Fraud, Risk & Regulation: What Lenders Need to Watch in 2026 with Jim Cretella

In this episode of In Focus with Haversine Funding, Nolan Reichert sits down with Jim Cretella, Partner at Blank Rome, to discuss what he’s seeing across the specialty finance market heading into 2025.From his unique vantage point advising lenders before, during, and after periods of stress, Jim shares insight into shifting lender behavior, emerging fraud risks, and the regulatory trends that are starting to reshape the industry — including recent Texas legislation impacting merchant cash advance (MCA) providers.Rather than focusing on theory, this conversation centers on real-world observations: what feels different in today’s market, what lenders may be underestimating, and where discipline, judgment, and speed matter most.Topics covered in this episode include:What’s changed in specialty finance as we move through 2025How fraud is showing up differently — and where lenders miss early warning signsTexas MCA legislation and why it matters for lenders and operatorsWhat went wrong with First Brands and lessons learnedBorrower and lender behaviors Jim is seeing more frequentlyPractical lessons for navigating uncertainty and market pressureWhether you’re an owner, operator, or new to the industry, this episode offers timely perspective from someone who sees the market from the front lines.🔗 Learn more about Blank Rome:https://www.blankrome.com#SpecialtyFinance #Factoring #ABL #MerchantCashAdvance#CommercialLending #PrivateCredit #LenderFinance#FinancePodcast #RegulatoryTrends #TexasMCA#InFocusWithHaversine--------------------------------------------------------🔍 Learn more about Haversine Funding:Our Website → https://haversinefunding.com/Haversine Management and its subsidiaries, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, exist to provide fast, fair and flexible funding solutions to commercial lenders. Formed in 2018, Haversine helps factors, asset-based lenders, inventory, purchase order, equipment and real estate lenders fill funding gaps by providing senior and junior lender finance lines of credit up to $30,000,000, as well as participation program options.