Banking Transformed with Jim Marous

What if your business banking clients could ask a question, in plain English, and get an instant, intelligent answer? No spreadsheets. No manual reports. Just the client, their data, and AI working together. It sounds like science fiction, but it's happening right now. Grasshopper Bank has become the first U.S. bank to enable customers to connect their business banking data directly to Anthropic's...

The future of banking isn't coming – it's already here. And yet, a staggering 46% of retail financial institutions admit they're either early in their digital transformation journey or still in planning stages. At the heart of this inertia lies a familiar bottleneck: legacy core systems. While over 90% of banks surveyed this year say digital transformation is either a “critical” or “high” priority...

AI is rewriting how value is created and moved, digital assets are making finance programmable, and open banking is turning data into a competitive weapon. To become resilient, one must understand the collision between cutting-edge technology and centuries-old financial systems. How is open banking democratizing financial data? Why are some regions outpacing others in fintech innovation, while oth...

As we passed the midway point of 2025, we're witnessing a fascinating convergence: social media has become the new town square for financial decisions, mobile apps are overtaking traditional banking channels, and after years of digital self-service, Americans are seeking human financial advice at levels not seen since the 2008 crisis. Meanwhile, alternative financial options are experiencing an un...

While most financial institutions see payment processing as just a commodity service, the smartest ones are realizing it's actually their secret weapon for strengthening commercial relationships, boosting non-interest income, and building real competitive advantages in a growing market. Here's what might surprise you: banks that excel at providing merchant services not only keep their clients long...

In today’s rapidly changing financial landscape, traditional banking is no longer enough. Customers expect more than just accounts, loans, and transactions—they want personalized, real-time value delivered seamlessly across every touchpoint in their lives. That’s where ecosystem banking comes in. In this episode of Banking Transformed, I’m joined by Mike Cook and Carson Kotnyek from Zafin to explo...

In banking, every second matters. Fraud happens in milliseconds. Customers demand instant answers. And AI can only deliver value if it’s powered by live, real-time data. Yet many banks are still relying on batch reports and outdated systems, making decisions based on yesterday’s insights. The shift can’t wait. Forrester predicts that by 2025, half of all businesses will use AI-powered self-service...

Most banks, including potentially yours, are falling into a dangerous trap. They're announcing AI initiatives, holding innovation showcases, and talking about digital transformation, but when it comes to measurable business results, 70% have nothing to show for their investment. The winners, like JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, and a few others, aren't just lucky. They've decoded a specific approach...

In this episode of Banking Transformed, John Stuckey from FIS shares insights on the evolving landscape of digital business banking and the strategies financial institutions need to adopt for future growth. The discussion examines how market needs have evolved for business banking clients, the effect of Customer 360 perspectives, the increasing influence of open banking on business financial relat...

Silent attrition may be the biggest threat most banks aren’t talking about — and the stakes are rising fast. The 2025 Generational Trends in Digital Banking study reveals that only 56% of digital banking consumers expect to maintain their current relationship over the next year, while the rest are quietly drifting toward stagnation or disengagement. This continuous erosion of loyalty comes just as...

As I visit different cities and countries, I find that every financial institution is racing to claim they are “data-driven,” yet, as I dig deeper, I find that few are truly turning data into meaningful action. From personalizing member experiences to unlocking operational efficiency, the ability to transform data into insight — and insight into impact — has become a strategic imperative. Yet the...

Every customer conversation – whether in a branch, online, or through a call center – holds the potential to either deepen loyalty or increase attrition. Yet too often, those interactions create frustration, higher costs, and lower satisfaction scores. Today’s competitive advantage isn’t just having data. It’s knowing how to transform conversations into measurable business value. From lowering cos...

Fintech disruptors like Chime, Revolut, Venmo and the Cash App have shaken up the banking world by positioning themselves against traditional banking's pain points, yet most established banks continue to compete on incremental improvements rather than bold differentiation. Consumers are drowning in nearly indistinguishable offers, a reality my guest on Banking Transformed, Laura Ries, calls out in...

Thailand's banking sector is experiencing a remarkable evolution, driven by regulatory innovation, mobile-first consumer behavior, and some of the world's most stringent operational requirements. Leading this transformation at one of the region's most influential financial institutions is our guest today. Ian Gillard serves as Senior Executive Vice President at Bangkok Bank, where he oversees digi...

For tech firms serving banks, survival isn’t guaranteed. It takes more than a great product or engineering talent to stay ahead. It requires relentless innovation, the ability to scale without losing agility, a deep understanding of financial institutions' pain points, and above all, visionary leadership that adapts to change rather than fears it. On this episode of Banking Transformed, we welcome...

Every week, we hear another story: A major bank's mobile app crashes during peak hours with no vendor support in sight. A credit union's core system update goes sideways, leaving customers locked out for days. A regional bank discovers that their "24/7 support" actually means "leave a voicemail and we'll get back to you Tuesday." Here's the brutal truth most banking executives learn too late: You'...

The convergence of artificial intelligence, real-time payment rails, open banking, and embedded finance is creating both unprecedented opportunities for innovation and significant competitive pressures. Banks must navigate the delicate balance between embracing cutting-edge technologies, such as generative AI, and maintaining the trust and security that customers demand. In this episode of the Ban...

In an age where customers can switch banks with just a few taps on their smartphones, loyalty has shifted from being a nice-to-have marketing tactic to a business-critical survival strategy. Today's banking customers don't just want rewards—they seek relevance, personalization, and experiences that fit seamlessly into their daily routines. This shift represents more than just changing customer pre...

Despite massive investments in digital transformation, most banks and credit unions are still struggling to deliver seamless and intuitive account-opening experiences. In fact, financial institutions could more than double their digital account opening success by following just a few simple strategies. In today’s episode of Banking Transformed, I’m joined by Frida Leibowitz, Co-Founder and CEO of...

How do you transform banks that have been built over centuries for a world where artificial intelligence operates 10 times faster than the digital revolution? We're not just talking about implementing new technology; we're reimagining banking for customers who interact daily with AI assistants and may soon entrust their money management entirely to intelligent systems. However, banks that rush int...

Offering diverse insurance products isn't just about additional revenue streams—it's about building unbreakable customer relationships, especially when economic uncertainty has people questioning every financial decision. We explore how forward-thinking financial institutions are evolving beyond traditional banking to become true partners in financial wellness, utilizing insurance as a bridge to d...

The most critical challenge facing most retail financial institutions is how to accelerate organic growth and customer acquisition in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven landscape. I’m joined on the Banking Transformed podcast by Sumeet Grover, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategic Growth & Digital Officer at Austin-based University Federal Credit Union. Sumeet is a renowned t...

Community financial institutions are at a crossroads—they must deliver cutting-edge card payment experiences that rival fintech disruptors and mega-banks, all while preserving their community-focused mission and working within tighter resource constraints. Guest: Joe Schmithorst, VP of Product and Client Solutions at Primax Joe brings decades of experience helping community banks transform their p...

Every financial institution today is sitting on a goldmine of customer data, yet most struggle to turn those insights into a real competitive advantage. The challenge isn't collecting data—it's knowing what to do with it. Rachel O'Neill from Alkami joins me on the Banking Transformed podcast to tackle the hard questions: Why do so many banks fail to activate their data strategically? How can insti...

While established institutions offer stability and financial strength, they must overcome perceptions of being stodgy, complex and disconnected from the digital fluency that defines Gen Z and Millennial lifestyles. Building connections with this demographic isn't simply about launching another banking app or redesigning branches – it's about reimagining how a legacy institution can demonstrate rel...