Propagate Fintech Podcast

Roland Howard
  • 5.0 (25)
  • MARKETING

Propagate Fintech is a podcast exploring how financial services actually evolve. Hosted by Roland Howard, the show features in-depth conversations with fintech founders, bank and credit union leaders, operators, and industry voices shaping lending, deposits, payments, account origination, and go-to-market strategy. Each episode cuts through hype to focus on real-world execution: how products get adopted, why institutions struggle to modernize, where growth stalls, and what works when fintechs and regulated financial institutions intersect. The podcast is produced by Propagate Fintech, an end-to-end marketing and PR agency serving the banking and fintech industry. Propagate partners with fintechs, banks, and credit unions to clarify positioning, build credibility, and drive growth through brand strategy, content, PR, and go-to-market execution.

  1. 1D AGO

    Fintech PR Demystified: Costs, Relationships, and the AI Trap

    Send us Fan Mail PR is one of the most misunderstood and most expensive lines on a fintech marketing budget. In this episode of the Propagate Fintech Podcast, host Roland Howard pulls back the curtain on why PR costs what it costs, why AI alone can't carry a campaign across the finish line, and why so many founders write off PR after one underwhelming press release. Roland walks through the real difference between marketing (what you control) and PR (what you earn), and explains why the engine that actually moves earned media is built on relationships and timing, not output volume. He shares how the best fintech teams stop running PR and marketing in parallel and start compounding them together, turning a single placement into a long tail of sales assets, social proof, and pipeline accelerants. You'll also hear a candid breakdown of what you're really paying for when you hire a boutique B2B fintech PR agency at $5K to $15K a month: a network of editor and journalist relationships, the editorial judgment to know which stories will actually land, and the sustained effort it takes to keep a narrative alive. Then Roland tackles the AI question head on, including where it genuinely speeds up PR work and where it will quietly kill your credibility if you let it write your pitches. Whether you're a fintech founder weighing your first PR retainer, a marketing leader trying to make the case internally, or a sales leader who wants to put earned media to work in your pipeline, this episode lays out a practical, honest framework for thinking about PR as a long term trust game rather than a quick paid play. Chapters 00:00 Intro: Why PR Is Expensive and Where AI Falls Short01:05 Marketing vs PR: The Control Line Most Teams Miss02:30 The Press Release Trap: Why Your Big Announcement Flopped04:00 Relationships and Timing: The Real Engine Behind PR05:20 Stop Running PR and Marketing in Parallel06:45 Turning One Placement Into a Long Tail of Marketing Assets08:00 The PR Flywheel: When Coverage Generates More Coverage09:15 What PR Actually Costs: $5K to $15K a Month, Explained10:30 What You're Really Paying For: Relationships, Editorial Judgment, Sustained Effort12:30 Why PR Is Not a Paid Media Buy13:15 The Zeitgeist Test: Why AI Slop Will Sink Your Pitch14:30 What AI Can't Do: Vibes, Favors, and Trust15:45 The 18-Month Credibility Gap: A Thought Exercise16:30 Outro: Crawl, Walk, Run Your Way Into PRWant to talk PR strategy or kick around ideas for your fintech? Reach out at PropagateFintech.com. Want to work with Propagate Fintech? Fill out a contact form at www.propagatefintech.com

    12 min

  2. APR 27

    Elizabeth Warren Is Watching MrBeast's Step Acquisition | Cornerstone's Elizabeth Gujral

