FinWise EYE ON:

Keeping an EYE ON AI: Beyond the AI Hype—Building ROI‑Driven, Data‑Led Financial Services

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept in financial services—it’s here. But moving from experimentation to real, measurable impact is where many institutions still struggle.
In this episode, Erin Earl, Industry Executive Advisor for Financial Services at SAP, sits down with host Sarah Grotta, Chief Fintech Officer at FinWise Bank, for a practical, no‑nonsense conversation about what it really takes to make AI work in banking.
Drawing on decades of leadership experience across global banks, fintechs, and enterprise technology, Erin cuts through the hype and shares what financial institutions actually need to focus on to turn AI investments into business outcomes.
Listeners will learn:
Why so many AI pilots fail—and how to avoid “pilot purgatory” by anchoring every initiative to a clear business case and ROI.
How banks of all sizes can prioritize the right AI use cases, with real examples where mid‑sized and community institutions are outperforming larger peers.
What “AI‑ready data” really means, and why data foundation—not models—is the biggest determinant of AI success.
How to structure ownership and governance for AI, balancing innovation, risk management, and regulatory expectations in a highly regulated industry.
Whether you’re just beginning your AI journey or looking to scale what’s already in production, this episode delivers practical guidance for building data‑led, ROI‑driven financial services—today and for the future.

EYE ON Faster Payments: What’s Driving Adoption, Use Cases, and What Comes Next

In this episode of FinWise EYE ON, host Sarah Grotta, Chief Fintech Officer at FinWise, sits down with Reed Luhtanen, Executive Director & CEO of the U.S. Faster Payments Council, for a deep-dive conversation on the rapid evolution of faster and real-time payments in the U.S.
Reed brings a unique, ecosystem-wide perspective—spanning banks, fintechs, payment networks, merchants, and regulators—to unpack how the industry has moved from “why faster payments?” to “how fast can we get live?”
Listeners will learn:
Why instant payments have officially passed the tipping point in the U.S.
How RTP and FedNow adoption has accelerated—and what’s driving it
The most compelling real-world use cases, from payroll and earned wage access to loan disbursements, insurance payouts, marketplaces, and healthcare
How fintechs access faster payment rails through bank partnerships
Why “receive-only” participation isn’t enough—and the ROI case for enabling send
Key fraud and risk considerations—and why real-time doesn’t mean reckless
How industry standards (confirmation of payee, transaction tags, exceptions handling) can unlock broader adoption
The role of AI, stablecoins, and tokenized deposits in the future payments landscape
Why optionality and redundancy may be a strength—not a weakness—of the U.S. payments system
Whether you’re a community bank, fintech, program manager, or payments professional, this episode offers valuable insight into where faster payments are today—and where they’re headed next.
 

Lending Innovation, AI, and the Future of Credit with Ed Walters from Upstart

In this podcast episode Simon Darchis, Head of Fintech Products and Strategic Initiatives at FinWise Bank, sat down with Ed Walters, VP of Lending Partnerships at Upstart, for a wide‑ranging and candid conversation on how lending is evolving—and what banks, fintechs, and investors need to understand to stay ahead.
Ed and Simon unpack:
How AI is reshaping credit access—and why starting with the customer problem (not the product) matters more than ever
What it really takes to innovate responsibly in lending while balancing regulators, sponsor banks, and investors
Lessons learned from the 2022 credit cycle stress test—and how modern underwriting models are adapting to macroeconomic risk
How fintechs and sponsor banks can build durable, multi‑year partnerships in a fast‑moving, highly regulated environment
Why the future of lending is moving toward “always‑on” credit, meeting consumers at their point of need with the right product, at the right price
Ed also shares practical insights on product ideation, compliance‑by‑design, model explainability, and what strong risk management looks like at scale—all grounded in real-world experience.
If you’re thinking about the future of consumer lending, AI in underwriting, or how fintech–bank partnerships can evolve sustainably, this episode is for you.
 

Compliance is Your Competitive Advantage in 2026 with Dana Lawrence from Themis

In our latest episode, Sarah Grotta, Deputy Chief FinTech Officer at FinWise Bank, sits down with Dana Lawrence, VP of Go‑to‑Market Strategy & Customer Relationships at Themis, to unpack one of the most important—and misunderstood—levers for success in financial services:
➡️ Compliance as a true business differentiator.
If you work in fintech, banking, risk, regtech, or anywhere in the BaaS ecosystem, this conversation hits home.Here are a few of the standout insights:
Compliance is your brand.
The pendulum may swing—but responsibility doesn’t.
How to turn the ‘Department of No’ into the ‘Department of Know.’
What’s coming in 2026
And a powerful reminder: In a hybrid world, in‑person community matters more than ever.  For innovation, for collaboration, for sanity.
If you're navigating risk, underwriting new fintech models, evaluating partnership opportunities, or preparing for your 2026 compliance strategy—this is a conversation worth your time.

