Finovate Podcast

Finovate Podcast
  • 5.0 (18)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

Finovate showcases cutting-edge banking and financial technology through a global conference series featuring short-form demos and insightful expert takeaways. The Finovate Podcast, hosted by Greg Palmer, carries those conversations and ideas forward, with a concise, interview-based format based on Finovate’s signature 7-minute demos. Guests include leading fintech innovators, bankers, analysts, and more sharing their thoughts and predictions on the future of financial technology.

  1. 4d ago

    Don’t break while you build: FinovateSpring Best of Show winner Cobalt on the complex world of FI system dependencies

    In this episode of the Finovate podcast, host Greg speaks with Oren Buskila, CEO and co-founder of Cobalt, a FinovateSpring 2026 Best of Show winner. Cobalt has developed enterprise architectural intelligence specifically designed for financial institutions, addressing a critical challenge in modern banking: the lack of understanding of complex system dependencies. Banks operate on enormously intricate systems comprising their own code and dozens of third-party vendor applications, yet most institutions don't fully comprehend how these systems interconnect and depend on one another. This knowledge gap leads to significant problems, including development slowness—with banks spending 70% of their IT budgets on maintenance rather than innovation—and costly production failures that can result in millions of dollars in direct and indirect costs when changes are deployed without full visibility into system dependencies. Cobalt's solution automatically maps both IT systems and business processes in real-time by scanning existing data sources including event logs, API logs, code, and database tables. The platform creates a comprehensive topology map that aligns business processes with their underlying technical infrastructure, allowing banks to see exactly which systems support which business functions and understand the full impact of any proposed changes. This "bank on a page" architecture view enables technical teams to anticipate the consequences of modifications before implementation, preventing failures and ensuring safer deployments. The platform maintains a live, continuously updated view of the system architecture by taking frequent snapshots that can be compared to detect changes and investigate issues, a capability that was previously impossible with manual architecture mapping methods. The demo at FinovateSpring resonated strongly with attendees, particularly technical leaders like CIOs and CTOs from medium and large banks who recognized the transformative potential of having complete visibility into their systems. The presentation also attracted significant interest from venture capitalists and leaders from smaller banks and credit unions, the latter group seeing opportunities to introduce agentic AI into their operations by first mapping existing business processes. Looking ahead, Cobalt positions itself as the essential architectural layer for AI-driven development in banking, as the industry moves toward having AI agents generate, maintain, and modify code at unprecedented velocities—a shift that will require the contextual understanding and change management capabilities that Cobalt provides. More info: Cobalt AI: https://www.getcobalt.ai/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/getcobalt/ Oren Buskila: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oren-buskila/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #Finovate #FinovateSpring #Banking #banks #creditunions #personalization #data #communitybanks #AI #backoffice #corebanking #digitaladoption #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization

    16 min

  2. May 27

    FinovateSpring Best of Show winner Finalytics.AI on data and personalization in community FI’s and beyond.

    In this episode of the Finovate Podcast, host Greg Palmer sits down with Craig McLaughlin (CEO) and Baron Conway (Chief Strategy Officer) of Finalytics.AI to discuss their impressive achievement of winning Best of Show at FinovateSpring for two consecutive years (2025 and 2026). The conversation explores how Finalytics.AI is revolutionizing digital banking by solving a critical challenge faced by community financial institutions: delivering personalized, high-touch experiences through digital channels while leveraging the wealth of customer data these institutions possess. Craig shares the company's origin story, explaining how they recognized that existing third-party platforms weren't adequately addressing the unique needs of financial institutions, leading them to build a specialized solution from the ground up. The discussion delves into Finalytics.AI's recent innovations over the past 12 months, including advanced personalization through learner algorithms, dynamic rates engines, intelligent calculators that indicate high customer intent, and comprehensive full-funnel reporting capabilities. Baron emphasizes how their platform transforms digital and marketing teams from cost centers into profit drivers by providing insights that extend beyond application submissions to actual funding amounts and outcomes. The intelligence layer that Finnalytics.AI provides sits between various point solutions, integrating data from disparate systems to deliver truly personalized experiences across the customer journey—from initial search ad engagement through to product recommendations and conversions. Both executives share valuable insights for fintech founders on approaching different types of financial institutions, emphasizing the importance of patience, relationship-building, and understanding that each organization has unique needs regardless of whether they're credit unions, community banks, or larger institutions. They stress that success in this space requires playing the long game, responding quickly to customer needs, and truly understanding each institution's specific market challenges and business objectives. Looking ahead, Finalytics.AI is focusing on exposing their intelligence layer via APIs to enhance CRM, contact center, and marketing automation tools, while also exploring opportunities in agentic banking to automate processes and enable financial institutions to focus on what they do best: human engagement powered by intelligent data insights. More info: Finalytics: https://finalytics.ai/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finalyticsai/ Craig McLoughlin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mclaughlincraig/ Baron Conway: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baronconway/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #Finovate #FinovateSpring #Banking #banks #creditunions #personalization #data #communitybanks #CX #marketing #digitaladoption #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization

