Financial innovation doesn’t follow a straight path. When it swerves, the clash between ideals and economics comes into focus.
With data volumes surging and regulatory clarity still elusive, a harder question is emerging: If access to financial data is commercialized, how “open” is open banking – and who ultimately bears the cost?
Capital One’s Brex acquisition exemplifies a broader shift: incumbent banks reclaiming embedded finance as a core competency.
A small group of major banks is taking embedded finance in-house, leveraging scale to assert control over risk, economics, and strategic differentiation.
After 20 years in sponsor banking, Pathward president Anthony Sharett argues that successful bank-fintech partnerships require the right people, multi-threaded opportunities, and true co-creation.
While over 100 banks now call themselves sponsor banks, Suro believes the next frontier lies in AI, embedded finance, and educating all stakeholders about what's possible.