FinWise Team 2025 Year in Review

Year in Review 2025: Insights from FinWise Bank
Join host Sarah Grotta, Deputy Chief FinTech Officer at FinWise Bank, and a panel of FinWise leaders as they reflect on the biggest shifts, challenges, and opportunities in fintech and banking partnerships over the past year. This special episode brings together:
Kenzie Mexican, SVP, Deputy Chief Compliance Officer
Simon Darchis, Head of Fintech Products and Strategic Initiatives
Chris Comber, SVP, Credit Management and Strategy
Nick Chiappetti, VP, Fintech Marketing and Partnerships
Donnie Drake, SVP, BaaS Operations
Sarah Grotta, Deputy Chief FinTech Officer (Host)
What’s inside:• How 2025 compared to the regulatory “wildfire” of 2024• The maturing fintech landscape: fewer startups, more mergers & acquisitions• Shifting regulatory tone, but persistent compliance focus• The rise of AI and stablecoins—hype vs. practical impact• Evolving consumer expectations and product innovation• Predictions for 2026: bank charter trends, AML modernization, and more collaboration
Tune in for candid perspectives, industry trends, and a look ahead to what’s next in fintech and banking. Happy holidays from the FinWise EYE ON Podcast team!

Money2020 - Special Episode 2025 - Part 3

In Part 3, we dive into the conversations shaping the future of fintech, banking, and payments. From cultural transformation in community banking to innovations in family finance, earned wage access, and stablecoin adoption, this episode is packed with insights from industry leaders.
Featured Guests & Time Stamps:
Chris Eggemeyer, VP, Castle Creek Capital (00:32 – 10:59)Madhu Yalamarthi, Co-Founder & CEO, Modak (11:05 – 20:12)Julie Valencia, Head of Compliance, Modak (11:05 – 20:12)Andrew Grant, Regulatory and Transactional Attorney, Runway Group (20:13 – 24:00)Todd Rotolo, Head of Growth & Marketing, Chisel (24:01 – 31:53)Kyla Galicia, Head of Client Relationships and Implementations, Chisel (24:01 – 31:53)Dimitri Dadiomov, Co-Founder & President, Modern Treasury (31:54 – 38:28)Rob Kaczmarek, CEO & Founder, Inbanx (38:29 – 48:19)Alex Gostomelsky, CFO, Tapcheck (48:20 – 59:00)Matt MacDonald, Fintech Practice Leader, Wolf & Company (59:01 – 65:04)Emmett Shipman, Fintech Strategy, Wolf & Company (59:01 – 65:04)Highlights:✔ AI and automation in compliance✔ Stablecoins as a new payment rail✔ Bank-fintech collaboration and cultural shifts✔ Financial wellness and accessibility for families and workers

Fintech Partnerships, Bank Charters & the Future of Banking with Kiah Haslett

In this episode, Kiah Haslett, creator of Fintech Takes Banking, sits down with host Sarah Grotta to talk about the evolving relationship between banks and fintechs. They explore the lessons learned from Banking-as-a-Service, the surge in charter applications, and what these trends mean for compliance, risk management, and innovation. The conversation also dives into regulatory shifts, payment charters, and the potential impact of initiatives like the Skinny Master Account and Section 1033. If you want to understand how technology, regulation, and strategy are reshaping banking, this episode is a must-listen.

Money2020 - Special Episode 2025 - Part 2

Money20/20 Special Edition – Part 2Recorded live at Money20/20, this episode dives deeper into the conversations shaping banking, fintech, and regulatory strategy. From embedded banking solutions to AI-driven compliance and the evolving role of partnerships, our guests share insights on innovation and what’s next for financial services.
Featured Guests & Time Stamps:
Jason Henrichs, CEO, Alloy Labs (00:34 – 9:25)
Dana Lawrence, VP GTM Strategy & Customer Relationships, Themis (9:28 – 15:42)
Troy Maas, CTO & Founder, ASA (15:43 – 23:09)
Landon Glenn, CEO & Founder, ASA (15:43 – 23:09)
Sunil Singh, Founder & CEO, Tallied (23:12 – 27:07)
Yankie Markowitz, CEO, SBA Loan Group (27:08 – 30:45)
Stan Orszula, Partner, BFKN (30:46 – 43:13)
Abdul Mitha, Partner, BFKN (30:46 – 43:13)
What you’ll learn:✔ How banks and fintechs can build trust and transparency for successful partnerships✔ Why embedded banking and Software Development Kit (SDK) solutions are changing the game✔ The role of AI in compliance, risk management, and dispute handling✔ Regulatory trends and how to engage with regulators early for smoother innovation✔ Why relationships and collaboration remain the foundation of growth