    Send us Fan Mail MrBeast just acquired Step. Cash App is going after 6-year-olds. The creator economy is colliding with regulated banking — and Senator Elizabeth Warren is putting the whole space on notice. In this episode, Roland sits down with Elizabeth Gujral, Director in the Research & Fintech Advisory (RAFA) practice at Cornerstone Advisors, to unpack what the MrBeast/Step deal really means for banks, credit unions, and fintechs. We get into who owns the outcome when an influencer-fronted fintech goes sideways, why "we're a community institution" is no longer a differentiator, and the practical playbook financial institutions need to build if they want to compete with SoFi, Chime, Brex, and Mercury for the next generation of customers. Elizabeth also shares fresh findings from Cornerstone's SoFi research — including the surprising channels SoFi members say they actually heard about the brand from — and explains why short-form content, micro-influencer trust, and a real tech stack now matter more than a logo on the local soccer jersey. Chapters: 00:00 Cash App targeting 6–12 year olds & the race to the bottom of age 01:40 MrBeast acquires Step — the 8,000-pound elephant in fintech 03:13 Banking-as-a-service meets the creator economy: who owns the bad outcome? 04:06 Elizabeth Warren's letter and putting the creator-fintech stack on notice 05:35 Are banks becoming commoditized rails behind the brands? 07:09 What a sponsor bank actually does (and where it gets messy) 08:42 Elizabeth's role at Cornerstone & the RAFA team 11:44 How banks and credit unions should rethink partnerships and distribution 13:13 Inside the SoFi research: how members actually find them 14:47 The "influencer trust funnel" and why micro-influencers matter for community FIs 16:04 Where the attention is: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts 17:03 Why social media without the tech stack behind it is "lipstick on a pig" 20:24 The biggest theme in fintech research right now: growth 22:42 Why "our people and our customer service" is no longer a differentiator 23:58 Treasury, small business, and the ERP integration gap 26:50 Fiserv core consolidation — good thing or bad thing? 28:09 Why Cornerstone research isn't a sales fluff piece 28:46 Where to follow Elizabeth, Ron Shevlin, and Cornerstone Guest Elizabeth Gujral — Director, Research & Fintech Advisory (RAFA), Cornerstone Advisors Follow Elizabeth and Ron Shevlin on LinkedIn for Cornerstone's latest research and Forbes columns. #fintech #banking #MrBeast #creditunions #communitybanking #SoFi #influencermarketing #embeddedfinance #BaaS Want to work with Propagate Fintech? Fill out a contact form at www.propagatefintech.com

    30 min

  3. APR 22

    How Community Banks Can Beat Big Banks Right Now

    Send us Fan Mail Christian Ruppe joins the show to break down his transition from community banking into his new role as Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at ImpactFi Advisors. We cover where banks are actually winning, what fintech founders get wrong, and how strategy, AI, and data are reshaping the industry. Christian also shares insights from launching the Perch Fund and how he evaluates fintech investments. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro + career transition 02:00 – From founder to banker to advisor 05:00 – Most underrated growth levers in banking 07:30 – Why small business is a massive opportunity 09:00 – Inside the Perch Fund 11:00 – How to evaluate fintech investments 21:20 – Biggest mistakes fintech founders make 26:05 – What content bankers actually need 27:50 – Tactical growth: fixing Google reviews 32:00 – What’s next for Christian If you'd like to explore coming on the show, go to propagatefintech.com and submit a contact form with your thoughts. Want to work with Propagate Fintech? Fill out a contact form at www.propagatefintech.com

