100 episodes

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.

BIGcast Best Innovation Group's John Best & 154 Advisors' Glen Sarvady

    • Business
    • 4.7 • 15 Ratings

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.

    Navigating a “Vibe-cession,” Advocating at Scale

    Navigating a “Vibe-cession,” Advocating at Scale

    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-cunanafcu-merger-an-inside-view 
    Skyline Financial Federal CU: https://www.skylinefinancialfcu.com/ 
    Chicago Post Office Employees Credit Union: https://www.cpoecu.com/ 
    Americas Credit Unions’ in-progress combined site: https://www.americascreditunions.org/ 
     
    Join us for our next CU Town Hall on Wednesday March 20 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive discussion of the key issues facing credit unions. (Did we mention there’ll be a cool tech giveaway to one FI attendee?) It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  
     
    We’ve joined BlueSky social! Find us at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors 
    You can also follow us on LinkedIn: 
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/  
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ 
     https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

    • 38 min
    AI Optimism- with a Dose of Reality

    AI Optimism- with a Dose of Reality

    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 bizarre lawsuit against OpenAI: https://www.wired.com/story/wild-claim-at-the-heart-of-elon-musks-openai-lawsuit/ 
    Our recent CU Town Hall dissecting Capital One/Discover’s impact on credit unions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZIDagUCgb4
    Glen’s blog on the Capital One/Discover deal: https://www.big-fintech.com/Media?p=the-capital-onediscover-deal-a-test-of-typical-battle-lines-and-a-credit-union-angle 
    SRM’s report on Capital One/Discover: https://info.srmcorp.com/assessing-the-shockwaves-from-capital-ones-plan-to-purchase-discover 
    Deluxe Corporation: https://www.deluxe.com/ 
     
    Join us for our next CU Town Hall on Wednesday March 20 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive discussion of the key issues facing credit unions. (Did we mention there’ll be a cool tech giveaway to one FI attendee?) It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  
     
    We’ve joined BlueSky social! Find us at @bigfintech, @jbfintech and @154Advisors 

    You can also follow us on LinkedIn: 
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/ 
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

    • 29 min
    We Were Promised Jetpacks (But Got Deepfakes)

    We Were Promised Jetpacks (But Got Deepfakes)

    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 Washington DC: https://www.cuna.org/events/the_governmentalaffairsconference2024.html 
    CU Broadcast, from Digital Town Hall partner Mike Lawson: https://www.cubroadcast.com/  
     
    Join us for our next CU Town Hall this Wednesday February 28 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive discussion of the key issues facing credit unions. (Did we mention there’ll be a cool tech giveaway to one FI attendee?) It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  
     
    Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ 
    Connect with Glen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/ or X (@154Advisors)
    Connect with John on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  or X (@jbfintech)

    • 30 min
    Card Company Mergers: How They Started, How They’re Going

    Card Company Mergers: How They Started, How They’re Going

    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 
    The Government Affairs Conference, March 3-7 in Washington DC: https://www.cuna.org/events/the_governmentalaffairsconference2024.html 
    Chuck Fagan’s recent interview with Tampa Bay Business & Wealth: https://tbbwmag.com/2024/02/13/ceo-of-pscu-and-co-op-solutions-talks-about-growth-and-maintaining-company-culture/ 
     
    Join us for our next CU Town Hall this Wednesday February 28 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive discussion of the key issues facing credit unions. (Did we mention there’ll be a cool tech giveaway to one FI attendee?) It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  
     
    Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ 
    Connect with Glen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/ or X (@154Advisors)
    Connect with John on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  or X (@jbfintech)

    • 44 min
    Doing (Small) Business at the Beach

    Doing (Small) Business at the Beach

    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 next CU Town Hall this Wednesday February 14 at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive discussion of the key issues facing credit unions. (Did we mention there’ll be a cool tech giveaway to one FI attendee?) It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  
     
    Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ 
    Connect with Glen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/ or X (@154Advisors)
    Connect with John on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  or X (@jbfintech)
     

    • 38 min
    Defying the DeFi Headwinds

    Defying the DeFi Headwinds

    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.html/2023-findings-from-the-diary-of-consumer-payment-choice
     
    Join us for our next CU Town Hall on Wednesday February 14th at 3pm ET/Noon PT for a live and lively interactive discussion of the key issues facing credit unions. (Did we mention there’ll be a cool tech giveaway to one FI attendee?) It’s free to attend, but advance registration is required:  https://www.cutownhall.com/  
     
     
    Follow the Best Innovation Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ 
    Connect with Glen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/ or X (@154Advisors)
    Connect with John on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/  or X (@jbfintech)

    • 36 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
15 Ratings

15 Ratings

oliviabaker13 ,

A fantastic listen!

If you’re looking to stay informed on the latest in an ever-evolving fintech landscape - you’ve come to the right place! John and Glen have such a great back and forth and their interviews are incredibly engaging (and can be pretty funny at times). Fantastic content, delivered in an easy to consume format, FOR FREE - can’t recommend BIGcast highly enough.

Money2020 attendee ,

Always a great listen, and always some thought provoking topics.

Great content. Insightful interviews with fintech leaders and innovators, and recap of financial news.

I don't rate ,

Great primmer...on well, everything!

Long time listener to the PodCast and first time review (sorry for the delay John). The BigCast does an excellent job providing a survey of financial institution needs and fintech solutions. Particular benefit is provided from the team’s leg work and recommended resources for further reading (or viewing in the case of Manuel Stagars). Keep them coming!

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