Glen offers two more interviews from our continuing Finovate Europe coverage- a chat with GSMA Head of Industry Security Samantha Kight on the latest efforts to combat financial fraud on mobile devices, and the leaders of startup Hagbad unveil a savings circle app with echoes of credit unions' early days. Also- card interchange solidifies its role as America's misunderstood punching bag.

Links related to this episode:

• Hagbad: https://hagbad.co.uk/
• GSMA's Connected Fintech and Commerce page: https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/industries/connected-fintech/
• GSMA's Open Gateway financial API initiative: https://www.gsma.com/solutions-and-impact/gsma-open-gateway/
• Part 1 of our Finovate Europe coverage, including interviews with a pair of Best of Show winners: https://www.big-fintech.com/putting-an-accent-on-identity-code-modernization-and-fraud/
• Finovate Europe demos are available for viewing: https://finovate.com//videos/?filtertype=&showtypes=FinovateEurope&videostartyear=2026&showletters=A-Z
• Our recent episode previewing GAC with Americas Credit Unions CEO Scott Simpson: https://www.big-fintech.com/small-businesses-big-policy-debates/
• Jared Bernstein's proposed grocery affordability hack that pulls card interchange into the mix: https://econjared.substack.com/p/taking-a-stab-at-food-affordability

Check out CU Unplugged, an unscripted, participant-powered gathering designed to foster unfiltered conversation on the topics participants most critical. The event is open to all credit union leaders, but the group will be kept intentionally small for maximum impact. Join us March 30 – April 2 at Visa's Market Support Center in San Francisco- Visit https://www.cu-unplugged.com/ to learn more and register.

Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

Glen shares his takeaways from Finovate Europe, including interviews with two standout demoing companies- Tweezr and Keyless. Also- $15 billion becomes the new $10 billion, and Illinois' interchange glass looks less than half full.

Links related to this episode:

• Tweezr: https://www.tweezr.io/
• Keyless: https://keyless.io/
• Finovate Europe: https://informaconnect.com/finovateeurope/
• Payments Dive on the latest Interchange Fee Prohibition Act court ruling: https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/judge-backs-illinois-law-on-card-fees/811924/
• The CU Daily on proposed legislation to index the Durbin Amendment's $10 billion threshold: https://thecudaily.com/legislation-introduced-that-would-adjust-threshold-for-durbin-amendment-compliance-for-inflation/

Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday February 18 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. This month's session will feature guest Brian Bodell, CEO of Movemint (formerly Digital Storefront). The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/

Check out CU Unplugged, an unscripted, participant-powered gathering designed to foster unfiltered conversation on the topics participants most critical. The event is open to all credit union leaders, but the group will be kept intentionally small for maximum impact. Join us March 30 – April 2 at Visa's Market Support Center in San Francisco: Visit https://www.cu-unplugged.com/ to learn more and register.

Follow us on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/

America's Credit Unions CEO Scott Simpson reflects on his first 90 days in the role and offers a preview of March's Government Affairs Conference. Barlow Research Managing Partner Sandy Hanson shares new and unexpected insights on how SMBs prefer to engage with financial providers. Also- PayPal's plunge brings another of our 2025 BIGgo squares back into play, and an insider's uncommon take on FTX.

Links related to this episode:

• America's Credit Unions: https://www.americascreditunions.org/
• The Government Affairs Conference, March 1-5 in Washington DC- breakout sessions now announced: https://www.americascreditunions.org/events-training/conference/governmental-affairs-conference/breakout-sessions
• Barlow Research: https://barlowresearch.com/
• Deluxe Exchange: https://www.deluxe.com/deluxe-exchange/
• Yahoo Finance on PayPal's earnings miss and Elon Musk rumors: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/paypal-tanks-earnings-miss-could-165640023.html

Join us for our next CU Town Hall- Wednesday February 18 at 3pm ET/Noon PT- a live and lively interactive conversation tackling the major issues facing credit unions today. This month's session will feature guest Brian Bodell, CEO of Movemint (formerly Digital Storefront). The Town Hall is free to attend, but advance registration is required: https://www.cutownhall.com/

Check out CU Unplugged, an unscripted, participant-powered gathering designed to foster unfiltered conversation on the topics participants most critical. The event is open to all credit union leaders, but the group will be kept intentionally small for maximum impact. Join us March 30 – April 2 at Visa's Market Support Center in San Francisco: Visit https://www.cu-unplugged.com/ to learn more and register.

Follow us on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-innovation-group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbfintech/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glensarvady/