The hottest Fintech Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

VyStar Invested $20M Into “Dysfunctional” Nymbus; “Botched” Transition Led To Consent Order, $1.5M Penalty

Fintech Business Weekly • 59 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
💼 Business Fintech
  1. VyStar Credit Union faced major issues after investing $20 million in Nymbus due to a failed transition to a new online banking platform.
  2. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered VyStar to pay a $1.5 million penalty for unfair practices during the transition process, which left customers unable to access their accounts.
  3. Nymbus is currently involved in multiple legal disputes with clients, claiming it failed to deliver promised services and is now reportedly trying to extort money from a former customer.

Future of Goldman's "Platform Solutions" Looks Grim

Fintech Business Weekly • 170 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. Eco shut down its banking app and laid off its team as it focuses on new money initiatives with cryptocurrency.
  2. Goldman Sachs is near selling GreenSky, indicating a bleak future for its "Platform Solutions" division.
  3. CFPB warns that lenders using AI must provide specific reasons for adverse actions and initiates rulemaking to remove medical debt from credit reports.
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ANNOUNCEMENT: The ValuationBot Research Desk is live

Valuabl • 1 implied HN point • 19 Jan 26
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. A new service works like a 24/7 personal equity research team that automatically finds and validates investment ideas.
  2. It delivers a steady daily stream of ideas from liquid, investable companies and focuses only on the markets you actually invest in.
  3. You get full access to every report, valuation model, and Excel export so you can dig into the analysis and make clearer investment decisions.

Y Combinator S23 Demo Day: AI & Dev Tools Dominate

Golden Pineapple • 158 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Fintech
  1. 70% of the top YC S23 companies are focusing on AI and Developer Tools.
  2. Key trends from the YC S23 batch include AI and automation, developer-centric solutions, and financial compliance platforms.
  3. Top companies are showcasing a mix of AI-driven solutions, developer tools, fintech platforms, and a focus on user experience.

Arkansas Congressman’s Proposal To “Make Community Banking Great Again”

Fintech Business Weekly • 44 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. A Congressman from Arkansas has a plan to help community banks. He wants to improve regulations to make banking easier and more fair for smaller banks.
  2. The CFPB has decided which digital payment apps will be closely monitored. Apps that process a lot of transactions, like Venmo and Cash App, will need to follow new rules to protect consumers.
  3. During a recent hearing, top banking officials talked about the health of the banking system. They mentioned the need for stronger risk management and staying updated with new financial technologies.

Potential Class Action Argues High APR "Rent-a-Bank" Scheme Violates RICO

Fintech Business Weekly • 96 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. A potential class action case argues against a "rent-a-bank" scheme for high APR loans, highlighting the importance of understanding financial regulations and usury laws in the lending industry.
  2. The case brings attention to the evolving landscape between fintech companies and traditional banks, showing the complexities and discussions around defining the true lender in partnerships.
  3. The case also underscores the need for transparency and clarity in financial partnerships, as demonstrated by the alleged lack of distinction between a fintech entity and bank in customer-facing materials.

What Happened to the OCC's Chief Fintech Officer?

Fintech Business Weekly • 133 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
💼 Business Fintech
  1. The OCC's Chief Fintech Officer mysteriously disappeared from his role, raising questions about his background and qualifications.
  2. CFPB Director highlights Apple and Google's control over mobile payments, calling out potential anti-competitive practices.
  3. FDIC's Q2 Banking Profile shows declining net income, slightly reduced net interest margins, and continued unrealized losses in banks' securities portfolios.

Leaked Treasury Prime Docs Show Risks Of BaaS Business: Churn, Concentration, Slowing Growth

Fintech Business Weekly • 89 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. Leaked Treasury Prime documents highlight risks in Banking-as-a-Service business, including issues like churn, concentration, and slowing growth.
  2. Treasury Prime's strategic pivot to focus on selling to banks instead of fintechs resulted in drastic employee layoffs, shedding light on the challenging environment for middleware platforms in fintech.
  3. Fintech companies like Chime and Green Dot facing regulatory actions and penalties underscore the importance of compliance and customer service in the financial industry.