    19 min

  3. May 22

    FinovateSpring Best of Show winner Crebit on stablecoins, international remittance, and a strong UX

    In this episode of the Finovate Podcast, host Greg Palmer sits down with Jensen Coonradt (CEO) and Simmi Sen (Chief Product Officer), the co-founders of Crebit, fresh off their Best of Show win at FinovateSpring 2026 in San Diego. Jensen and Simmi share their remarkable journey from high school friends meeting at a Bank of America scholarship program to leaving college to pursue Crebit full-time. Jensen brings his impressive background as a top 50 hacker globally and FX trading competition winner, while Simmi contributes her expertise in design and mobile app development, including an Apple WWDC award-winning app. Their complementary skills and shared passion for solving real-world financial problems have positioned Crebit as an innovative force in the cross-border payments space. Crebit is revolutionizing international money transfers by leveraging stablecoin technology to make sending money across borders as simple as sending a text message. The platform operates on a "stablecoin sandwich" method, allowing users to on-ramp funds using local payment methods (like PIX in Brazil, ACH in the US, or BRIBI in Colombia) to USDC stablecoin, which then settles to virtually any currency worldwide within 15 minutes. What sets Crebit apart is their behind-the-scenes approach—users experience seamless fiat-in, fiat-out transactions without needing to be crypto-native, while benefiting from up to 90% cost savings and dramatically faster settlement times compared to traditional cross-border payments. Additionally, Crebit offers innovative rate-locking features through forwards and options for emerging market currencies in LATAM, Africa, and Southeast Asia, where traditional banks struggle to provide such services due to illiquidity. The co-founders discuss their strategic focus on credit unions, a partnership opportunity that emerged from their attendance at FinovateFall 2025, where they connected with institutions like the University of Michigan Credit Union. They recognized that credit unions' member-focused philosophy aligns perfectly with Crebit's mission to serve international students and immigrants who need to convert currency for tuition payments and other expenses. With the recent passage of the Genius Act—the first federal law recognizing stablecoins as regulated money—Crebit is well-positioned to help credit unions and other financial institutions develop their stablecoin strategies. The company is currently piloting solutions with multiple credit unions and expanding their currency coverage while also maintaining their direct-to-consumer platform that originally helped international students with tuition and rent payments. More info: Crebit: https://www.crebitpay.com/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/crebit-pay/ Jensen Coonradt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcoonradt/ Simmi Sen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simmi-sen/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/  #Finovate #FinovateSpring #Banking #banks #creditunions #FX #remittance #stablecoins #payments #cx #digitaladoption #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization

    17 min

  4. Apr 29

    ROI and AI – thoughts on making sure you’re getting the most out of your AI strategy.

    In this episode, Greg sits down with Melissa Solis, CEO of Inbenta, to discuss the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the banking industry. Melissa shares her impressive personal journey leading to her current role at Inbenta, a company focused on leveraging AI to transform financial services. She highlights the massive investments banks are making in AI, projected to reach $45.6 billion in 2024, and the challenges they face in achieving meaningful ROI due to issues like inconsistent data and the lack of explainable AI models. Melissa delves into the critical importance of addressing the "data problem" in AI implementation, emphasizing that banks do not need to overhaul their systems but instead adopt a "knowledge-first architecture." She explains Inbenta’s four-stage approach—intelligent ingestion, knowledge engineering, advanced AI orchestration, and governed responses—that enables banks to build on existing systems while ensuring transparency and compliance. By focusing on structured data and explainable AI, banks can reduce costs, improve customer satisfaction, and meet regulatory requirements, avoiding the risks of "black box" decision-making and compliance penalties. The conversation also explores the customer-facing side of AI, where Melissa outlines best practices for deploying virtual assistants, live agent support, and enterprise search tools to enhance customer experience. She stresses the importance of personalization, real-time problem-solving, and integrating AI with existing systems to deliver consistent, human-like interactions. Melissa concludes by urging banks to act quickly but wisely, as the cost of inaction or poor implementation can lead to lost customers and competitive disadvantages. This episode offers valuable insights for financial institutions navigating the complexities of AI adoption in a rapidly evolving landscape. More info: Inbenta: https://www.inbenta.com/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/inbenta/ Melissa Solis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-solis-3532302a/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/  #Finovate #FinovateSpring #Banking #banks #ai #aistrategy #payments #cx #credit #lending #digitaladoption #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization

