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

In this episode, I sit down with Glenn Bolstad, President of Vikar Technologies, to unpack what modern bank lending should look like—and why so many digital transformation efforts fall short.

Glenn shares how Vikar approaches lending origination differently: orchestrating the full journey from application to underwriting, decisioning, closing, onboarding, and core integration. We discuss why point solutions continue to create friction, how complex commercial lending exposes the limits of legacy LOS platforms, and where AI is beginning to meaningfully impact lending workflows today.

If you’re a bank executive, lending leader, or fintech operator focused on growth, efficiency, and experience—this conversation will challenge how you think about lending transformation.

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About Propagate Fintech

Propagate Fintech is an end-to-end fintech and banking marketing agency helping financial institutions and technology providers clarify their story, strengthen awareness, and drive growth.

From brand positioning and messaging to websites, video, conference presence, and go-to-market execution, Propagate partners with banks and fintechs across the full marketing lifecycle.

Learn more at https://www.propagatefintech.com

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Topics covered
• Why lending is the true front door to the banking relationship
• Where legacy LOS platforms still break down
• Straight-through processing vs manual dropouts
• Best-of-breed vs orchestrated lending platforms
• AI’s real impact on underwriting and decisioning
• Change management and fatigue inside banks
• Designing lending experiences that scale

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About the guest

Glenn Bolstad is the President of Vikar Technologies, a fintech platform helping banks and credit unions modernize lending and deposit origination through a unified, end-to-end experience.

Learn more at https://www.vikartech.com

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