Morgan Stanley-Backed TomoCredit Isn't Paying Its Bills, Faces Mounting Legal Challenges

Fintech Business Weekly • 89 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. TomoCredit, a startup backed by Morgan Stanley, is facing financial troubles and legal challenges despite its initial success claims.
  2. Mission Lane, a subprime card startup linked to LendUp, has raised $50 million and replaced its CEO in an effort to reposition itself.
  3. A study by the Federal Reserve reveals differences in how financially stable versus fragile households utilize buy now, pay later services, impacting the types and frequency of purchases made.

The second era of fintech

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. Fintech is experiencing significant growth again, with companies like Plaid and Klarna showing increased revenue and plans for IPOs. This is a positive sign for the industry after a tough period.
  2. The market has changed how it values fintech revenue, with some companies seeing a drop in their revenue multiples. This creates challenges for startups looking to raise funds or sell.
  3. There’s a lot of optimism in tech startups, especially with advances in AI and improvements in battery technology. Many founders are working on exciting projects that could change the industry.

Maryland Latest State To Issue EWA Guidance

Fintech Business Weekly • 126 implied HN points • 20 Aug 23
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. Maryland issued guidance on earned wage access (EWA) products, following in the steps of Nevada and Missouri.
  2. CFPB Director Chopra announced new rulemaking to regulate data brokers and protect consumer data.
  3. Analysis of Dave's Q2 earnings shows discrepancies in metrics like average revenue per user, highlighting the importance of looking beyond official reports.

Is the Capital One/Discover Deal Good or Bad For “Competition”? Yes.

Fintech Business Weekly • 81 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. Capital One's acquisition of Discover is a complex deal that has both good and bad elements for competition, creating a potential shake up in the US payments space.
  2. The CFPB is using once-dormant authority to supervise nonbank entities like World Acceptance Corp, focusing on risks to consumers.
  3. Acting Comptroller Hsu suggests creating a federal money transmitter licensing framework to better regulate non-bank companies providing bank-like services, highlighting potential risks in the growing role of non-bank firms in banking areas.

Good news, IPO edition

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
💼 Business Fintech
  1. Coincheck, a Japanese crypto exchange, recently went public through a SPAC deal and its shares are doing well. Even though they raised less than expected, being valued above the traditional SPAC price is a positive sign.
  2. ServiceTitan's IPO priced at $71 per share, which is higher than its previous range, marking it as a success despite some concerns about its past valuation. It shows that good market conditions can help companies raise more money.
  3. The European economy is facing slow growth and has cut interest rates to help manage inflation. This situation reflects challenges in recovery and suggests that Europe may need to change its approach to improve its economic performance over time.

The Road to Global Fintech and Crypto Adoption

Ben’s Newsletter • 79 implied HN points • 28 Jun 22
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. Many traditional banks are slow to adopt new technology, which harms their ability to innovate and serve customers effectively.
  2. There is a big chance for fintech to grow since a lot of people around the world still don't have access to basic banking services.
  3. For crypto and fintech to succeed, they need better systems for security and transparency, plus the ability to process payments quickly and easily.

The Meteoric Rise of Jar, Indian Fintech's Golden Child

Tigerfeathers! • 31 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
💼 Business Fintech
  1. Jar is an Indian fintech that's growing rapidly by making digital gold available in very small amounts. This makes it easier for people to save and invest without needing a lot of money up front.
  2. The founders of Jar focus heavily on understanding their customers by listening to them directly, which helps them create products that meet real needs.
  3. India's love for gold is strong, and Jar taps into this by offering a familiar and trusted way for people to save and invest.

New look, new name, all AI.

aidaily • 19 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Fintech
  1. AI startups secure a significant portion of big funding deals, highlighting the importance and opportunities in AI technology.
  2. AI can aid in early detection of diseases like Alzheimer's through advanced analysis of medical imaging.
  3. AI tools are transforming various industries, from storytelling platforms to creative tools like generating art, music, and games.

