BIGcast

10 Episodes
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By: Best Innovation Group's John Best & 154 Advisors' Glen Sarvady

The fintech industry is evolving rapidly, and the BIGcast is here to delve into its impact on the credit union industry. Our esteemed guests from across the financial, technology and security sectors will provide thrilling perspectives on the latest fintech innovations that are poised to revolutionize the way we handle our finances. Each week join thought-leader, John Best and subject matter expert, Glen Sarvady as they take a quick dive into the financial industry's current breakthroughs and latest hot topics.

Scouting the Next Franchise AI Quarterback
Last Tuesday at 5:30 PM

John and Glen meet with Shastic Founder/CEO Joseariel Gomez Ortigoza about his firm’s mission to make AI less intimidating for credit unions. Also- sausage making and the Credit Card Competition Act. 
 
Links related to this episode:
 
Shastic: https://shastic.com/ 
BIG’s Innovation Club: https://www.big-fintech.com/Innovation-Club/Technology
Glen’s blog previewing the EU’s AI Act: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=first-mover-advantage-the-eus-ai-act-sets-the-legislative-tone
CU Today’s CCCA coverage the morning of the government shutdown deadline: https://www.cutoday.info/Fresh-Today/CU-Opposed-Credit-Card-Competition-Act-Added-as-Amendment-to-Must-Pass-Bill 
...and its brief follow-up afterward: https://www.cut...


Consumers and Members- Unified Needs, Diverse Motivators
03/19/2024

More highlights from the Government Affairs Conference: Filene Research Institute’s Taylor Nelms shares new research revealing credit union members’ segmented needs and desires, and Glia’s Paul Sheets on his firm’s fresh take on “Contact Center as a Service.” Also, first impressions of the EU’s new AI Act.
 
Links related to this episode:
 
Registration for Filene’s Thursday April 4 webinar: https://www.filene.org/events/member-voice-unleashed-national-insights-dashboard-demo-preview 
Filene’s Member Voice initiative: https://www.filene.org/programs-services/advisory-services/member-voice 
Glia’s Unified Interaction Management model: https://www.glia.com/ 
The MIT Technology Review’s t...


Navigating a “Vibe-cession,” Advocating at Scale
03/12/2024

Glen reports from America’s Credit Unions’ Government Affairs Conference- including our annual roundtable with ACU’s Economics team about an oddly disjointed consumer picture, and a conversation with CEOs Deborah Fears and James Higgins about the still-essential role played by small credit unions.   
 
Links related to this episode:
 
The 170-page Small Credit Union Blueprint for Success: www.cuna.org/smallcu  
Americas Credit Unions monthly Economic Updates: https://www.cuna.org/advocacy/credit-union---economic-data/economic-data---bank-comparisons/cuna-economic-update.html 
Our interview with board member Caroline Willard on the CUNA/NAFCU merger: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=the-cunana...


AI Optimism- with a Dose of Reality
03/05/2024

Glen chats with Generative AI’s self- described Chief Optimist (and OpenAI’s onetime Head of Go to Market) Zack Kass about how we’ve arrived at the brink of AGI, potential regulatory avenues to safeguard the technology, and why he sees more likely good than harm. Also- Elon’s latest gambit and another Easter egg in the Capital One/Discover deal.
 
Links related to this episode:
 
Zack Kass’s website: https://zackkass.com/ 
Zack’s Newsweek article on the risks of anthropomorphizing AI: https://www.newsweek.com/perils-anthropomorphizing-machine-intelligence-opinion-1836493 
Wired’s bizarre take on Elon Musk’s biz...


We Were Promised Jetpacks (But Got Deepfakes)
02/27/2024

John recaps ten years of BIG ideas, recounts tech expectations circa 2015, and ponders the potential of AI, for better or worse. Plus- Glen wonders what happens if the Cap One/Discover deal doesn’t go through.   
 
Links related to this episode:
 
Replay of the full BIG 10th Anniversary CU Town Hall (with video): https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=cu-town-hall-episode-108-john-best  
Glen’s blog on the Capital One/Discover merger: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=the-capital-onediscover-deal-a-test-of-typical-battle-lines-and-a-credit-union-angle 
The HeyGen AI Video software John used: https://www.heygen.com/ 
The Government Affairs Conference, March 3-7 in Washi...


Card Company Mergers: How They Started, How They’re Going
02/20/2024

John and Glen check in with PSCU Co-Op CEO Chuck Fagan to learn about progress combining the two organizations. Plus- initial thoughts on Capital One’s proposed Discover acquisition.   
 
Links related to this episode:
 
FAQs on the PSCU/Co-Op combination: https://www.pscu.com/combination 
PSCU Member Forum April 10-12 in San Antonio: https://web.cvent.com/event/45895c24-6cc9-49c5-95d2-b0d0b877dead/websitePage:18a4262f-d222-41c0-b7c7-70aaf6121bd2 
Co-Op Think! Conference May 7-10 in Nashville: https://campaigns.coop.org/think-2024/p/p/1 
Th...


Doing (Small) Business at the Beach
02/13/2024

From the windy shores of Miami Beach, Glen chats with Barlow Research about the often overlooked banking habits of small and mid-market businesses. Also- some fresh (and well-sourced) AI nuggets, and Chase places a contrarian bet on the future of the branch.  
 
Links related to this episode:
 
Barlow Research: https://barlowresearch.com/index.php 
Deluxe: https://www.deluxe.com/ 
CNN’s coverage of JPMorgan Chase’s plans to open 500 new branches: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/06/business/jpmorgan-chase-open-new-branches/index.html 
AI Futurist (and OpenAI alum) Zack Kass: https://zackkass.com/ 
 
Join us for our n...


Defying the DeFi Headwinds
02/06/2024

Glen speaks with Becky Reed about a proposed new Web3-focused credit union, and how it actually represents a return to the CU movement’s roots. Also- a Whole New Worldpay, and data on some unexpected consumer payment behavior.  
 
Links related to this episode:
 
Defy, a proposed federal credit union: https://defy.coop/ 
BankSocial: https://www.banksocial.io/ 
Becky Reed’s new book, “Credit Unions and DeFi: A Financial Renaissance”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CS9ZW1VV   
The Federal Reserve’s Diary of Consumer Payment Choice: https://www.frbservices.org/news/research.htm...


Credit Union New Year’s Resolutions
01/30/2024

John shares the resolutions for 2024 he’d make as the leader of a credit union. Also, Glen discusses Klarna’s bizarre new BNPL subscription model, updates the Fed’s efforts to reduce debit interchange, and offers a differing view on data sharing.  
 
Links related to this episode:
 
Full replay of the January 10 CU Town Hall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1XmSJtyft8   
The Fed’s latest data regarding its proposed debit interchange reduction: https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/RegII_Additional_information_proposed_methodology.htm 
“Future of Global Fintech” report from the World Economic Forum: ht...


Has Blockchain Found a Problem for its Solution?
01/23/2024

John and Glen share thoughts on Bitcoin’s underreported comeback and dig deeper into Generative AI’s 2024 outlook, good and bad.. Plus- more gloating about crypto price predictions, and why we should all be glad John is not the product manager for fire. 
 
Links related to this episode:
 
Our prior 2024 predictions BIGCast  (including Bitcoin’s price guesstimates at the end): https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=chatting-and-generating-2024s-fintech-predictions-hopefully-intelligently 

Highlights of the Economist’s interview with Open AI CEO Sam Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella: https://www.economist.com/business/2024/01/17/the-bosses-of-openai-and-microsoft-talk-to-the-economist 

The full 30-mi...