Recorded at FinovateFall 2026 in New York City, Sam Kilmer sits down with Mitch Rutledge, Shanthi Shanmugam, and Chris Sibila for a wide-ranging conversation about what’s happening across banking and fintech right now.

The group talks about how AI is becoming embedded across financial services, where banks and credit unions are still experiencing friction, why partnerships matter, and how technology can help institutions better serve customers and members.

They also dig into what leaders are seeing at FinovateFall, where innovation is gaining traction, what still needs to be fixed, and why this moment feels especially important for financial institutions trying to adapt quickly without losing sight of the people they serve.

Guests

Mitch Rutledge — CEO & Co-Founder, Vertice AI

Shanthi Shanmugam — CEO & Co-Founder, Casap

Chris Sibila — Chief Strategy & Experience Officer, Purdue Federal Credit Union

Hosted by

Sam Kilmer

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Chapters
[00:00] – Meet the Fintech Leaders
[06:52] – What’s Standing Out at FinovateFall
[08:23] – AI Beyond Efficiency
[11:16] – What’s Still Broken in Banking and Fintech
[12:38] – Where Banks and Credit Unions Feel the Most Friction
[15:58] – Using AI to Train Employees in Real Time
[16:32] – Sharing AI Innovation Across Credit Unions
[17:51] – What’s Working Right Now
[18:09] – Why This Moment in Fintech Feels Different
[19:47] – Change, Curiosity, and the Future of Community Banking
[21:29] – Closing Thoughts

Subscribe to the Fintech Hustle podcast here:
https://qrco.de/bgfV6g