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...
Aug 08, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 126
In this episode of Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar spoke with Jenn Addabbo, the CEO and co-founder of Engage fi. They discussed her journey as an entrepreneur, how to build a strong company culture, and how legacy financial institutions can innovate. Addabbo explained that culture is not something you can just create; it is the result of your vision and actions. Jenn emphasized the importance of hiring people who fill your blind spots, like "puzzle pieces that come together for the full...
Jul 25, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 125
In this episode of The Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar talked with Shane Saunders, CEO of Mocse Credit Union, about building authentic brand value in community financial services. Shane shared how his credit union discovered its identity as "audaciously authentic" through a rebranding process that honored both their humble beginnings and deep community roots. The conversation explored why competing on price creates a race to the bottom that community financial institutions can't win against ...
Jul 11, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 124
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast , host Josh DeTar sits down with Law Helie, General Manager of Consumer Banking at nCino, to explore what it takes to modernize digital banking. From his early days in the Marines to leading consumer strategy at one of the industry's top tech firms, Law brings a rare blend of discipline, empathy, and systems thinking. The conversation deepens into the real-world friction between fraud prevention and user experience. Law breaks down how legacy polici...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 123
This episode of the Digital Banking Podcast explored the crucial role of cybersecurity in banking, focusing on vendor risk management. Josh DeTar spoke with Lara Sevener, Tom Walker, and Rob Carothers, partners at Jones Walker LLP, about the unique challenges faced by community and mid-sized banks. The discussion highlighted the increasing reliance on third-party vendors for essential banking services and technology. Sevener, Walker, and Carothers emphasized the importance of due diligence and s...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 122
On this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar spoke with Kendall Garrison, CEO of Amplify Credit Union, about shaking up the status quo in the credit union industry. Garrison shared Amplify's commitment to improving members' financial lives, even if it means making tough decisions. They discussed Amplify's guiding principles, the importance of diverse perspectives, and the obligation to give back to the community. Garrison detailed Amplify's decision to eliminate fees, viewing it as...
May 30, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 121
Small credit unions face big challenges, but does that mean there’s no joy in running one? In this episode of The Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar sits down with Bo McDonald, Founder and President of Your Marketing Co., to unpack the reality of credit unions under $10 billion in assets. They dive into the importance of mindset, strategic decision-making, and why some small credit unions thrive while others struggle. Bo shares how personal experiences shaped his passion for credit unions ...
May 16, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 120
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar speaks with Tony Hernandez, President and CEO of the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC). They discuss how DCUC advocates for credit unions serving military members and veterans across America. Tony explains how DCUC has expanded beyond its original mission of representing credit unions on military installations to now serving any credit union with veterans in their field of membership. He shares insights on current advocacy efforts to p...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 119
In the latest episode of The Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar welcomed JR Lay, Founder and CEO of the Digital Growth Institute. The episode explored Lay’s journey from punk rock musician to digital banking strategist and the lessons he learned along the way. DeTar and Lay discussed how financial institutions can move beyond a defensive mindset and embrace transformation as an ongoing evolution rather than a disruption. "Are you playing a game to win, or are you playing a game not to lose...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 118
On this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar spoke with JB Baker, VP of Products and Marketing at Scale Flux, about the often unseen infrastructure behind AI. They discussed the limitations of current technology and where improvements are needed to handle AI’s growth. JB highlighted the "memory wall," which limits data flow to processors, as a major hurdle. JB explained how this challenge requires innovation in areas like memory, storage, networking, and even cooling systems. He us...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 117
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar sat down with Tanis Bagby, Cash Management Officer at P1FCU, to discuss the power of community engagement in the digital age. Bagby shared her career journey at the credit union, highlighting the importance of building relationships with members. She discussed her role as host of P1FCU’s podcast, Making Sense of Money, emphasizing the value of providing financial education and support through relatable, long-form content. Bagby explained...
Mar 21, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 116
On this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar welcomed Melanie Kennedy, CEO of Southwest Financial Federal Credit Union to discuss her credit union's journey to becoming a fully digital institution. This transition, planned before the pandemic, accelerated when COVID-19 forced widespread closures. She explained the operational efficiencies gained, the surprisingly positive member response, and the improved work-life balance for her team. Kennedy addressed the challenges of runn...
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 115
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar welcomes Kim Butler, founder of Prosperity Thinkers, to discuss the importance of financial education and the path to financial freedom. Kim explains how her early experiences with money shaped her passion for helping others build solid financial foundations, emphasizing the significance of savings, both for emergencies and opportunities. The conversation dives into why personal financial literacy is so crucial, yet often overlooked...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 114
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar sits down with Scott Fieber, Chief Strategy Officer at Cook Solutions Group, to discuss the evolving landscape of community financial institutions (FIs). Scott shares insights on the unique challenges these organizations face, from navigating legacy technology to combating increasingly sophisticated fraud. With his deep understanding of the industry, Scott offers practical tips for fostering innovation and improving security in a co...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 113
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar is joined by Har Rai Khalsa, CEO and Co-Founder of Swaystack, to explore the evolving landscape of customer acquisition and retention in community financial institutions. Har Rai shares his unique journey, from his upbringing rooted in community values to his entrepreneurial career focused on enhancing the financial ecosystem. Together, they dive into what it takes for credit unions and community banks to compete with fintechs and m...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 112
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar sits down with Laszlo Tallai to explore the unique ways credit unions can stand out in the digital age and redefine member experiences. Laszlo delves into the power of humor and unconventional approaches, sharing how a lighthearted April Fool's prank turned into a viral campaign, sparking fresh ideas about member engagement. The conversation highlights the urgent need for digital transformation in credit unions. Laszlo addresses the...
