MrBeast is putting on a clinic that should be studied in graduate school by entering the fintech world with the purchase of Gen Z platform, STEP.

In this episode of the Propagate Fintech Podcast, Roland Howard sits down with American Banker journalist Melinda Huspen to break down the acquisition of STEP and what it means for banks, fintech founders, and the future of creator-led financial services.

We explore:

• Why distribution power may be becoming as important as product innovation

• The rise of creator-led financial brands

• How Gen Z and Gen Alpha trust creators differently than traditional institutions

• Banking-as-a-Service risks and opportunities after recent industry disruptions

• What bank leaders and fintech operators should be watching next

If even 4% of MrBeast’s YT audience becomes customers, it would put STEP's customer count on the same level as incumbent super regional FIs.

Follow Melinda’s work at American Banker: https://www.americanbanker.com/author/melinda-huspen

Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-huspen/

#fintechinnovation #mrbeast #mrbeastshorts #banking #bankmarketing #creditunion

Want to work with Propagate Fintech? Fill out a contact form at www.propagatefintech.com

00:00 Integration Challenges in Financial Services
01:02 Understanding AI in the Financial Sector
03:55 Generative AI and Its Impact on Banking
10:44 Navigating the Fintech Landscape
12:16 The Role of AI in Banking
15:13 Leveraging Data for Competitive Advantage
17:04 Targeted Marketing Strategies
21:31 Operationalizing Insights for Growth
21:49 Balancing AI and Human Touch in Marketing

AI is everywhere in banking right now, but what’s real, what’s hype, and what actually drives growth?

In this episode of the Propagate Fintech Podcast, Roland Howard sits down with Tyler Brantley of Vertice AI to break down how artificial intelligence is reshaping customer acquisition, data strategy, and marketing execution for community banks and credit unions.

This conversation dives into the practical side of AI adoption:

• Why many financial institutions struggle to turn data into action
• The shift away from massive data lake projects toward faster, AI-driven insights
• How predictive modeling helps banks find better long-term customers instead of “spray and pray” marketing
• The difference between true AI platforms and bolt-on solutions
• How institutions can scale personalized marketing while keeping humans in the loop
• What banking leaders should look for when evaluating AI vendors

Tyler shares how Vertice AI helps financial institutions know, grow, and measure their customer base by turning existing data into actionable strategies without requiring large data science teams.

If you’re a fintech leader, marketer, or banking executive trying to understand where AI actually fits into growth strategy today, this episode is for you.

Learn more about Vertice AI: https://verticeanalytics.ai

Want to work with Propagate Fintech? Fill out a contact form at www.propagatefintech.com

Episode Summary

In this conversation, Melinda Huspen discusses her journey into journalism, her insights on Experian's new credit scoring model, and the implications of open banking on credit scoring. She highlights the potential of cashflow-based underwriting to serve underserved communities and shares advice for fintechs looking to gain media attention. The discussion also touches on future trends in fintech and the challenges of entering the US market.

Melinda's article in American Banker found below

https://www.americanbanker.com/news/how-experian-scores-thin-file-borrowers-with-cash-flow-data

Takeaways

• Melinda's journey into journalism was facilitated by networking opportunities.
• Experian's new credit scoring model combines various methods into a single score.
• Open banking adoption will accelerate the use of cashflow-based scoring models.
• Consumer lenders will be the first to feel the impact of cashflow underwriting.
• Cashflow data can help underserved communities access credit more easily.
• Fintechs should focus on the banking angle when pitching stories to journalists.
• Regulatory changes are significant news for the banking industry.
• Cybersecurity and fraud are major concerns for banks today.
• The entry of non-US fintechs into the US market is a growing trend.
• The evolution of cashflow underwriting will be influenced by regulatory changes.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Melinda's Journey to American Banker
• 02:39 Experian's New Credit Scoring Model
• 07:32 The Impact of Open Banking on Credit Scoring
• 11:31 Cash Flow Underwriting and Underserved Communities
• 13:59 Advice for Fintechs Pitching to Journalists
• 16:40 Future Trends in Banking and Fintech

Want to work with Propagate Fintech? Fill out a contact form at www.propagatefintech.com