Fintechs, you are not a super-app; The 10 biggest fintech companies in America 2023; Open finance: The opportunity to support small businesses;

Fintech Wrap Up • 19 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. Fintech companies should be honest about their capabilities and avoid prematurely labeling themselves as super-apps.
  2. Affirm has partnered with Amazon Pay to offer buy now, pay later options for U.S. merchants and customers.
  3. Open Finance presents an opportunity to support small businesses by improving standards, data-sharing, and access to finance.

Afridigest Executive Brief: Chowdeck delivers the dough

Afridigest • 7 implied HN points • 18 Aug 25
💼 Business Fintech
  1. Chowdeck, a Nigerian food delivery service, has raised $9 million to grow its business in Nigeria and Ghana. They focus on fast deliveries and have a growing customer base.
  2. There's a trend of traditional banks starting to buy fintech companies, showing changes in the financial industry. This could lead to more innovation and services for customers.
  3. Interest in climate investments is increasing among institutions. This means more money could flow into projects that help the environment.

CBW Bank, A BaaS Pioneer, Is Up For Sale: Exclusive

Fintech Business Weekly • 59 implied HN points • 17 Mar 24
💼 Business Fintech
  1. CBW Bank, a pioneer in Banking-as-a-Service, is up for sale, showing continued challenges in bank/fintech partnerships.
  2. CBW Bank grew significantly under new ownership, focusing on innovation and providing API access for startups and banks to build digital banking solutions faster.
  3. Regulatory shifts and challenges in innovation may have led to CBW's decision to sell, highlighting the impact of changing regulatory attitudes on banks like CBW.

TabaPay Working On A Deal To Acquire Synapse, Sources Say

Fintech Business Weekly • 59 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
💼 Business Fintech
  1. TabaPay is in talks to acquire Synapse, a banking-as-a-service platform, to potentially mitigate damage caused by a past financial incident.
  2. Oxygen, a neobank, is pivoting to focus on 'health solutions' temporarily, suspending its banking services.
  3. Trade groups are suing to block a new CFPB rule that limits credit card late fees, arguing it restricts choices and responsible credit card use.

Five Alive

Net Interest • 11 implied HN points • 30 May 25
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. The financial sector is changing a lot, with banks losing their traditional power to new players like private credit firms and fintechs. This shift shows how important it is to adapt to keep up with these changes.
  2. Understanding how organizational structure affects success in finance is crucial. A well-set structure can give firms a big advantage, sometimes even more than just picking the right investments.
  3. The line between public and private finance is getting blurrier. Many financial services now rely on government support, and this trend will likely grow as governments use finance to achieve their goals.

Meta Updated Threads API, Wallarm $50M, Salt Surface

The API Changelog • 4 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Fintech
  1. Meta has improved its Threads API with new features like interactive polls and better analytics tools for developers.
  2. Wallarm raised $50 million to enhance its API security platform, focusing on protecting against AI-related threats.
  3. Anthropic stopped OpenAI from using its Claude models due to what it claims was misuse, highlighting tension in the AI industry.

Afridigest Intelligence: Nigeria's Bamboo acquires a US broker-dealer license

Afridigest • 11 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
💼 Business Fintech
  1. Bamboo, a Nigerian investment platform, recently got a US broker-dealer license. This is an important step for their growth and credibility in the market.
  2. The license will allow Bamboo to operate more effectively in the US financial space, which can help attract more investors.
  3. This achievement reflects the hard work of the Bamboo team and shows the potential of African fintech companies in the global market.

Issue #141: X Partners with Visa, Wise’s LatAm Push, And Australia Tightens BNPL Rules

Fintech Radar • 6 implied HN points • 06 Feb 25
💰 Finance Fintech
  1. X has teamed up with Visa to introduce a digital payment feature in their app. This move aims to make X a more comprehensive service, but it raises concerns about user trust and market competition.
  2. Wise has expanded its services to Mexico, focusing on providing low-cost international payment options. This expansion comes as the demand for remittances in Mexico grows, presenting both challenges and opportunities.
  3. Australia is tightening regulations for Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services by requiring providers to apply for credit licenses. This change could favor established companies while making it harder for new entrants to join the market.