    20 min

  5. Apr 23

    Cannabis banking – balancing risk and opportunity

    In this episode, host Greg Palmer dives into the complexities and opportunities of cannabis banking with guests Stacy Litke, VP of Banking Services at Green Check, and Megan Bennett, Manager of Marijuana Related Business at Wright-Patt Credit Union. The discussion begins with an overview of the challenges financial institutions face when engaging with cannabis-related businesses, particularly the disconnect between federal and state laws. While cannabis is legal in many states, it remains federally illegal, creating significant compliance and operational hurdles for financial institutions. Both guests highlight the importance of understanding the industry, managing risk tolerance, and navigating regulatory requirements, such as enhanced due diligence and ongoing reporting obligations. The conversation then shifts to the immense growth and potential of the cannabis industry, which generated $30 billion in sales last year and continues to expand as more states legalize cannabis. Stacy and Megan discuss the opportunities for financial institutions to support both direct cannabis businesses, such as dispensaries and cultivators, and indirect businesses, like service providers and payroll companies. They emphasize the importance of partnerships between financial institutions and fintech companies, such as the collaboration between Green Check and WPCU, which has enabled efficient program management and compliance monitoring. Green Check’s technology plays a pivotal role in ensuring that deposits align with state-legal sales and regulatory requirements, providing financial institutions with the tools to manage risk effectively. The episode concludes with advice for financial institutions considering partnerships with fintech companies. Megan stresses the importance of thorough research, asking tough questions, and understanding the long-term dynamics of the partnership. She highlights the value of working with fintechs like Green Check, which prioritize collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement. Both guests underscore the broader implications of cannabis banking, noting that financial institutions already working with high-risk industries may find the transition to cannabis banking less daunting. The episode provides valuable insights for financial institutions and fintechs looking to navigate this emerging and lucrative market. More info: WPCU: https://www.wpcu.coop/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/wright-patt-credit-union/ Green Check: https://greencheckverified.com/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-check-inc/ Megan Bennett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-bennett-cams-acbp-/ Stacy Litke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-litke-2247195/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #Finovate #FinovateSpring #Banking #banks #cannabis #cannabisbanking #payments #compliance #credit #lending #digitaladoption #cx #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization

    20 min

  6. Apr 17

    A conversation around consumer-focused AI in finance and EVA, Experian’s new AI platform

    In this episode, host Greg Palmer sits down with Debbie Hsu, EVP of Product at Experian, to discuss the company’s innovative approach to empowering consumers through technology. Debbie shares insights into her role at Experian, where she leads product development for North America’s consumer services. She highlights Experian’s mission to bring financial power to all by leveraging data and technology responsibly, creating tools that help consumers better understand and manage their financial situations with confidence. Debbie’s passion for solving meaningful problems at scale shines through as she explains how Experian is working to make a real impact on consumers’ financial lives. The conversation focuses on Experian’s virtual assistant, EVA, a consumer-first AI tool designed to simplify complex financial questions and provide actionable guidance. Available through the Experian app and website, EVA helps users navigate tasks like improving credit scores with Experian Boost, freezing credit files during data breaches, and understanding spending and cash flow insights. Debbie emphasizes the importance of finance-specific AI tools like EVA, which are built on trusted data and domain expertise, as opposed to generic AI solutions that may provide misleading or incomplete advice. She also shares how real-world consumer interactions with EVA have revealed a strong need for clarity on financial fundamentals, such as credit scores, debt management, and identity protection. Debbie concludes by discussing the critical role of trust in AI-driven financial tools. She outlines Experian’s commitment to transparency, high-quality data, and strong governance to ensure EVA acts in consumers’ best interests. By empowering users to stay in control of their financial decisions and providing personalized, explainable recommendations, Experian aims to build lasting trust with its customers. This episode offers valuable insights into how consumer-centric AI can address real financial challenges and create a more inclusive financial ecosystem. More info: Experian: https://www.experian.com/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/experian/ EVA: https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-is-eva/ Debbie Hsu: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-hsu/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #Finovate #FinovateSpring #Banking #banks #Experian #EVA #consumer #credit #lending #digitaladoption #cx #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization

