Episodes

Before fintech was even a common word, Sheel Mohnot saw an opportunity to be a part of the digital transformation of finance and technology. Mohnot, the co-founder of Better Tomorrow Ventures, talks about his first foray into the fintech world with a non-profit and why he’s dedicated his career to making the consumer experience better. We also dive into his recent viral wedding in the Taco Bell metaverse.

Sunrise Banks team heads to Austin every March to hear about emerging trends in finance and the latest in banking technology. In this episode, Becca and Bryan play interviews we conducted with festival goers this year showcasing some of the houses we were at, what we learned from different sessions and the top three interesting fintechs we met.

Dispelling myths of artificial intelligence being a human persona like in The Terminator or The Matrix, Jeff Keltner of Upstart and podcast host of Leaders in Lending talks about using AI or predictive algorithms to improve access to affordable credit. With 80% of Americans never defaulting on a loan but less than half having a prime credit score, Jeff talks about how this technology uses larger sets of data to help understand the real risk.

This special episode is live from Fintech House at South By Southwest (SXSW) event from March 2023. Listen as guest host Dara Tarkowski, Managing Partner, Actuate Law and host of Breaking Banks’ sister podcast Tech on Reg speaks with Mike Bechtel, Chief Futurist at Deloitte Consulting and David Reiling, Chairman and CEO, Sunrise Banks; Author, Fintech for Good; and host of Provoke.fm‘s NextGen Banker. Where are the opportunities in evolving technology; what’s hype and nonsense? At times we are ...

Dominic Kalms grew up with a passion to do good and improve the world. In 2021, Kalms launched B Generous as the Founder and CEO, the first philanthropic product to give people the financial freedom to donate to nonprofits. Kalms is also President and Board Member at GVNG, another fintech he created to empower anyone to launch a digital nonprofit. Kalms discusses his journey to start B Generous, the importance of philanthropy and technology, and what the NextGen Banker looks like.

Fintechs and customer experiences go hand-in-hand. And Wayne Brown knows how important it is for fintechs, customers, and financial institutions to be on the same page. Brown, who is the managing partner at The Walker Group, talks about how fintechs work with banks to create a positive customer onboarding experience and how the fintech industry is changing with Artificial Intelligence.

Financial technology is evolving rapidly. And Sarah Biller is excited about what the future holds. Biller, who is the executive director of Vantage Ventures and a cofounder and board member of Fintech Sandbox, talks about practical applications of financial services in the metaverse, how fintech can play a role in sustainability and why meaningful data is necessary to spur innovation.

Leah Fremouw has vast experience in the community development space. She is currently the CEO of Bridging Virginia, a community development loan fund, and the president and founder of the Virginia CDFI Coalition. Fremouw also sits on the GO Virginia board, an economic development initiative focused on driving economic growth and job creation, and is a Richmond, Virginia, Chamber of Commerce board member. Fremouw discusses Bridging Virginia’s work to create access to capital for traditionally u...

The digital banking world is no doubt convenient. But Delicia Hand wants to make sure it’s fair, too. Hand, the director of financial fairness at Consumer Reports, helped put together a framework that evaluates how well digital financial products are working for consumers. Hand talks about the framework — which includes principles like privacy, inclusivity and transparency — as well as how working on Capitol Hill during the Great Recession framed her perspective on developing financial policy.

Jason Mikula started his weekly newsletter, Fintech Business Weekly, as a pandemic project. Today, the financial technology publication is one of the better-known reads in the industry. Mikula talks with David about his predictions for the future of finance – including thoughts on NFTs, crypto and where these elements of Web3 fit into the financial industry. Banking as a Service is also discussed in addition to fintech’s potential to support financial health among consumers. Mikula also speaks...

Not familiar with “branded currency?” Holly Glowaty has you covered. Glowaty, the chief partnerships officer at Prizeout, speaks to why some consumers are choosing loyalty programs and gift cards over cash and where these products fit in the financial technology value chain. Glowaty also talks about her work as cofounder of the Women in Incentives Network and promoting inclusivity in the financial industry.

Monisha Chakrapani is well-versed in the fintech world. As co-host of the Fintech Café podcast, Chakrapani talks with innovators in the financial industry on a weekly basis. And that’s in addition to her 15-year career in the banking industry. Chakrapani discusses what she’s learned from her podcast guests, inclusion in the financial sector and the future of embedded finance.

