Banking with Interest
Business & Finance
About
Banking with Interest, a podcast by IntraFi, features in-depth analysis and insight into the policy changes reshaping the banking industry. With insightful interviews and previews of pending policy challenges, the podcast is an essential listen for anyone connected to the financial services industry. Banking with Interest is hosted by Rob Blackwell, an award-winning former journalist with more than two decades of experience as an expert on financial services policy. He is now Chief Content Officer and Head of External Affairs with IntraFi. The show is produced by Sam Navarro, senior principal writer at IntraFi. The podcast theme song was written and produced by Stellar Tracks. The information, views, and opinions expressed during Banking With Interest belong solely to Rob Blackwell and his guests and do not represent those of IntraFi LLC, its directors, management, or employees. Any ideas and strategies contained within the podcast are for informational purposes only and do not cons
Episodes
- Is this the End of the Chair-Driven Fed?
Nick Timiraos, chief economics correspondent at The Wall Street Journal, discusses the unusually fraught transition now underway at the Federal Reserve. He tackles why Jerome Powell's decision to stay on the board matters, what Kevin Warsh…
- AI Is Coming for Bank Deposits
Deposit strategist Neil Stanley sits down with guest host Barb Rehm to discuss how AI is changing depositor behavior, pricing strategy, and the future of bank funding. He explains why static rate sheets and traditional CDs may become incre…
- The Growing Risk of Rogue AI in Banking
Penny Crosman, executive editor for technology at American Banker , talks about the growing risk of "rogue AI" in banking and why generative and agentic AI have changed the stakes for the industry. She discusses how banks are trying to bal…
- Banks Can't Wait on AI, Former OCC Chief Hsu Says
Mike Hsu, the former acting Comptroller of the Currency, explains how waiting to adopt artificial intelligence has become a risk for banks and their regulators. He discusses why AI does not fit neatly into existing risk frameworks, how age…
- The High-Stakes Trap Facing Kevin Warsh
Sam Sutton, author of Politico's Morning Money , discusses Kevin Warsh's nomination to lead the Federal Reserve and the difficult position he could find himself in almost immediately once confirmed. Sutton breaks down how the conflict with…
- The Battle Over CBDC Has Shifted. The Stakes Haven't.
Nick Anthony, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute and a leading critic of central bank digital currencies, explains why the CBDC fight is not over even as many in Washington have turned against it. He discusses why some opponents are un…
- An Idiot's Guide to Basel III Endgame
Federal regulators released their third effort at implementing Basel III in three years, with this one taking a radically different approach to the previous two under the last administration. What does this version do and will it stick? Jo…
- Behind the House-Senate Standoff Over the Housing Bill
Both the House and Senate have passed bipartisan bills designed to promote housing affordability, but the two chambers are now squaring off with each other over a final version, including whether it should include community bank regulatory…
- The Next Regulatory Swing: Kathy Kraninger on CFPB, AI and Fraud
Kathy Kraninger has seen the banking system from both sides of the regulatory divide. The former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and now president and CEO of the Florida Bankers Association joins the show to discuss wh…
- Why the Fight Over Preemption is Red Hot Again
Brandon Milhorn, CEO of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, argues that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is pushing beyond its statutory authority in areas including trust charters, stablecoins and mortgage escrow intere…
- Will the Administration Require Banks to Collect Citizenship Information?
The Trump administration is considering possible executive action that could require banks to begin collecting citizenship information from new and existing customers, according to a blockbuster scoop in The Wall Street Journal. Dylan Toka…
- How Fifth Third Thinks About Scale and Risk
Ben Hoffman, chief strategy officer and head of consumer products at Fifth Third Bank, joins the show to discuss the bank's acquisition of Comerica and what it signals about the future of super-regional banking. He explains why size alone…
- 'All Hell Might Break Loose': The High Stakes for the Fed's Future
As the Supreme Court weighs the fate of Fed Gov Lisa Cook and the Justice Department launches a criminal probe into Chair Jerome Powell, the future of the U.S. economy may well be at stake. Victoria Guida, economics correspondent and colum…
- The Crypto Market Structure Bill Got Shelved. What's Next?
Bowing to industry pressure, Senate Banking abruptly postponed its vote on the crypto market structure bill last week. Brendan Pedersen, senior policy reporter at Punchbowl News and editor of its Vault newsletter, details the dynamics behi…
- The Anti-Money Laundering Regime Is Broken. Can It Be Fixed?