Jan 10, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 111
Andrew Sagliocca, Vice Chairman, CEO, and President of Esquire Financial Holdings Inc. and Esquire Bank, joined Josh DeTar on the Digital Banking Podcast to discuss Esquire Bank's unique approach. Andrew explained how the bank focuses on two niche markets: litigation finance and payments. He emphasized the importance of understanding these specialized areas and tailoring services to meet client needs. He discussed how this strategy allows Esquire Bank to attract low-cost deposits and maintain st...
Dec 27, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 110
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast , host Josh DeTar welcomes Sebastien Taveau, an industry expert from Meesteek.ai. Together, they dive deep into the evolving world of open banking, payments, and financial technology. Sebastien shares his insights on the global differences in how open banking is implemented, with particular focus on the approaches seen in Iceland, Australia, and the U.S. Taveau discusses the technical and cultural challenges banks face as they transition toward more...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 109
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar speaks with Tyler Brown, CEO of CCG Catalyst, a leading digital banking transformation consultant. Tyler offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of digital banking and the challenges banks face in adapting to new technologies and customer expectations. The conversation dives into the importance of a comprehensive digital banking strategy, covering topics like customer experience, data analytics, and the role of technolo...
Nov 29, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 108
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar spoke with Shekhar Vemuri, SVP, CTO, VP Analytics at EXL Analytics. Vemuri shared insights on the evolution of AI in banking and its practical applications. Vemuri explained how AI has progressed from basic automation to more complex tasks like understanding unstructured data. He highlighted the shift from optical character recognition (OCR) to advanced machine learning models that can comprehend and analyze documents. The conversation d...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 107
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar sits down with Tyler Marshall from PrimeBank to discuss the bank’s digital transformation journey. Tyler shares how PrimeBank recently undertook a core conversion, challenging traditional banking practices to improve efficiency and better serve their customers. This transformation allowed PrimeBank to modernize its operations, ensuring they remain competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. Tyler emphasizes the unique role community bank...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 106
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar sits down with Donat Husjainov, Chief Product Manager at XDataGroup, to explore the transformative power of innovation in global banking. Donat shares insights from his diverse experience, highlighting how Estonia's unique ecosystem fosters a culture of innovation and supports a thriving startup environment. He emphasizes the role of government initiatives, hackathons, and a tech-savvy population in driving Estonia's success. The co...
Oct 19, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 105
In the latest episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar welcomed Chad Ritchie, CIO at Ventura County Credit Union, for an insightful discussion. Ritchie emphasized the importance of aligning technology strategies with member needs and outcomes rather than adopting new tech for its own sake. He highlighted how data control and innovation cycles are critical for credit unions to remain competitive and relevant in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. Ritchie elaborated on the chall...
Oct 04, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 104
In the latest episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar sat down with Chris Aliotta, President and CEO of Quantalytix, to discuss the future of banking and technology's role in transforming the industry. Aliotta shared insights from his journey, which began with a fascination for technology at a young age, eventually leading him to create innovative solutions in the financial services sector. He emphasized the importance of deeply understanding the domain to drive impactful changes...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 103
In a recent episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, hosted by Josh DeTar, Donovan Forrai, Director of Sales at DBSI, shared insights on the evolving landscape of banking. Forrai emphasized the importance of small-town values and community engagement in financial services. Growing up in the Midwest, he learned early on the significance of losing as a learning experience and how foundational community and collaboration are to personal and professional success. Forrai discussed the intersection of ...
Sep 06, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 102
In a recent episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar interviewed Mac Thompson, the Founder and CEO of White Clay. Thompson shared his unique journey from a punk rock surfer kid to a leader in the banking industry, illustrating how his unconventional background shaped his innovative approach to financial services. He discussed the significant transformations he witnessed in banking, emphasizing the importance of leveraging technology and data to drive meaningful change. Thompson do...
Aug 23, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 101
In a 100th episode of the "Digital Banking Podcast," host Josh DeTar welcomed Margarete Mucker, a recently retired EVP of Operations from Star One Credit Union. DeTar and Mucker delved into her profound impact on the financial industry and shared personal stories highlighting her career and life decisions. Mucker's narrative began with her early banking career in Germany, leading to her life-changing move to the United States following her marriage. Mucker shared insights into her innovative wor...
Aug 09, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 100
In the latest episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar interviewed Caitlin Brama, the CEO of Farm Credit Employees Federal Credit Union. Brama shared her unconventional journey to becoming a credit union CEO, highlighting her transition from a branch manager role and the challenges she faced along the way. Her story underscored the importance of resilience and adaptability in the financial sector. Brama emphasized the need for credit unions to stay relevant by doubling down on the...
Jul 26, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 99
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, Josh DeTar welcomed Debbie Miglaw, Vice President of Digital Solutions and Business Development at Broadridge. Miglaw shared her unique journey from being a national champion in velodrome track racing to excelling in digital solutions and business development. Her early experiences in competitive cycling instilled in her valuable skills like discipline, focus, and creativity, which she later channeled into her professional career. DeTar and Miglaw ...
Jul 12, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 98
In this episode of the Digital Banking Podcast, host Josh DeTar spoke with Evgeny Filichkin from Keytom. Evgeny shared his journey from Russia to Dubai, exploring the evolution of his career in cryptocurrency and alternative trading. He explained why Dubai has become a premier hub for crypto startups, citing its favorable legal infrastructure and vibrant, innovative community. Filichkin elaborated on the benefits of Dubai's regulatory environment, which fostered growth for crypto businesses by p...
Jun 28, 2024•57 min•Ep. 97
