Capital One buys Brex for $5B.

Goldman Sachs builds AI agents with Anthropic.

MrBeast acquires a fintech.

This isn’t a headline mashup — it’s what’s happening in banking right now.

In this episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant break down the biggest moves reshaping financial services — and what they mean for banks and credit unions without megabank budgets.

Inside the conversation:

• What the Capital One + Brex deal signals for SMB banking
• Why Goldman’s AI “digital coworkers” change the build vs. buy debate
• How AI agents may reshape back-office operations
• The emerging battle to own the checking account workflow
• Why banks are no longer just competing on rates, but on software

From stablecoins to autonomous AI, this episode separates strategy from hype and highlights what institutions should actually be paying attention to.

Show Notes:

• Goldman Equips AI Agents to do Trade Accounting, Onboarding
• Invasion of the Job Snatchers: Digital Bank Workers Have Arrived | Bank Director
• Ron's Take on Array Acquiring Chimney

The 2026 What's Going On In Banking Report is NOW LIVE!!

• Download the Report: https://lnkd.in/gBNhy53P
• Watch the recap of the Webinar: https://vimeo.com/1166796761

Subscribe to the What's Going On In Banking podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/whats-going-on-in-banking

Chapters
[0:00] Welcome + Arizona Recap & Stablecoin Talk
[3:10] Capital One’s $5B Brex Deal
[5:35] Why SMBs Expect Integrated Banking Tech
[7:27] SMB Segmentation: Capital, Industry, Technology
[10:19] Strategy Over Scale: The Real Growth Question
[11:14] Goldman Sachs Builds AI “Digital Coworkers”
[13:05] What AI Agents Actually Do (And Don’t Do)
[17:23] AI Risks, Bias & The Human Factor
[19:25] MrBeast, Grab & The Fintech Acquisition Wave
[20:36] The Hidden Battle for the Checking Account

In this special bonus episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Ron Shevlin, Chief Research Officer at Cornerstone Advisors, is joined by Steve Williams, CEO & Partner of Cornerstone Advisors, to break down the findings from the 2026 WGOIB Webinar Report.

Based on insights from 400+ banks and credit unions, this report reveals how financial institutions are preparing for what’s next in:

• Artificial Intelligence strategy and investment
• Crypto’s evolving role in banking
• The escalating fraud crisis
• Technology spending priorities
• Growth and competitive pressures in 2026

If you want to understand where the industry is actually heading — not just the hype — this episode delivers the data behind the decisions.

Download the full report:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/research/whats-going-on-in-banking-2026


Subscribe to the What's Going On In Banking podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/whats-going-on-in-banking


Chapters
[0:00] Welcome & Bonus Episode Overview
[1:45] Why 2026 Will Be a Pivotal Year for Banking
[4:30] Inside the Survey: 400+ Banks & Credit Unions Weigh In
[7:15] AI Strategy: Where Banks Are Investing (and Where They’re Not)
[11:20] Crypto in 2026: Reality vs. Hype
[14:40] The Fraud Explosion: What’s Keeping Executives Up at Night
[18:10] Technology Spending Priorities for 2026
[22:00] Growth, Competition & Strategic Shifts
[25:30] What Leaders Should Be Doing Right Now
[28:00] Final Takeaways & How to Access the Full Report

Banks are racing into AI and “data strategy” — but most can’t clearly define what they’re actually doing.

Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant break down why chasing trends won’t fix broken strategy, and why specificity, execution, and focus matter more than hype.

If you're in banking or fintech, this is the reality check you need.

The 2026 What's Going On In Banking Report is NOW LIVE!!

• Download the Report: https://lnkd.in/gBNhy53P
• Register for the Webinar, Feb 25th at 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET: https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/events-and-webinars/whats-going-on-in-banking-2026

Subscribe to the What's Going On In Banking podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/whats-going-on-in-banking

Chapters
[0:00] AI Hype vs. Strategy
[6:30] The Problem With “Just Doing AI”
[8:26] Test, Learn, Scale Explained
[15:07] What Kind of Data Are We Talking About?
[15:25] Customer vs. Market vs. Operational Data
[16:26] Execution Quality & Data IQ
[18:32] Where Financial Institutions Get Stuck
[20:00] Practical Advice for 2026
[26:31] Final Takeaways

A 10% credit card rate cap.

Crypto offering yield.

Apple ditching Goldman for JPMorgan Chase.

In this episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant break down the real-world consequences of headline-grabbing policy ideas, why buy now, pay later keeps winning with consumers, and what banks are getting right and wrong about crypto, partnerships, and relevance in 2026.

This isn’t political theater. It’s banking reality.

If you work in banking, fintech, payments, or credit unions, this episode is required listening.

Show Notes:

• Banks Cry Foul Over High-Yielding Tokens as Crypto Fight Simmers in Washington
• The Proposed Credit Card Interest Rate Cap Is All Politics, No Policy

Subscribe to the What's Going On In Banking podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/whats-going-on-in-banking

Chapters
[0:00] Welcome & catching up at Cornerstone
[2:45] The proposed 10% credit card rate cap
[4:45] Why the cap could hurt consumers most
[7:15] Buy Now, Pay Later vs credit cards
[10:25] Is BNPL the new “starter credit”?
[11:40] Should crypto be allowed to offer yield?
[14:05] Are banks overestimating the crypto threat?
[17:05] Apple Card: Goldman out, JPMorgan in
[19:20] What Apple & Goldman got wrong
[20:40] Final thoughts & what banks should focus on

2026 is here — and banking is officially walking into the unknown.