    35 min

  4. APR 15

    The Marketing Play That Got Millions to Finally Write a Will

    Send us Fan Mail Why Humor Is the Secret Weapon in Fintech Marketing... What if the most effective way to get people to do the thing they have been avoiding is to make them laugh first? In this episode, Roland sits down with Trust & Will CEO Cody Barbo to unpack how one fintech company took one of life’s most serious and uncomfortable topics, estate planning, and turned it into a high-performing, humor-driven growth engine. From viral commercials and memorable characters to a brand strategy built on being approachable instead of intimidating, Trust & Will is proving that humor is not just a creative choice. It is a conversion strategy. We break down: •Why laughter creates trust faster than logic •How Trust & Will built a category-defining brand in a space with no clear leader •The role of partnerships with banks and fintechs in driving massive distribution •Why giving away wills for free can actually increase AUM and retention •How AI is reshaping the future of estate planning and what it means for fintech •The behind-the-scenes startup grind, including printing thousands of wills in a coworking space If you are building in fintech, marketing to consumers, or trying to stand out in a “boring” category, this is a masterclass in turning tone into traction. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro and how Trust & Will’s ads first caught attention 00:37 – Making estate planning funny (yes, really) 01:49 – Why humor works in a traditionally serious category 02:34 – The origin of their marketing strategy 04:40 – Super Bowl ambitions and brand positioning 05:26 – Why banks and fintechs are key partners 08:40 – Estate planning as a retention and AUM strategy 10:34 – The power of co-branded distribution 14:14 – The origin story of “Trust & Will” 16:32 – Early startup days and finding product-market fit 20:34 – Scrappy operations (the “unlimited printing” hack) 21:56 – AI’s impact on the business 23:51 – Rebuilding the company AI-first 25:36 – Will creation in the age of AI 28:39 – Navigating compliance with financial institutions 29:47 – The surprisingly tricky question: who gets the kids? TL;DR: In fintech, the brands that win are not always the most serious. They are the most memorable. And sometimes, the shortest distance between a customer and action is a well-timed joke. Want to work with Propagate Fintech? Fill out a contact form at www.propagatefintech.com

    34 min

  5. APR 6

    Cringe Valley to Growth Engine: The Power of Video Content

    Send us Fan Mail Why Fintech Leaders Need to Start Creating Video Content NOW In a world dominated by short-form video, fintech leaders can’t afford to sit on the sidelines. This video breaks down why video content is no longer optional and how it can dramatically improve awareness, trust, and customer acquisition costs. If you’re not creating video content in 2026, you’re already behind. In this video, I break down why short-form and long-form video have become the most powerful tools for fintech growth and why companies relying on traditional tactics like paid ads, events, and outbound are facing rising customer acquisition costs (CAC) with diminishing returns. The hard reality is, people are ~80% more likely to watch a video than read a blog, PDF, or newsletter. And if your story isn’t being seen, it’s not being heard. We cover: • Why video content is now the dominant form of consumption • How video builds awareness, trust, and distribution at scale • The direct impact of content on reducing CAC • Why creating video forces sharper messaging and positioning • How to push through “cringe valley” and stay consistent • A simple mental model to turn ideas into short-form video The goal isn’t perfection....it’s consistency. If you’re a fintech leader (or any operator driving growth), this is the shift you need to make. The sooner you start, the faster you build momentum. Subscribe for more conversations on fintech, growth, and storytelling. It's going to be awkward in the beginning, but it is for everyone...Try to have fun in the process if you can! Timestamps: 00:00 – Why this video has been a long time coming 00:18 – The simple reality: video dominates content consumption 00:52 – The rise of short-form content (and why it’s not going away) 01:20 – Stat: people are 80% more likely to watch vs read 01:48 – Why this matters for your brand and visibility 02:20 – The biggest challenge: nobody knows who you are 02:50 – Traditional fintech growth = expensive (ads, events, outbound) 03:25 – The missed opportunity Want to work with Propagate Fintech? Fill out a contact form at www.propagatefintech.com

    9 min

  6. APR 1

    What If a Digital Bank Actually Felt Like Your Local Bank?

