IPA Payments Pod

Customer service is a critical department in any business because it can make or break both individual relationships and a company's reputation.    In this episode, Meg Porter, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Transformation at Ubiquity, discusses how to build a successful customer service program. She talks about how to train and manage customer service agents, why companies should consider...

The last round in the battle between PayPal and the CFPB took place in the DC District Court, and IPA's Head of Government Relations, Chris Stromberg was there to hear the oral arguments.   In this episode, he discusses the arguments with IPA's CEO, Brian Tate, and they consider what the possible outcomes could mean for the industry.   The IPA thanks our member sponsor, Netspend , for helping to m...

Artificial Intelligence has begun reshaping all parts of the business world, and payments is no exception.    To help its members prepare for the changes that are coming, the Innovative Payments Association has asked payments expert Sarah Grotta to write a white paper that gives an overview on AI and what it means for payments companies.    In this episode, we discuss the highlights of the paper a...

In his book Tools and Weapons , Microsoft Pr e sident Brad Smith , writes about how the growth of technology is changing everyone's lives for better and worse.   In the latest meeting of the IPA book club, we are joined by Sandi Piatz, the head of market for APS, an IPA member , to discuss the book . She recommended it because it is an exploration of the issues facing the payments industry and soc...

    Fifth Third Bank's recent acquisition of fintech Rise Money builds on a long history of financial services innovation.   In this episode, Tom Bianco, the general manager of embedded payments at Fifth Third, discusses the Rise acquisition and how it is part of a tradition developing new products and services. We discuss how the bank approaches questions like whether to build, buy, or partner fo...

It looks like a busy summer ahead. In this episode, Brian Tate, the IPA's CEO, and  Chris Stromberg, IPA's director of government relations, discuss what is happening at the state and federal levels of regulation. They cover a pending bill to ban plastic gift cards in California, a recent issue spotlight on payment apps from the CFPB, and upcoming hearings in the House and Senate with regulators....

Successful innovation in financial services requires a number of elements to come together in just the right way.     Innovators need to combine new technology , market opportunities, and regulatory compliance to create the next generation of successful products.   The keys to making this combination work came out in the IPA's recent conference. I n this episode, Brian Tate, the IPA's CEO, and Tim...

The growth of Fintech has led banks to examine opportunities in acting as a sponsor bank and offer Banking as a Service. This offers opportunities for innovative banks, but success is not guaranteed. In this episode, Michael Haney, the head of product strategy at Galileo, discusses the tools needed to be successful in Banking as a Service (BaaS).   We cover how to identify opportunities, what bank...

Can a book written in the 1500s teach us anything about the modern payments industry?   That is the question the IPA team is tackling with our latest book club reading, "The Prince" by Nicolo Machiavelli. Originally written as a guide to power for political leaders battling over city states in renaissance Italy, the book has been on the reading lists of politicians, business leaders, and academics...

Buying new technology can be a real adventure for banks that want to keep up with the times , s o the real question is how to avoid the pitfalls that can come when investing in fintech.    In this episode, Kiah Haslett, the managing editor of Bank Director Magazine and Laura Alix, the magazine's director of research, discuss their new report "Finding Fintechs " and how it can help banks choose the...

The recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank may not be the biggest news in financial services.    In this episode, the IPA's CEO, Brian Tate, and Chris Stromberg , the IPA's director of government relations , talk about current events that could shape the future of the payments industry. They get into the Supreme Court case on the CFPB's funding, what is happening on Capitol Hill...

The Second Installment of the IPA Book Club delves into the realm of Bitcoin, blockchains, and all things crypto with The Age of Crypto c urrency by Paul Vigna and Michael J. Casey.   In this episode, the IPA's CEO, Brian Tate, and Ben Jackson, the IPA's COO, discuss their thoughts on the book. They cover what they think the book got right, where it went in the wrong direction, and what the book c...