Juan Zarate, who helped create the current anti-money laundering regime 25 years ago while working at Treasury, assesses the system's faults and the Trump Administration's push for reforms. He outlines what a better system would look like…
- What Community Banks Are Facing in 2026
Julieann Thurlow, CEO of Reading Cooperative Bank, talks about the opportunities and challenges for community banks this year. She discusses the economic conditions, how community banks can innovate and where she'd like to see changes by p…
- All I Want for Xmas Is a OCC Digital Charter
As the year comes to a close, the OCC approved five crypto-related firms for new charters, a move that could have big consequences for the banking industry writ large. Ian Katz, managing partner at Capital Alpha Partners, discusses why the…
- Inside the 2025 Bank Reg U-Turn
It's safe to say 2025 has marked a dramatic change from the Biden-era bank regulatory agenda. The Trump-appointed regulators are talking about rethinking supervision, capital, and the Fed's entire approach to liquidity. What does this mean…
- Is this the End of the CFPB?
The Trump administration is refusing to take funds to pay for ongoing operations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, arguing the funding structure is illegal. What does this mean for the agency's future, including its recent effor…
- As Crypto Talks Heat Up Again, Can Congress Cut a Deal?
Senate negotiators have started talking again on a crypto market structure bill after a breakdown in discussions earlier this year. Does the bill have momentum? Brendan Pedersen, the financial services reporter for Punchbowl News, breaks d…
- Why Gutting the CDFI Fund Hurts Banks, Communities
As the government shutdown drags on, the Treasury Department fired the entire staff of the CDFI Fund, a program with substantial bipartisan support. Dennis Ammann, CEO of People's Bank, a CDFI in Mississippi, and Jeannine Jacokes, CEO of t…
- The Battle Over the Fed's Future
Aaron Klein, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, explains how the Supreme Court is likely to react to President Trump's efforts to fire Fed Gov. Lisa Cook, and what it means for the central bank's future as well as monetary policy.…
- HFSC Chair Hill on Agenda, Crypto, Fraud & Housing
More than two dozen bills dedicated to Making Community Banks Great Again have passed House Financial Services Committee. Panel Chair French Hill handicaps which will have the most impact and what is most likely to be enacted. He also disc…
- Anchorage Digital: Inside the First Crypto Bank
Nathan McCauley, Cofounder and CEO of Anchorage Digital, discusses how his institution obtained the first OCC digital trust charter five years ago, how it has changed his business, and why other crypto firms are rushing to apply for the sa…
- Stablecoins, Tokenized Deposits and the Race to Win the Future of Money
Alex Johnson, founder and publisher of FinTech Takes, sorts through what happens now that Congress has passed a new law to regulate stablecoins. Will stablecoins take over finance, and if so, are they a bigger threat to banks or money mark…
- What the Fight Over Fed's Powell is Really About
Victoria Guida, economics correspondent and columnist for Politico, talks about President Trump's reported decision – and then quick reversal – of a move last week to oust Jerome Powell as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. She goes be…
- Why Crypto Firms Are Lining Up to Charter Banks
Crypto firms often pitch themselves as an alternative to and the future of traditional finance. So why are firms like Ripple, Circle, Wise and Erebor attempting to charter banks? Penny Crosman, executive editor for technology at American B…
- A Backdoor Way to Merge Bank Regulators?
Todd Phillips, assistant professor at Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business, discusses the latest attempt to merge bank regulatory agencies and what that means for efforts in this area. He also discusses reported discussi…
- You Say You Want a (Global Payments) Revolution
Tom Halpin, the regional head of North America Global Payment Solutions for HSBC, talks about how AI and new technologies are changing domestic and global payments—and what that means both for his bank and the industry. He also tackles whe…
- Are Banks Really Ready for AI?
Kiah Haslett, banking and fintech editor for Bank Director and FinXTech, talks about how Wall Street giants like Bank of America and community-focused lenders are training their teams to be savvy AI users. She also shares insights about an…
- After a Fraud, this Bank Refused to Give Her Money Back. Now She's the CEO.
While serving in the Oklahoma National Guard, Jill Castilla returned home to find a family member had stolen her money. The bank refused to give her the money back. Decades later, she now leads that bank, Citizens Bank of Edmond, and has u…
- Politico's Sutton on China Tariff Deal, Behind the Scenes at Milken
Sam Sutton, the author of Politico's Morning Money, discusses the impact of the Trump Administration's recent deal to reduce tariffs on China, and what Wall Street and bankers were worried about — publicly and privately — at last week's Mi…
- Inside Dems Surprising Turn Against the Stablecoin Bill
Brendan Pedersen, author of Punchbowl News' The Vault, talks about why key Democrats withdrew support for a bill to regulate stablecoins, how House Financial Services Committee GOP are targeting CFPB, and why an effort to overturn the medi…
- Is This the End of the Fed and CFPB As We Know Them?
