Financial Forward: The Future of Consumer Finance & Banking
The Financial Forward podcast dives deep into the world of consumer finance, banking regulation, and financial technology. Hosted by Jim McCarthy, a founding member of the CFPB and a leading expert in financial regulation and risk management, this podcast unpacks the latest trends shaping the financial industry.
Each episode features insightful conversations with top industry leaders, breaking down credit card policies, fintech innovations, CFPB regulations, banking compliance, and financial consumer protection. Whether you're a banking executive, fintech entrepreneur, compliance officer, or consumer advocate, Financial Forward keeps you ahead of the curve.
🔹 Topics We Cover:
✅ Consumer Finance & Banking Trends
✅ CFPB Regulations & Enforcement Actions
✅ Financial Technology (FinTech) & Innovation
✅ Credit Cards, Loans, & Consumer Protection
✅ Compliance, Risk Management & AI in Finance
🔔 Subscribe now and stay informed on the future of consumer finance! Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.
👉 Follow Jim McCarthy on LinkedIn for exclusive insights and updates!
Financial Forward: The Future of Consumer Finance & Banking
Banking-as-a-Service Unplugged: A Conversation with Steve Bishop, Founder of Ambassador
In this episode of Financial Forward, Jim McCarthy sits down with Steve Bishop, one of the leading voices in Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and founder of Ambassador. If you're in banking, fintech, or regulatory circles—you’ve heard Steve’s name. And if you haven’t yet, you will.
From humble beginnings on a gravel road in Missouri to becoming the go-to source for how BaaS should really work, Steve walks us through his unconventional career path, the transformation he led at OMB Bank, and what inspired him to launch Ambassador, a firm that’s quietly (and now loudly) reshaping the embedded finance ecosystem.
This episode is a deep dive into what BaaS is, what it isn’t, and where the industry must go to stay aligned with compliance, innovation, and customer needs.
🔍 What We Cover:
- Steve’s early roots and rise from Jack Henry to fintech founder
- The hard truths about BaaS, compliance, and regulatory expectations
- Why “infrastructure” is the real story behind successful embedded finance
- How Ambassador partners with banks to modernize without losing their core identity
- What’s coming next for community banks and fintech relationships
- Why compliance must be embedded from Day One
👤 About Steve Bishop
Steve is the founder and CEO of Ambassador, a financial technology platform purpose-built to help banks offer embedded financial services the right way. Prior to founding Ambassador, he was Chief Digital Officer at OMB Bank, where he led a full tech stack modernization and built their embedded finance division from the ground up. He’s a seasoned operator, programmer, and respected strategist in the rapidly evolving BaaS landscape.
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn.
🙌 Special Thanks
This episode features an ad from Mavin Communications, a woman-owned public relations firm led by Angela Nibbs. Mavin helps companies—from startups to industry giants—elevate their message and own their story. Learn more at maven-pr.com.
🔗 Resources Mentioned
🎧 Listen + Subscribe
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More from Jim:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mccarthyhatch/
https://www.mccarthy-hatch.com/