EP 282: Steven Ramirez, Beyond the Arc

Fintech in 2025: an end of year review, and a look forward to 2026. Detailed Summary: In this episode of the Finovate podcast, Greg is joined by Steven Ramirez of Beyond the Arc to reflect on the key trends and developments that shaped the FinTech landscape in 2025 while offering predictions for 2026. The conversation explores the evolving dynamics of fintech partnerships, the challenges posed by compliance and governance issues, and the erosion of consumer trust in the industry. From there, they talk about the impact of regulatory shifts, the growing complexity of state-level oversight, and the need for financial institutions to prioritize customer-centric solutions over self-serving strategies. Steven emphasizes the importance of addressing consumer needs, particularly in a volatile economic environment marked by inflation, unemployment, and a challenging job market. The discussion also delves into the exciting advancements in FinTech, particularly in commercial banking and payments. Steven highlights the rise of instant payments, driven by initiatives like FedNow, and the growing adoption of embedded payments, which are transforming both consumer-facing and back-office workflows. These “boring” but impactful innovations are enabling businesses to operate more efficiently and productively, signaling a shift in focus from consumer-centric fintech to B2B applications. The two also touch on the increasing involvement of credit unions and community banks in adopting these technologies, reflecting a broader market confidence in their reliability and utility. Looking ahead to 2026, the conversation turns to the transformative potential of AI in the financial sector. Steven predicts a shift from experimentation to real-world deployment of AI solutions, particularly by larger banks, while smaller institutions also find ways to participate. However, he foresees a growing consumer demand for authenticity and human interaction as AI becomes more pervasive. The episode concludes with a call for financial institutions to embrace true personalization, leveraging AI not just to anticipate customer needs but to proactively support them with tailored solutions. This, Steven argues, will be key to building trust and fostering meaningful relationships with the next generation of banking customers amidst a generational wealth transfer. More info: Beyond the Arc: https://beyondthearc.com/; https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-arc-inc-/ Steven Ramirez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramirezsj/ Greg Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbpalmer/ Finovate: https://www.finovate.com; https://www.linkedin.com/company/finovate-conference-series/ #Finovate #BeyondtheArc #Banking #CreditUnions #banks #yearinreview #digitalbanking #podcast #fintechpodcast #financialservices #innovation #regulators #security #ai #personalization #digitraltransformation #fintech #finserv #modernization #innovation #startup