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Overview In this episode, Roland Howard sits down with John Kingma of Old Glory Bank to explore what it takes to build a digital-first bank in a rapidly consolidating financial industry. As traditional institutions move upmarket, small businesses and everyday Americans are increasingly left behind. Old Glory Bank was built to serve that gap, launching nationwide and reaching customers in all 50 states within just two weeks. The conversation dives into the realities of starting a bank, from regulatory pressure to operational scale, and why so few new institutions are entering the market. John shares how Old Glory approaches digital transformation differently, treating it as the core experience rather than a secondary channel. The bank’s flexible technology strategy enables faster innovation, while its distributed workforce allows access to top talent across the country. The discussion also covers the future of banking through embedded finance, including crypto and stablecoins. Old Glory is building a fully integrated experience where customers can move seamlessly between fiat and digital assets, enabling faster payments and greater flexibility for small businesses. Finally, the episode highlights the importance of financial health and education, with upcoming tools designed to help consumers and business owners better understand their financial position, improve outcomes, and grow over time. Episode Timestamps [00:00] Introduction [00:18] Banking consolidation and market gaps [01:23] Why small businesses are underserved [02:13] Scaling to all 50 states in two weeks [03:06] De-risking and politicization in banking [04:32] The challenge of starting a bank [06:22] The shrinking future of banking options [07:09] Why fintechs underestimate banking [07:35] Personal motivation and small business roots [08:08] Building a flexible tech stack with Q2 [09:11] Crawl, walk, run approach to innovation [09:48] Talent strategy and distributed workforce [11:23] Hiring outside traditional banking [12:38] The emotional nature of switching banks [16:14] Where digital transformation fails [18:00] Entering crypto and stablecoins [19:16] Why invest in crypto now [20:08] Avoiding fintech disintermediation [21:47] Financial health and wealth tools [23:02] Customer feedback driving product decisions [23:54] Crypto in business payments [25:12] Business insights and financial tools [26:21] Closing and where to learn more Want to work with Propagate Fintech? Fill out a contact form at www.propagatefintech.com

    27 min

  7. MAR 16

    40% of Americans Can’t Cover a $400 Emergency. Here’s a Better Solution

    Send us Fan Mail Nearly 40% of Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency expense. That statistic alone explains why financial stress has become one of the biggest hidden issues in the workforce today. In this episode of the Propagate Fintech Podcast, Roland Howard sits down with Rachel Fox of Sunny Day Fund to unpack the growing problem of financial precarity and why emergency savings is emerging as one of the most important new employee benefits. Sunny Day Fund helps employers offer payroll-deducted, employer-incentivized emergency savings accounts that allow workers to build liquid savings for unexpected expenses. Instead of relying on credit cards, payday loans, or 401(k) withdrawals, employees can create a safety buffer that reduces financial stress and improves workplace stability. Rachel explains why traditional financial wellness programs often fail to change behavior, how employers can meaningfully support workers who are living paycheck to paycheck, and why emergency savings and retirement savings need to be treated as two different financial tools. The conversation also explores how banks and credit unions fit into the ecosystem, the role fintech plays in financial inclusion, and why storytelling has been critical to Sunny Day Fund’s growth. If you’re interested in fintech, financial wellness, HR technology, employee benefits, or financial inclusion, this episode provides a practical look at one of the fastest-growing categories in workplace benefits. ⸻ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and financial precarity in the workforce 00:49 What Sunny Day Fund is solving in the market 03:42 Why emergency savings matters more than most people realize 06:27 Breaking down the employee benefits stack 09:03 The hidden cost of employee turnover 12:43 The psychology behind saving behavior 15:03 Real employee success stories and impact 24:22 Why financial engagement is changing in the workforce 26:01 How storytelling helped Sunny Day Fund grow 28:23 Using social media and content to build awareness 30:31 The role of banks and credit unions in the model 35:12 Fintech partnerships vs disintermediation 37:53 Advice for founders building in financial inclusion 45:31 Legislative momentum and the future of emergency savings ⸻ Key Topics Discussed  • Emergency savings as an employee benefit  • Financial stress in the workforce  • Financial wellness programs that actually work  • Payroll-deducted savings accounts  • Employer-matched emergency savings  • Retention and employee engagement  • Fintech partnerships with banks and credit unions  • Financial inclusion and economic mobility  • The future of workplace financial benefits ⸻ About Sunny Day Fund Sunny Day Fund is a fintech platform that helps employers offer emergency savings accounts through payroll deduction. By combining employer incentives with automated savings, the platform helps employees build financial resilience while helping organizations improve retention and engagement. ⸻ Connect Follow Rachel Fox on LinkedIn Learn more about Sunny Day Fund Subscribe for more conversations with leaders across fintech, banking, and financial innovation. Want to work with Propagate Fintech? Fill out a contact form at www.propagatefintech.com