Payroll information is used for all kinds of financial decisions, but individual workers and employers often need to jump through hoops to share it .    In this episode , Jordan Wright , Atomic's CEO and co-founder , describes how the company is working to solve the problems that employers and employees face when trying to share payroll data.    We discuss how th e availability of that data can en...

While questions have been raised about its future, the C onsumer F inancial P rotection B ureau still remains at the center of payments regulation in Washington.     In this episode , Brian Tate, the IPA's CEO, and Chris Stromberg, IPA ' s director of government relations discuss everything that has been happening with the Bureau.   They discuss the Bureau's recent announcements, Congressional inq...

How can start-ups create effective compliance programs with limited resources?   This is a question many founders struggle with, and the key to is success is recognizing when they need help.    I n this episode Jamie Uppenberg , the founder of Uppenberg A ssociates, discusses how fintechs can build a n effective compliance program that grows with the company.   We talk about how compliance is more...

Did the financial crisis leave us with any lessons that apply to a rapidly evolving payments industry?   To dig into this question, the IPA staff recently read and had a discussion on Michael Lewis's book, The Big Short . The IPA's CEO, Brian Tate, and Chris Stromberg, our director of government relations joined Ben Jackson to discuss the book and what it can tell us about our current situation. ...

Activity in all three branches of government could lead to changes in payments.    From congressional hearings to court cases to the State of the Union, payments is getting its fair share of attention from the federal government. In this episode, the IPA's CEO, Brian Tate, and Chris Stromberg, our director of government relations, discuss how these things are shaping the operating ecosystem for pa...

Buy Now, Pay Later products have emerged as a new financing tools for shoppers and merchants, and now Galileo wants to help banks make use of this new type of payment.   People who run into an unexpected or emergency expense may need an option for short-term financing. Galileo's new tool gives bank another way to offer these funds to their customers. In this episode, Dave Feuer, Galileo's chief pr...

When Pathward bank decided to rebrand, the changes meant a lot more than just new a new logo.    In this episode, Pathward's President Anthony Sharett, explains how the name change included structural changes at the bank and a refocused strategy.    He also discusses the company's financial inclusion mission, the trends it sees in payments innovation, and how it chooses partners.    The IPA thanks...

While the future of payments will undoubtedly include blockchains, cryptocurrencies, and stablecoins, what will that mean for the industry?   To start answering this question, the Innovative Payments Association recently held its "Crypto Universe from A to Z event at the offices of Davis, Wright, Tremaine, in Washington DC. In this episode, we discuss the themes and ideas that emerged during the d...

The past year has been a busy one in financial regulation. Crypto crashes, court cases, and Congressional clashes will all have effects that will have effects into 2023 and beyond. In this episode, Brian Tate, the IPA's CEO, and Chris Stromberg, our director of government relations, discuss the past year's events with an eye to how they will shape the future of regulation and the payments industry...

ExpanseFT is a new name in fintech that is backed by experience.   The company, which is over 10 years old, announced in October that it had changed its name from Prepaid Ventures. In this episode, we talk with Andrew Siden, the chief executive officer of ExpanseFT, about the company's creation, its growth, and how the name change is rebranding it for the future.   In the interview, we also discus...

Innovative fields often struggle to find qualified staff, and the payments industry faces this problem every day.    The University of Georgia has created a program across its system to prepare students to solve problems in Fintech. In this episode, we present an edited version of a presentation done by Art Recesso, Vice Chancellor for Academic Innovation at University System of Georgia. He covers...

The results of the 2022 midterm elections held a number of surprises, and political analysts are still trying to figure out what they all mean.   In this episode, the IPA's CEO, Brian Tate, and Chris Stromberg, our director of government relations, look at the midterms through a payments regulation lens. They discuss what a divided government will mean for payments legislation and regulation, and...

Financial crime has gotten more complex over time, and to keep up with the criminals, law enforcement and the industry need to work together.    In this episode, you will hear a conversation with Special Agent Charles Orgbon of the FBI's Atlanta Field office on how the Bureau is forming partnerships with the payments industry. We discuss how the FBI has worked with companies in the past and best p...