A bank CEO used an AI clone on an earnings call…and that was just the start.

Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant get into what AI agents could actually mean for banking, from back-office automation and decision-making to governance, blockchain, and why most banks are still asking the wrong questions about AI.

Real talk on where the industry is headed and what community banks should actually be paying attention to.

Show Notes:

• This bank CEO let his AI clone handle an earnings call — now he's signing an OpenAI deal
• Agents are starting to operate real systems — who’s actually in control?
• Ron's Substack

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Chapters
[00:00] Intro + Banking Conference Talk
[02:22] Bank CEO Uses AI Clone on Earnings Call
[03:39] Ron’s Take on the OpenAI Deal
[06:05] Governance & Compliance Concerns
[07:06] The Bigger Conversation Around AI Agents
[08:14] “Who’s Actually Controlling the AI?”
[10:03] AI Identity, Blockchain & “Know Your Agent”
[12:28] Stablecoins, Payments & AI Agents at Scale
[13:43] Why Banks May Be Overthinking AI Risk
[15:25] AI Agents Won’t Start With Payments
[17:13] The REAL Strategic Question for Banks
[18:28] AI’s Biggest Advantage: Speed
[20:09] Cost, Change Management & Operational Risk
[22:08] Stacey’s Argument for Blockchain in Banking
[25:12] Ron: “Don’t Invest in Blockchain”

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"Wait and see” might be the most expensive strategy in banking right now.

In this episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant unpack the real implications behind Jamie Dimon’s comments and why AI, tokenization, and shifting customer behavior are forcing banks to make decisions now, not later.

They break down the three battles banks are actually fighting: where to invest (branches vs. digital), who owns the customer relationship, and why deposits are becoming more volatile than ever. Along the way, they challenge the idea of “core” customers, call out the slow erosion happening to bank relationships, and explain why most personalization efforts still miss the mark.

This isn’t about what’s coming next…it’s about what’s already happening.

What’s Going On in Banking Post of the Month — How Selection Works:
We’re watching 👀!! The WGOIB team highlights the sharpest, spiciest takes we see each month, no formal submissions needed.

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Chapters:
[00:00] Intro & Financial Brand Forum recap
[07:00] Are bank branches still worth it?
[10:45] “Every budget is a confession”
[15:00] The shift from branches to digital investment
[20:30] The real deposit war begins
[22:30] Fintechs are winning new accounts
[24:30] Why “core deposits” are dead
[26:30] The slow bleed of customer relationships
[30:00] Why personalization has failed banks
[31:30] AI changes the game for personalization
[33:00] Trust vs. privacy in AI
[34:30] From product offers to product design
[36:00] What real personalization actually looks like
[38:30] Where banks go wrong next

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Jamie Dimon just said the quiet part out loud, and the rest of the industry should be paying attention.

In this WGOIB episode, Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant break down the real implications behind the headlines: why AI is no longer a “nice to have,” how tokenization is quietly reshaping financial infrastructure, and why the wait-and-see approach in banking is officially dead.

From cost-cutting vs. true differentiation, to the illusion of competitive advantage in tech, Ron and Stacey challenge how banks, especially community institutions, should be thinking about the future.

Because the biggest risk right now? Standing still.

Show Notes

• Can AI Kill Banking Bureaucracy?
• Jamie Dimon’s Letter To Shareholders: The Most Important Fintech Memo Of 2026

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Chapters
[00:00] Jamie Dimon’s warning to banks
[02:10] Why “wait and see” is no longer an option
[04:35] AI is becoming core infrastructure
[07:15] The myth of competitive advantage in tech
[10:05] Why every bank ends up with the same tools
[12:40] AI: cost cutter or true differentiator?
[15:20] Inside the “plumbing” of modern banking
[18:10] Tokenization and what it really changes
[21:05] Where community banks can actually win
[24:30] The danger of playing catch-up
[27:15] What smart banks should be doing right now

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Stablecoins aren’t a “crypto side quest” anymore—they’re becoming core financial infrastructure.

In this episode of What’s Going On in Banking, Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant break down Mastercard’s $1.8B bet on stablecoin infrastructure, why deposits may be more mobile than ever, and what banks are getting completely wrong.

They also dive into:

• Why waiting on stablecoins could be a fatal mistake
• How tokenization could reshape payments (and profits)
• The real risk behind “we’re monitoring it” strategies
• And what Revolut needs to do to actually win in the U.S.

Bottom line: the industry is changing fast and not everyone is ready.

Show Notes:

• Stablecoins: What Community Banks Need To Know And Do Now
• What Revolut Needs To Do To Succeed In The US
• Mastercard us | Mastercard to acquire BVNK to connect on-chain payments and fiat rails

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Chapters
00:00] Intro + Stacey’s conference recap
[02:30] Why banks are still stuck on AI adoption
[04:00] Inside the On-Chain conference (what stood out)
[06:00] “You can’t sit this out” — stablecoin urgency
[08:30] Mastercard’s $1.8B acquisition breakdown
[11:00] Stablecoins = real infrastructure, not crypto hype
[13:30] Are banks outsourcing their future to Mastercard?
[16:00] Optimistic vs realistic vs pessimistic takes
[18:30] $6.6T in deposits at risk (“deposits that walk”)
[23:00] Revolut enters the U.S. — opportunity or overhyped?
[25:30] The “Cheesecake Factory” problem in fintech
[29:30] The future: do we even need banking apps anymore?

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We’re live and in person (from the “island of New Jersey” 😆) after Credit Union GAC and ahead of the New Jersey Bankers conference. And we’re breaking down the biggest banking and fintech headlines that actually matter.

Ron Shevlin and Stacey Bryant unpack:

• Why the mood at GAC was optimistic… with real undercurrents of concern
• Kraken’s banking arm getting direct access to the Fed’s payment rails, and what that signals for banks
• Why “waiting for regulatory clarity” on stablecoin doesn’t fly anymore (and why it’s now do-or-die)
• The private credit wake-up call for public bank stocks
• Block’s massive layoffs and the “AI did it” narrative (spoiler: we’re not buying it)
• What AI agents can do today, what they can’t, and why “human-in-the-loop” is often misunderstood
• Why bankers are uneasy about using agents for fraud, and what needs to change
• The real takeaway from a credit union CEO saying “our members aren’t asking for stablecoin”

If you’re in banking, credit unions, fintech, or payments…this episode is a fast, honest reality check on what’s coming next and how to prepare.

Show Notes:

• Block Lays Off 40% Of Staff And Blames It On AI. Don’t Buy The Excuse.
• 2026 What's Going On In Banking Industry Report

Subscribe to the What's Going On In Banking podcast here:
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Chapters
[0:00] Live from “New Jersey Island” + GAC recap
[1:48] Optimism at GAC… and the regulatory undercurrent
[4:19] Kraken gets Fed access: why banks should pay attention
[5:10] “Crypto isn’t a threat?” The wake-up call
[6:41] Stablecoin: “regulatory clarity” is no longer an excuse
[7:23] Big banks, credit quality, and the private credit threat
[8:19] Block layoffs: the “AI made us do it” claim
[12:06] Klarna vs Affirm: a real-world agent experience
[18:05] AI agents in fraud: why 40% aren’t comfortable
[27:08] “Members aren’t asking for stablecoin” (and why that’s the wrong lens)

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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

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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

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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

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