The Banker Next Door

BND: Strategy Room 3-29-2025

The Banker Next Door (BND) weekly live stream show. Strategy Room provides financial news, commentary, top stories in the business world, economic indicators, and all things banking for the week.

Episode 351: Crypto scams, regulation, policy changes and more! (Crypto Series Part XVIII)

This is part 18 of the crypto series. In this episode we review recent crypto related stories including updates on potential regulation and new guidelines from the OCC, crypto scams and fraud from Jump Trading to the crypto hack of Bybit, to pig butchering in the Philippines, and video games. We also look at MicroStrategy and how crypto can be vulnerable to a quantum hack. All the articles covered in this episode are from The Wall Street Journal (subscription required).

Episode 350: Update on Synapse Financial Technology bankruptcy

This episode provides an update on the Synapse Financial Technology (Synapse) bankruptcy by examining two articles from The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) titled “The bank behind the fintech revolution stumbles after customer funds go missing” and “Synapse executive alerted accountants before $100 million missing funds scandal.”  The first article explains how funds moved from fintechs to Synapse (as the middleman) to banks. The second article gives details of the grand jury that has been convened to investigate criminal misconduct at Synapse.  

Episode 349: CLOs, CMBS, RMBS, ABS securities are all hot again, like its 2008!

This episode examines a recent article from The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) titled “They crashed the economy in 2008. Now they’re back and bigger than ever.” Remember Collateralized Loan Obligations, Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities, Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities, and Asset-Based Securities? For some of us, these products of “financial wizardry” still produce post traumatic stress syndrome! Well, they are back and bigger than ever! Is this a good thing or should we all get ready for the next crash?  

Episode 348: How quickly should banks move into AI?

This episode examines three articles from The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) titled “The rise of artificial intelligence at JPMorgan,” “How the AI talent race is reshaping the tech job market,” and “Why most companies shouldn’t have an AI strategy.” How quickly should a bank, or any company for that matter, move into the use of AI? What are some of the pros and cons? What is the largest bank is the U.S. current doing? How is the labor market currently being influenced by the AI craze?  

Episode 347: Interview with Paul Davis from The Bank Slate

This episode is an interview with Paul Davis from The Bank Slate. Paul recently wrote an article for FinXtech titled “Navigating crypto in the (second) Trump era” were he lays out the pros and cons of banks getting into offering crypto related products and services. This is the focus of our conversation as we discuss recent updates in regulation and policy and weigh the potential risks and rewards for banks in the crypto space. The Bank Slate provides in-depth research and strategic consultancy for banks and fintechs. Paul Davis is a contributing editor to the ABA Banking Journal and Forbes Finance Council; his insights are regularly featured in top financial services publications. Links to the FinXtech article and to The Bank Slate website are included below.
Link: Navigating Crypto in the (Second) Trump Era - FinXTech
Link: https://www.thebankslate.com/

BND: Strategy Room 3-22-2025

The Banker Next Door (BND) weekly live stream show. Strategy Room provides financial news, commentary, top stories in the business world, economic indicators, and all things banking for the week.

Episode 346: Remaining laser-focused on deposits

This episode examines a recent article from Bank Director titled “Banks must remain laser-focused on deposits.” As consumers continue dwindling their savings accounts to combat inflation and interest rates are stuck in neutral, funding pressures remain. Therefore, banks must continue to grow and invest in their deposit franchises. As it is said in the banking industry, “deposits are the life blood of every bank.” A link to the article is included below.
Link:  Banks must remain laser-focused on deposits | Bank Director

Episode 345: The Industrial Loan Company (ILC) Charter is back!

This episode examines a recent article from Bank Director titled “Companies Brush Off Plans for Industrial Banks” and an article form Investopedia titled “Industrial Banks or Loan Companies: Overview and Criticism.” The Industrial Loan Company Charter or ILC is a type of banking charter that is known as a “loophole” in the industry. The ILC charter has been heavily criticized for many years and continues to rear its ugly head from time to time. With the recent announcements by several motor vehicle companies seeking to attain an ILC, the topic has returned to center stage once again. Links to both articles are included below.  
Link: Industrial Banks or Loan Companies: Overview and Criticism
Link: Companies Brush Off Plans for Industrial Banks  | Bank Director

Episode 344: What is the cost for banks to manage physical cash?

This episode examines a recent blog post from PCBB titled “Cashing out on managing physical cash.” Managing physical cash for banks can be very expensive. Banks must maintain counting machines, vaults, trained staff, and security. What strategies can bank’s use to cost-effectively handle physical money? A link to the blog post is included below.
Link: Cashing Out on Managing Physical Cash