Charles Potts is bringing technology to the community banking industry. Potts, the chief innovation officer for the Independent Community Bankers of America, connects community banks with fintech partners to develop innovative solutions that help bankers and consumers. Potts talks with David about the challenges community banks face in today’s tech-driven world and the opportunities they have to thrive in the future.

Banks and other institutions looking to enter the crypto space want security and regulation. Anchorage Digital offers both. Anchorage is the first federally chartered crypto bank and offers institutions custody, staking, governance, trading and financing solutions for digital assets. Jennifer Liu, Anchorage Digital’s head of lending, talks with Bryan and Becca about what Anchorage does and how she envisions the future of finance.

Martin Rohner never intended to work in finance. In fact, Rohner, the executive director of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, started his career in the airline industry. But he soon realized he wanted to do something that created real impact – and sustainable banking fit the bill. Rohner talks with David about the GABV and the work its member banks are doing to create a more socially and environmentally responsible financial sector. He also discusses the importance of positive intenti...

Ahon Sarkar wants to make finance more “human.”That means personalizing financial experiences, creating diverse product offerings and making sure everyone has access to free and fair banking. Sarkar, the general manager of Q2’s Helix platform, talks about the future of embedded finance and the importance of helping consumers reach their financial goals through tailored products and services.

Climate and finance might seem mutually exclusive. In fact, they’re closely connected. Aaron McCreary of Doconomy talks with David about climate fintech and how financial institutions can better track their carbon footprint. McCreary also discusses his path to a career in sustainability and what consumers can expect in the future when it comes to eco-friendly offerings from banks and other corporations.

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter refers to his time as mayor as a “journey.”And a large part of that journey has homed in on creating greater equity in Minnesota’s capital city. Carter, first elected in 2017, has raised the city’s minimum wage, started a college-savings program for St. Paul youth and allocated resources to St. Paul libraries to increase access to social services.Carter talks with David about these initiatives and more, including his thoughts on how banks can regain trust among commu...

As a financial industry veteran, Michelle Tran knows there’s a need for greater diversity in banking and fintech.That’s why she started NYC Fintech Women, a group of more than 8,000 women supporting each other to create more opportunities for females in financial technology roles. Michelle talks with Becca and Bryan about gender-equity in fintech and the trends she’s seen in digital wealth management during her time at Vestwell.

How can companies work towards more than just a profit? Andre Beaupre explores that question in his book, “The Purposeful Nine and Soulful Advantage,” which showcases nine companies integrating socially and environmentally responsible tactics into their everyday work. Andre, who also founded the strategic consulting firm Soulful Advantage, talks with David about the movement within the corporate sector to “do good” while remaining financially viable. He touches on the importance of a top-down ...

Katrin Kaufer is an expert in values-based banking. Kaufer, a research affiliate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, directs and co-created the Global Alliance for Banking on Values Leadership Academy. She is also the director of the Just Money Program at MIT’s Community Innovator’s Lab and has co-authored two books on sustainable finance. Kaufer talks with Bryan and Becca about how she got into values-based banking, the value of finance as a tool to solve major societal problems and...

Even though the festival took place in March, we’re still talking about what we learned at South By Southwest. The Sunrise Banks team heads to Austin every year to hear about emerging trends in finance and the latest in banking technology. In this episode, Becca and Bryan play interviews we conducted with festival goers this year about fintech, democratizing finance and what the next-gen banker looks like.

Kevin Edwards has learned a lot about leadership during his time at Real Leaders. Edwards, the company’s vice president of growth, hosts the Real Leaders Podcast and has interviewed hundreds of executives who put social and environmental responsibility at the forefront of their organizations. Edwards talks with Becca and Bryan about social entrepreneurship, what motivates leaders beyond profit and how Real Leaders compiles its list of Top Impact companies.

Wole Coaxum, the founder and CEO of Mobility Capital Finance (MoCaFi), talks with David about MoCaFi’s work to bridge the racial wealth gap as well as the advantages fintech has in better serving a diverse group of consumers. Coaxum, a former Wall Street executive, also discusses his move to become an entrepreneur and how he envisions the banker of the future.