    20 min

  7. Apr 10

    Small businesses, credit, and creating opportunity – inside the work being done by the Accion Opportunity Fund

    In this episode, Greg sits down with Luz Urrutia, CEO of the Accion Opportunity Fund (AOF), to explore the critical role of small businesses in the economy and the challenges they face in accessing capital. Luz shares her personal journey as a Venezuelan immigrant and her experience with the U.S. banking system, which inspired her to lead AOF in creating economic opportunities for underserved small business owners. As a digital-first nonprofit lender and community development financial institution (CDFI), AOF provides affordable loans, educational tools, and support networks to help small businesses thrive, particularly those in low-income or distressed communities. Luz delves into the innovative approach AOF takes to bridge the $100 billion capital gap for small business loans. Combining technology, data analytics, and human judgment, AOF ensures that unbankable yet financeable business owners receive the support they need. Beyond lending, AOF emphasizes education, offering free resources, webinars, coaching, and a new digital accelerator program in partnership with Ripple. This initiative equips small business owners with digital tools and skills in areas like payments, automation, and marketing, while also providing grants to help them implement their learnings. Looking ahead, Luz discusses the evolving small business landscape, highlighting the growing importance of AI, the rise of micro-businesses, and the resilience of entrepreneurs in adapting to challenges. She underscores the need for access to capital and support systems as key factors in driving success. With a focus on measurable outcomes, AOF has deployed over $1 billion in loans, created significant economic impact, and helped millions of small business owners improve their financial standing. This episode offers a compelling look at how fintech innovation and intentional support can transform lives and communities. More info: Accion Opportunity Fund: https://aofund.org/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/accion-opportunity-fund/ Luz Urrutia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luz-urrutia/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateSpring: https://informaconnect.com/finovatespring/ #Finovate #FinovateSpring #Banking #banks #SMB #payments #credit #lending #digitaladoption #cx #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization

    21 min

  8. Mar 26

    EP 290: Payments, SMBs, and fintech adoption across Europe – a talk with Unzer’s CEO

    In this episode of the Finovate podcast, host Greg Palmer sits down with Robert Bueninck, CEO of Unzer, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing small and medium-sized businesses in the digital payments space. Robert introduces Unzer as a European fintech focused on providing a unified commerce suite for businesses, enabling them to integrate online, in-store, and mobile payments into one ecosystem. He highlights the unique dynamics of the German market, where cash transactions still dominate, and explains how cultural factors, privacy concerns, and banking practices contribute to this trend. The conversation also touches on the differences in payment methods across Europe and the global innovation happening in markets like India, Brazil, and Asia. The discussion shifts to the struggles small businesses face in adapting to the digital economy, particularly in providing seamless customer experiences and accessing financial services. Robert emphasizes the need for tools that help local businesses innovate and compete, especially as the lines between online and offline commerce blur. He also points out the shortcomings of traditional banks in serving small businesses, such as slow processes and poor user experiences, which have opened the door for neo-banks and challenger banks to step in. The impact of COVID-19 on accelerating digital adoption among small businesses is explored, with examples of how local retailers have embraced online transactions and unified payment experiences. Finally, the episode delves into the role of policymakers and regulators in shaping the future of digital payments. Robert critiques the European regulatory environment, calling for a shift in focus from compliance paperwork to solving real-world problems. He uses the analogy of traffic rules to illustrate the complexity of the digital payments landscape and the need for a more pragmatic approach to regulation. The episode concludes with an exciting announcement about Unzer’s launch of Unzer Financial Services, which aims to provide merchants with a complete ecosystem for managing payments, accounts, and spending—all from a single platform. More info: Unzer: https://www.unzer.com/en/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/unzer/ Robert Bueninck https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbueninck/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ FinovateEurope: https://informaconnect.com/finovateeurope/ #Finovate #FinovateEurope #Banking #banks #SMB #payments #digitaladoption #cx #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization #unzer

    14 min
See All (296)

5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Finovate showcases cutting-edge banking and financial technology through a global conference series featuring short-form demos and insightful expert takeaways. The Finovate Podcast, hosted by Greg Palmer, carries those conversations and ideas forward, with a concise, interview-based format based on Finovate’s signature 7-minute demos. Guests include leading fintech innovators, bankers, analysts, and more sharing their thoughts and predictions on the future of financial technology.

Information

  • Creator
    Finovate Podcast
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    296
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Finovate Podcast
  • Show Website
    Finovate Podcast

You Might Also Like