The Future of Financial Wellness: The Evolution of the Debbie App

Today, we're turning the tables. In celebration of our 5th anniversary at Banking Transformed, I'm honored to be interviewed my senior producer, Leah Haslage, from Evergreen Podcasts. In this first part of a two-part episode, we discuss the journey of the Banking Transformed podcast, the evolution of the banking industry, and insights into the future of financial services. From our first episode to our latest discussions on artificial intelligence and digital innovation, we explore how the podcast has chronicled the remarkable transformation of banking during one of the most disruptive periods in financial services history. In this and our following episode, we discuss the major trends shaping the industry, memorable guest insights, and my predictions for the future. Both episodes offer a unique perspective on how digital disruption has transformed banking and provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

AI and generative AI are set to revolutionize the financial services industry. But how are banks leveraging these powerful tools, and what challenges do they face? In this episode of Banking Transformed, Monica Hovsepian and John Radko from OpenText will share their insights on the current state of AI in banking, its potential to transform customer experiences, and strategies for fast and seamless deployment. Drawing from the latest Digital Banking Report, they explore the current adoption levels of AI in banking, the challenges institutions face in implementation, and strategies for bridging the AI readiness gap. Download the Digital Banking Report, State of AI in Banking here. This episode of Banking Transformed Solutions is sponsored by OpenText OpenText™ is the leading Information Management software and services company in the world. We help organizations solve complex global problems with a comprehensive suite of Business Clouds, Business AI, and Business Technology. OpenText™ serves 19 of the top 20 Financial Services institutions globally. Unleash the power of AI and analytics to become a leading digital bank. For more information about OpenText (NASDAQ/TSX: OTEX) click here: Operational excellence in Banking | OpenText

Against a landscape where 91% of financial institutions are either assessing or deploying AI in production, Malcolm deMayo, global vice president of the financial services industry at NVIDIA, joins us on the Banking Transformed podcast. This episode provides an in-depth look at the rapidly evolving AI landscape in financial services, backed by NVIDIA's latest industry survey of global financial services professionals. We explore why 75% of institutions consider their AI capabilities industry-leading or competitive and discuss the finding that 97% plan to increase their AI infrastructure spending this year. Malcolm deMayo also shares insights on how institutions tackle key challenges, including data privacy and talent acquisition, while implementing AI across critical areas such as risk management, operations improvement, and customer experiences.

In this episode of Banking Transformed, we're joined by Brian Solis, Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow and author of the newly released book 'MindShift.' We explore the critical insights from Brian's latest work, which offers a roadmap for corporate executives navigating the complexities of leadership and innovation in an era of unprecedented change. We'll discuss how leaders can find clarity amidst uncertainty, harness the power of AI while maintaining a human touch, and leverage customer experience as a competitive advantage. From redefining leadership in the digital age to embracing disruption as an opportunity for growth, Brian's 'MindShift' provides a fresh perspective on thriving in today's rapidly evolving business landscape.

In this episode of Banking Transformed, I sit down with Robert Watts, VP of Consumer Credit at D.L. Evans Bank, a $3 billion community bank serving Southern Idaho and Northern Utah. We discuss how the bank is embracing the power of instant loan decisioning, balancing risk, compliance, and customer needs. Watts highlights the bank's extraordinary growth, transitioning from processing 100-200 loan applications annually to around 300 monthly applications, mainly due to rethinking internal processes and collaborating with innovative partners. Watts also advises other financial institutions embarking on digital transformation, recommending a step-by-step approach, embracing change, and avoiding the temptation to implement all changes simultaneously. This episode of Banking Transformed Solutions is sponsored by MeridianLink MeridianLink® (NYSE: MLNK) powers digital lending and account opening for financial institutions and provides data verification solutions for consumer reporting agencies. MeridianLink’s scalable, cloud-based platforms help customers build deeper relationships with consumers through data-driven, personalized experiences across the entire lending life cycle. MeridianLink enables customers to accelerate revenue growth, reduce risk, and exceed consumer expectations through seamless digital experiences. Its partner marketplace supports hundreds of integrations for tailored innovation. For more than 20 years, MeridianLink has prioritized the democratization of lending for consumers, businesses, and communities. Learn more at meridianlink.com.