    51 min

  8. MAR 12

    Why Most Digital Transformation in Banking Fails | ICBA’s Justin Dunmyer

    Send us Fan Mail What actually drives digital transformation in banking? In this episode of the Propagate Fintech Podcast, Roland Howard sits down with Justin Dunmyer of ICBA to unpack what community banks, fintech founders, and banking leaders often get wrong about innovation, automation, and data strategy. Justin previously spent over a decade inside a community bank working his way from teller to Chief Digital Officer, leading digital strategy, analytics, partnerships, and marketing. Today he works with the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator, helping fintech companies connect with community banks across the United States. This conversation cuts through the buzzwords around AI, fintech, and banking innovation to focus on what actually works. If you’re a fintech founder, banking executive, or fintech operator, this episode explains: • Why most digital transformation initiatives stall • How banks should start with automation and data • What fintech founders must understand before selling to banks • How the ICBA fintech accelerator works • Why community banks may be uniquely positioned for the AI era What You’ll Learn Why digital transformation is more about culture than technologyThe most common mistakes banks make when adopting fintechHow automation should start inside community banksSimple ways banks can use data without hiring data scientistsWhy fintech founders struggle to sell into banksWhat makes a fintech truly bank-readyHow the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator connects fintechs with banksWhy AI may strengthen community banking relationships rather than replace themTimestamps 0:00 From Community Banking to Fintech Innovation 0:48 Community Bank Career Journey: Teller → Chief Digital Officer 2:16 What Digital Transformation in Banking Really Means 3:20 Why Digital Transformation Often Fails 4:34 Building a Culture of Innovation in Banks 5:54 Quick Wins for Banking Transformation 7:03 Customer Onboarding and Digital Banking Adoption 7:31 Why Innovation Projects Stall in Banks 9:00 Change Management in Financial Institutions 9:51 Avoiding Death by Committee in Tech Decisions 10:29 Chief Digital Officer vs CIO vs CTO 12:16 Building the Business Case for Technology 13:36 Where Community Banks Should Start with Automation 15:02 Why Data Is a Bank’s Most Valuable Asset 17:17 Practical Data Use Cases in Banking 18:09 Avoiding Analysis Paralysis with Data 20:40 Mentorship and Career Growth in Banking 21:37 What ICBA Does for Community Banks 22:32 Inside the ICBA ThinkTECH Accelerator 24:13 How Fintechs Get Real Feedback from Bankers 25:35 Why the Accelerator Matters for Fintech Distribution 26:06 How ICBA Selects Fintech Companies 27:55 What Makes a Fintech “Bank Ready” 32:27 Why Selling to Banks Is So Hard 34:48 Biggest Mistakes Fintech Founders Make 37:03 How Banks Actually Evaluate Vendors 37:38 Partnerships and Fintech Distribution Strategy 39:37 AI in Banking: The Next 3–5 Years 42:42 Why Community Banks May Win the AI Era 44:21 Advice for Community Bank CEOs 45:11 Advice for Fintech Founders 46:32 ICBA Innovation Programs and Accelerator 47:58 Closing Want to work with Propagate Fintech? Fill out a contact form at www.propagatefintech.com

    49 min
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5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Propagate Fintech is a podcast exploring how financial services actually evolve. Hosted by Roland Howard, the show features in-depth conversations with fintech founders, bank and credit union leaders, operators, and industry voices shaping lending, deposits, payments, account origination, and go-to-market strategy. Each episode cuts through hype to focus on real-world execution: how products get adopted, why institutions struggle to modernize, where growth stalls, and what works when fintechs and regulated financial institutions intersect. The podcast is produced by Propagate Fintech, an end-to-end marketing and PR agency serving the banking and fintech industry. Propagate partners with fintechs, banks, and credit unions to clarify positioning, build credibility, and drive growth through brand strategy, content, PR, and go-to-market execution.

Information

  • Creator
    Roland Howard
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Propagate Fintech Podcast
  • Show Website
    Propagate Fintech Podcast

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