Fintech Balancing Act: Risk, Growth & Regulation - Jason Mikula, Founder of Fintech Business Weekly

In this episode, we get an insider look into the financial technology landscape with Jason Mikula. Jason shares his journey, from his unexpected entry into financial services and digital marketing to launching the publication Fintech Business Weekly. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer acquisition metrics and analyzes the evolution of fintech innovations like online lending, BNPL, Banking as a Service, etc.

We delve into the mechanics of Banking as a Service (BaaS) and the complex relationships between fintechs, middleware platforms, and banks. Jason is currently in the middle of reporting on news as it breaks around Synapse, Evolve and several fintechs, as well as the thousands of customers caught in the middle of it. He highlights the regulatory challenges and the balancing act between risk and growth. Our discussion also addresses the current regulatory landscape and the future of partner banking, stressing the need for sustainable and economically sound practices. Tune in for a comprehensive conversation that explores the intricacies of fintech and digital banking services.

CHAPTER MARKERS:

00:00 Preview

00:45 Intro

00:58 Sponsor

01:31 Meet Jason Mikula, Analyst and Writer of FinTech Business Weekly

03:23 Jason's Background in Financial Services

04:27 Joining Enova and Learning Subprime Lending

05:22 Marketing Metrics and Customer Acquisition

07:05 Challenges in Digital Financial Services

09:09 The Importance of Digital Marketing in FinTech

14:29 Starting FinTech Business Weekly

17:38 Analyzing the FinTech Landscape

20:10 Insights on BNPL and Market Valuations

23:32 Banking as a Service and Middleware Companies

31:49 Regulatory Challenges and Partner Banking

40:23 Regulatory Priorities and Market Impact

44:46 Systemic Risks and Community Banks

48:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts