Why traditional lending technology is holding CUs back, with Michael Claire.
In the latest episode of The Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar sat down with Michael Claire, founder and CEO of LoanCirrus Limited. Their conversation focused on how digital lending platforms can reach underserved communities—particularly in regions often overlooked by large banks.Claire shared insights from his work across the Caribbean, where outdated lending models and legacy technology have slowed progress. He explained how LoanCirrus is helping financial institutions reimagine how they serve people, starting with access and trust.DeTar and Claire also discussed the risks of overcomplicating digital transformation. Claire advocated for simple, intuitive tech that lets credit unions and small lenders adapt quickly. Throughout the episode, Claire emphasized that building tools for people—not just institutions—is what moves the needle.
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1:44:42
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1:44:42
The Rapid Pace of AI’s Evolution, With Amir Sarhangi
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar sits down with Amir Sarhangi, CEO and founder at Skyfire Systems Inc. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is changing the landscape of payments, digital commerce, and the day-to-day experience of both consumers and financial institutions.Amir explains how AI agents are set to handle more tasks on our behalf, from booking travel and securing event tickets to making complex payment decisions. He dives into the technical hurdles, such as identity verification and secure transaction processing, and discusses why tokenized payments and open API models will be essential as agent-driven commerce evolves. Throughout, Amir stresses the speed of change in the AI space and the need for banks to adapt quickly to stay relevant and maintain strong customer relationships.The conversation moves beyond technology, touching on the deeper impacts of AI on trust, consumer choice, and the role of financial institutions in a world where software agents may make many decisions for us. Amir offers practical examples and urges banks to act now, harnessing their trusted position to deliver new, user-friendly experiences that keep customers engaged.
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1:27:53
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1:27:53
The Lessons Learned through a Failed Chatbot, with Imane Bakker
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar welcomed Imane Bakkar, Managing Director at Logarisk. With years of experience in financial risk management, Imane unpacked how today's risk landscape had shifted—and why traditional models were no longer enough on their own.Josh and Imane discussed how regulated institutions could navigate risk in an era defined by AI, speed, and interconnectivity. She pointed to real-world failures, a chatbot gone off the rails and algorithmic trading systems that misfired were discussed, to highlight the importance of designing controls that matched the use case. She also explained the role of "risk appetite" versus "risk tolerance," and why understanding that difference mattered.The episode closed with a reflection on preparation versus prediction. Imane urged risk leaders to stop chasing the perfect model and instead focus on knowing their dependencies, designing for speed, and asking smarter questions—before the next crisis hit.
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1:26:17
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1:26:17
What Community FIs can do with AI, with Alenka Grealish
In the last episode of The Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar sat down with Alenka Grealish, principal analyst at Celent. Their conversation explored how generative AI is changing how community financial institutions operate, from behind-the-scenes efficiency to frontline support.Grealish explained that AI's biggest impact today is improving agent productivity, boosting customer satisfaction, and reducing call center turnover. She compared AI to bees: mostly invisible yet critical to the entire system.The discussion also covered AI's role in bridging knowledge gaps, enabling personalization through natural language, and supporting small business banking. Grealish emphasized the need for trust, clear guardrails, and human oversight to unlock AI's benefits without compromising safety. The episode closed with a look at how financial institutions can start small, experiment safely, and prepare for a future where AI is deeply embedded in digital banking.
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1:10:53
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1:10:53
Cybersecurity and Payments: A Love-Hate Relationship with Thomas Müller
On this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar welcomed Thomas Müller, CEO and co-founder of Rivero, to discuss the connection between cybersecurity and payments. Müller’s background as a CISO provided a unique perspective, highlighting the human element in security breaches. He used real-world examples like account takeovers and policy bypasses to show how both technology and human actions affect security.DeTar and Müller discussed the challenge of building strong security programs that are both safe and user-friendly. Müller offered advice on making security policies and training more effective. They also explored how industry rules often fail to keep up with new online threats.Müller then explained his move from cybersecurity to the payments industry, and his reasons for founding Rivero. He spoke about the issues banks face in adapting to rapid changes in financial technology. The discussion concluded with Müller's thoughts on the constant struggle between those committing fraud and security experts.
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