of both the bank and fintech sides of the partnership equation. Chris is a recognized expert in Banking as a Service, payments innovation, and the regulatory dynamics that shape fintech collaboration.About Alex JimenezAlex is Managing Director of Consulting at Finalytics.ai, where he helps credit unions and community banks translate behavioral data into growth strategies. He has spent 29 years in financial services, holding senior roles at Bank of America, Zions Bancorporation, Backbase, and EPAM. He has chaired the Consumer Bankers Association's Digital Channel Committee and served as a founding member of the American Bankers Association's Fintech Committee.About Finalytics.aiFinalytics.ai is the financial intelligence layer beneath the digital experiences that community banks and credit unions use to grow. The platform understands each user's behavior, predicts what they need next, and orchestrates the right experience across every channel, from the public website to online banking to email. Every decision is governed, explainable, and tied to a funded outcome. The results are measured, not projected: institutions on the platform have seen up to 26.7x lift in funded loans from AI-assisted discovery. The intelligence compounds with every decision, which means the platform gets smarter the longer it runs.

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Next Best Action

Chris RigoniLinkedInAxiom BankAlex JimenezFinalytics.aiLinkedIn