Cross River has spent nearly two decades building infrastructure for fintech innovators. Hillel Olivestone joins Galileo to discuss how the bank moved beyond legacy systems to create its own core, enabling leadership across RTP, FedNow, and emerging digital asset use cases. He also shares insights on embedded finance, evolving client profiles, and maintaining strong regulator relationships in a changing environment.

Direct deposit is not flashy, but it changes the economics of an account overnight. In this episode, Scott Weinert, co-founder and CTO of Atomic, shares how financial institutions are increasing profitability through seamless payroll connectivity, payment switching, and merchant integrations. He also discusses governance, transparency, and the responsibility fintechs carry when handling consumer permission data. This conversation connects infrastructure decisions to real outcomes for banks, fintechs, and the people they serve.

Fintech started by serving customers traditional institutions overlooked. Today, it's driving the next wave of payment innovation. In this episode, Christienne Genaro talks with Visa's Kevin Meigs about how the ecosystem has matured and where it's headed next. They discuss the rapid growth of BNPL, the launch of Visa Flex Credential, and how a single card can now move between debit and credit with a simple toggle inside apps like Klarna or Affirm. They also break down what agent-driven commerce means for networks, merchants, and consumers, including how trust, authentication, and interoperability shape the future of transactions. From sponsor bank partnerships to strategic investment decisions, this conversation offers a candid look at how Visa evaluates risk, innovation, and long-term growth.

Prashant Shah, VP of Product Management at Galileo, speaks with Justin Gainsley, who leads payments at Coinbase, about how stablecoins are being used in real payment flows today. They discuss checkout, payouts, treasury use cases, interoperability across blockchains, and how stablecoins can coexist with traditional payment rails while expanding global reach.

Recorded live at Fintech Nerdcon in Miami, Scott Henderson from Galileo sits down with Alex Johnson, founder of Fintech Takes, for a wide-ranging conversation on embedded finance, financial health, and what it actually takes to build better financial products over the long term. Alex shares his definition of embedded finance and why context matters more than the product itself, from auto lending to payments and beyond. The conversation digs into where embedded finance works, where it does not, and why consumers still treat bank accounts and insurance differently. They also explore why financial health is not a feel-good initiative, but a practical way for financial institutions to improve customer quality over time. The discussion expands into AI, personalization, and agent-based experiences, including how banks and fintechs can use AI to genuinely help customers without sacrificing trust. If you care about fintech, banking, embedded finance, or building products that actually serve customers, this episode offers clear thinking grounded in real-world experience.

What should banks and fintechs actually be doing right now as open banking stalls and regulatory signals keep shifting? In this episode, Scott Henderson talks with Jason Mikula, publisher of Fintech Business Weekly, live from Fintech Nerdcon 2025. They break down cash flow underwriting in production, data access and consent models, the future of screen scraping, and the growing operational risk created by multi-layer fintech stacks. Jason shares practical advice on scenario planning, cost uncertainty, and why building for regulatory whiplash is now table stakes for fintechs heading into 2026.

In this episode of the Galileo Financial Technologies Podcast, host Christienne Genaro sits down with leaders from FinWise Bank—Nick Chiappetti, VP of Fintech Partnerships & Marketing, and Simon Darchis, Head of Fintech Products—to unpack how sponsor banks are balancing innovation with regulatory reality. The conversation explores how FinWise approaches banking-as-a-service, why compliance is non-negotiable, and how technology—APIs, data, and AI—is reshaping everything from underwriting to oversight. The group dives into hot-button topics including BNPL, cash-flow underwriting, AI in lending, and the growing interest (and hesitation) around stablecoins and tokenized deposits.

Stablecoins have reached a rare inflection point: real product-market fit and meaningful regulatory clarity—at the same time. Recorded live from Fintech Nerdcon in Miami, this episode of the Galileo Financial Technologies Podcast features Simon Taylor, founder of Fintech Brainfood and GTM at Tempo, for a deep dive into what this moment means for banks, fintechs, and payments leaders. In this conversation, we explore: Why stablecoins are no longer speculative—but operational Where stablecoins outperform traditional rails (and where they don't) The difference between stablecoins and tokenized deposits How on-ramps, off-ramps, cards, and settlement are converging What financial institutions should prioritize heading into 2026 If you're building, operating, or investing in financial infrastructure, this episode breaks down what's real, what's actionable, and how to avoid being left behind as programmable money goes mainstream.

Galileo's Christienne Genero and SoFi's Kelli Keough come together for a high-impact discussion on what it takes to build financial experiences that earn trust at scale. They break down how SoFi and Galileo are aligning technology, operations, and human insight to support the full arc of a member's financial life. In this conversation, they unpack: • Why every consumer — from first paycheck to advanced investor — expects fast, intuitive digital experiences • How SoFi is connecting banking, crypto, and AI to create a unified financial ecosystem • The operational rigor required to deliver reliability at scale • How a strong regulatory foundation becomes a long-term advantage for partners and members • The role AI agents and SoFi Coach will play in turning data into clear, actionable guidance • What it truly takes to design cross-product journeys that support members as their needs evolve Throughout the discussion, Christienne and Kelli highlight how SoFi and Galileo are shaping a more seamless financial future — one where money moves instantly, insights are personalized, and trust is built through consistency, transparency, and operational excellence.   00:17 Welcome to the Galileo Financial Technologies Podcast 00:50 Introducing Our Guest: Kelli Keough from SoFi 01:26 Kelli Keough's Role and Responsibilities at SoFi 02:25 A Personal Story of Financial Management 04:35 The Importance of Digital and Personal Touch in Finance 06:56 The Intersection of Banking and Fintech 08:16 SoFi's Seamless Product Integration 11:01 AI and the Future of Financial Services 13:32 Customer Lifetime Value and Cross-Buy Strategy 16:10 Opportunities and Challenges in Fintech 19:11 The Importance of Regulation and Compliance 22:56 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements

In this episode of the Galileo Financial Technologies podcast, host Scott Henderson discusses what it takes to launch a successful fintech program with industry leaders Matt Mehlman from iLEX Consulting and Ramy Serageldin from Spidr. Broadcasting from Fintech Nerdcon in Miami 2025, the conversation explores the latest trends, innovations, and the complexities of launching fintech programs. Key topics include the importance of compliance, effective vendor partnerships, operational prerequisites, emerging technologies like AI and stablecoins, and the evolving regulatory environment. The guests share valuable insights and practical advice for fintech founders, emphasizing the significance of building strong foundations, focusing on mission-driven approaches, and navigating go-to-market challenges.     00:37 Meet the Guests: Matt and Ramy   01:25 Matt's Journey in Fintech   02:42 Ramy's Path to Spidr   05:16 The Role of iLEX and Spidr   06:53 Importance of Compliance in Fintech   13:19 Navigating Regulatory Changes   24:21 Future Trends: Stablecoins and AI   28:10 Closing Remarks and Contact Information