President Trump is flirting with the idea of firing Fed Chairman Jerome Powell while the administration is attempting to lay off 90% of the CFPB's employees. John Heltman, Washington bureau chief of American Banker, and Kate Berry, the pap…
- How Tariffs Impact Banks, Bessent's Ambitious Agenda & Stablecoin Fears
Jaret Seiberg, managing director at TD Cowen, talks about how the uncertain economic environment—and changing policies regarding tariffs—are impacting banks large and small. He also tackles Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's bank regulator…
- Why State Regulators Are Worried About Stablecoin Legislation
Brandon Milhorn, the CEO of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, details his concerns about bills fast-tracked in Congress that would give regulatory guardrails for stablecoins. The state regulators he represents say it would open the…
- What the Hell Is Going on with the GSEs?
Katy O'Donnell, the financial services reporter for Politico , dives into a series of surprising moves by new FHFA Director Bill Pulte, including firing the CEO of Freddie Mac, appointing himself chair of both GSEs, and cutting programs.
- What the Hell is Going On: CDFI, CFPB Edition
The Trump administration unexpectedly targeted the Community Development Financial Institution Fund, touching off concern among bankers and their representatives that the bipartisan program could be eliminated. Ryan Tracy, who covers finan…
- How Treasury's Bessent Is Upending Bank Regulation
Not that long ago, the Treasury secretary mostly took a back seat to the banking agencies in crafting policy, stepping in only during times of crisis. Not anymore. Karen Shaw Petrou, managing partner of Federal Financial Analytics, discuss…
- Zelle Chief on Fraud, Friction and Future
Cam Fowler, the CEO of Zelle parent company Early Warning Services, talks about the peer-to-peer payment system's rapid growth, the furor around fraud, and its new digital wallet, Paze. Fowler explains how the company is working to make th…
- Rep. Lucas on Fed Independence, Bank Supervisory Role
Rep. Frank Lucas, the chair of a newly created Congressional task force on monetary policy, discusses the panel's agenda and upcoming hearings, the first of which takes place this week. The Oklahoma Republican grapples with two separate qu…
- What the Hell is Going On, Part II: Merging OCC, FDIC?
The Trump administration wants to fold the FDIC's bank oversight duties into the OCC without congressional approval. Evan Weinberger, a banking correspondent at Bloomberg Law, details the ramifications for community banks, what's already h…
- What the Hell is Going On? A Banker's Guide to D.C.
Victoria Guida of Politico and Brendan Pedersen of Punchbowl News sort through how and why the Trump administration is remaking banking regulation. Is the CFPB neutered for the next four years or maybe forever? Will the OCC take over the F…
- Bank Supervision Needs "Complete Change in Focus"
Greg Baer, the CEO of the Bank Policy Institute, argues that bank supervision has gone off course, focusing on the wrong areas and making the system less safe. He outlines how he and big banks would recommend fixing it. He also discusses s…
- Fmr. Sen. Toomey: Why Debanking Crypto Occurred—And How to Solve It
Former Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., one of the first lawmakers to sound alarms about the debanking of crypto firms , talks about President Trump's accusation that large banks are systemically debanking conservatives, and what he thinks is reall…
- Rep. Waters on Dem's Strategy, Stablecoins, Housing & More
Rep. Maxine Waters, lead Democrat on House Financial Services, discusses how the committee and Congress have changed in her long tenure, her relationship with Chair French Hill, and the importance of community banks. She also unveils the D…
- What Community Bankers Want from D.C.
Brad Bolton, the CEO of Community Spirit Bank in Red Bay, Ala., discusses the state of community banking right now, including what challenges he and other small institutions face and how they hope policymakers can help. He dives into conce…
- The End of Independent Bank Regulation?
Michael Barr's surprising decision to step down as Fed vice chair of banking supervision next month allows the incoming Trump administration to make its own pick for the job and raises questions about the political independence of the bank…
- OCC's Hsu on Unfinished Business, Reg Restructuring & Dangers Ahead
Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu talks about his three-plus years at the forefront of bank regulation, including what regulators learned from the fall of SVB, why we still need new Basel capital rules, and whether regulatory…
- What's the Future of the CFPB and FDIC Under Trump?
Evan Weinberger, the banking reporter at Bloomberg Law, talks about the Trump administration's trial balloon to eliminate the FDIC or combine regulatory agencies. He also goes in-depth on the various fights the CFPB is engaged in, how the…