In the first What’s Going On in Banking episode of the year, Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant unpack the biggest forces shaping financial services right now: AI agents, crypto & stablecoins, fraud risks, fintech competition, and what banks think they’re prioritizing vs. what actually gets done.

From Wizard of Oz metaphors to real-world data from hundreds of bank and credit union executives, this episode delivers a sneak peek into the What’s Going On in Banking 2026 Report and why engagement, data utilization, and payments may matter more than ever.

If you work in banking, fintech, or credit unions, this is a must-watch to understand what’s changing and what’s being underestimated.

Subscribe to the What's Going On In Banking podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/whats-going-on-in-banking


Chapters:
[0:00] Welcome to 2026 & Gonzo Banker Awards recap
[2:05] The legendary “Gonzoquito” moment 🍹
[4:55] Sneak peek: What’s in the 2026 Banking Report
[6:35] AI, Crypto & Fraud: Banking’s new “scary forest”
[9:35] Top concerns for banks & credit unions in 2026
[12:35] Cost of funds vs. deposit gathering—what’s misunderstood
[15:20] Fintechs, Coinbase & the real competitive threat
[19:00] Consumer behavior, engagement & digital expectations
[22:40] Why P2P payments jumped to #1 for credit unions
[29:45] AI agents, MCP & why “not ready for prime time” matters

AI is redefining banking, travel, creativity, and how financial institutions must evolve. In this episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Stacey Bryant and Ron Shevlin dive into the future of generative AI, the creativity gap in banking, SoFi’s bold crypto move, and why most banks are dangerously behind consumer expectations.

From real-world AI travel examples to new research showing massive crypto demand from Gen Z, millennials, and even Gen X, this conversation unpacks what’s coming in 2026 — and what banks must do to survive it.


Subscribe to the What’s Going On In Banking podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/whats-going-on-in-banking


Chapters:
[0:00] Welcome + What’s Cooking in Banking
[0:34] Stacey’s Food & Travel Story
[1:42] Industry Events & CMN Support
[3:13] Ron’s New Granddaughter Update
[4:48] What Banks Are Asking About AI
[5:32] The McKinsey AI Travel Example
[7:30] Could AI Build Your Financial Life Itinerary?
[9:03] Ron Clarifies What Generative AI Really Is
[12:21] Jobs, Creativity & the Human Side of AI
[20:54] SoFi, Crypto Demand & The Future of Banking

From the floor of Money20/20 to Wall Street’s reaction to Fiserv’s meltdown — Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant break down what’s real, what’s hype, and what’s next in banking.

They dive into the rise of “agentic AI,” fintech’s surprising optimism, and the inspiring leadership lessons from American Banker’s Most Powerful Women in Banking.

Tune in for straight talk, smart takes, and a little snark from two of the industry’s sharpest voices.

Subscribe to the What’s Going On In Banking podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/whats-going-on-in-banking

Chapters:
[0:00] Welcome to “What’s Going On in Banking”
[1:00] Ron’s wild Money20/20 marathon (and foodie confessions)
[4:00] The real talk from Money20/20: AI hype vs. real innovation
[6:30] How “agentic AI” is changing M&A and lending
[8:45] Open banking or integration economics? Ron’s hot take
[10:45] Fintech is back — or did it ever leave?
[13:00] Stacey’s recap: The Most Powerful Women in Banking event
[16:50] Lessons in leadership from Jill Castilla and Julie Thurlow
[20:15] Fiserv’s stock shock — what really happened
[24:30] Wall Street, core consolidation, and what banks should learn
[26:45] Final thoughts and wrap-up

In this episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant break down Fifth Third’s $10.9B merger with Comerica, exploring why it’s less of a merger and more of a financial fusion reactor. Then, they dive into U.S. Bancorp’s bet on stablecoins and what it means for the future of payments, strategy, and tech modernization in banking.

From strategic jujitsu to smart money, this episode is a must-listen for anyone tracking the next wave of bank innovation.

Show Notes:

• “Fifth Third’s $11 Billion Question: Build or Buy?” GonzoBanker article: https://www.crnrstone.com/gonzobanker/fifth-thirds-11-billion-question-build-or-buy
• “U.S. Bancorp Sees Embedded Payments and Stablecoins as Growth Drivers” PYMNTS article: https://www.pymnts.com/earnings/2025/us-bancorp-sees-embedded-payments-stablecoins-growth-drivers/

Subscribe to the What’s Going On In Banking podcast here:
https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/whats-going-on-in-banking

Chapters:
[0:00] Welcome + Horseback Adventures in Montana
[1:00] Banking camaraderie & staying relevant in the age of AI
[2:00] Fifth Third’s $10.9B Comerica merger explained
[4:00] Why “bigger” isn’t the goal—“better” is
[6:00] Strategic jujitsu: the fusion reactor of banking
[8:00] What smaller banks can learn from the merger
[10:00] Tech modernization as the new M&A driver
[12:00] U.S. Bancorp’s stablecoin strategy revealed
[16:00] Why banks can’t wait for stablecoin “demand”
[22:00] The moonshot moment for stablecoins
[24:00] Final thoughts & what’s next in smarter banking