Two years ago, we introduced you to the Debbie app, an innovative rewards platform aimed at improving financial wellness. We're excited to welcome back Frida Leibowitz, one of Debbie's co-founders, to discuss their journey since our last conversation. In a world where economic uncertainty has become the norm, the need to transform borrowers into wealth builders has never been more crucial. In this episode of Banking Transformed, we explore how the Debbie app has evolved, the challenges it has faced, and the impact it has had on users' financial behaviors. Join us as we delve into Debbie's growth story, their adaptive strategies, and their vision for the future of financial wellness.

In an industry where security, efficiency, and client relationships are paramount, having an integrated and democratized document and information management platform is more important than ever. In this episode of Banking Transformed, we explore the evolving landscape of document and information management in financial services with Matt Geiger from Sharefile. We discuss critical challenges banks and credit unions face and how innovative solutions can address these issues head-on. Matt also touches on the future of financial document management, including the role of AI and machine learning in creating more personalized, secure, and efficient systems. This episode of Banking Transformed Solutions is sponsored by Sharefile ShareFile helps professionals deliver modernized client experiences with collaboration and workflow technology that is highly secure, easy to use, and customizable to fit their organization’s unique needs. Designed with highly regulated industries in mind, ShareFile offers secure, digital technology to simplify workflows and improve collaboration. ShareFile works with your existing technologies and gives you added visibility, speed, and efficiency, without sacrificing security. Visit sharefile.com

In this episode of Banking Transformed, we explore the transformative power of data in the financial services industry. Joining us is Jeremiah Lotz, SVP of Product & Data Experience at Velera, formerly known as PSCU/Co-op Solutions. We discuss how banks and credit unions can harness data to drive strategic decisions, enhance customer experiences, and navigate the delicate balance between AI capabilities and human insights. Jeremiah also shares his expertise on developing effective data strategies, ensuring privacy and security, and measuring the success of data initiatives in the ever-evolving landscape of modern banking. This episode of Banking Transformed Solutions is sponsored by Velera Velera, formerly PSCU/Co-op Solutions, is the nation’s premier payments credit union service organization (CUSO) and an integrated financial technology solutions provider. With over four decades of industry experience and a commitment to service excellence and innovation, the company serves more than 4,000 financial institutions throughout North America, operating with velocity to help its clients keep pace with the rapid momentum of change and fuel growth in the new era of financial services. Velera leverages its expertise and resources on behalf of credit unions and their members, offering an end-to-end product portfolio that includes payment processing, fraud and risk management, data and analytics, digital banking, instant payments, strategic consulting, collections, ATM and POS networks, shared branching and 24/7/365 member support via its contact centers. For more information, visit velera.com.

As financial institutions face growing competition and increasing regulatory pressure, AI could unlock unprecedented efficiency, innovation, and growth—if only they could overcome the hesitation that holds them back. In this episode of Banking Transformed, we sit down with Sandeep Mangaraj, Microsoft's Managing Director of Fintech, to explore the critical role of speed in AI transformation for financial services. Sandeep discusses the barriers to AI adoption in financial services, the risks of falling behind in this fast-moving technology landscape, and the tangible benefits of empowering employees with AI tools today. He also shares insights into how banks can experiment with AI responsibly while building the foundations for long-term success. This episode of Banking Transformed is sponsored by Microsoft: Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. More at Microsoft.com/financialservices

In an era of digital transformation reshaping the financial landscape, understanding shifts in consumer behavior is crucial for banks and credit unions aiming to stay competitive. Today, we have Dave Feuer, the Chief Product Officer at Galileo, on the Banking Transformed Podcast. We delve into the fragmentation of banking relationships, the satisfaction paradox, and the imperative for data-driven personalization across generations. We discuss the challenges and opportunities these shifts present for traditional banks and credit unions, the importance of leveraging real-time data, and the need for seamless digital experiences. This episode of Banking Transformed is sponsored by Galileo Galileo Financial Technologies, LLC and certain of its affiliates collectively comprise a financial technology company owned and operated independently by SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI) that enables fintechs, financial institutions, and emerging and established brands to build differentiated financial solutions that deliver exceptional, customer-centric experiences. Through modern, open APIs, Galileo’s flexible, secure, scalable and fully integrated platform drives innovation across payments and financial services. Trusted by digital banking heavyweights, early-stage innovators and enterprise clients alike, Galileo supports issuing physical and virtual payment cards, mobile push provisioning, tailored and differentiated financial products and more, across industries and geographies. Visit galileo-ft.com for more information