The Payments Podium

Hosted by The Payments Professor

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

116

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

Looking to understand why we do what we do in electronic payments? The Payments Podium is the podcast that takes the world of electronic payments and simplifies it into a language everyone can understand. Join the Payments Professor Kevin Olsen as he invites industry experts to voice their views and expertise on multiple areas of the electronic payments industry. We will explore the Professor's three P’s: The past, the present, and the possibilities in the payment industry. If you are looking to learn even more, then visit www.PaymentsProfessor.com

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 29, 202623 min

Why cross-border business payments remain so difficult_1

Why do cross-border business payments remain so difficult? Marwan Forzley, Co-Founder and CEO of Veem, explains what really happens when a business pays a supplier overseas, and how payments can finally work like tracking a pizza delivery. In this episode of The Payments Podium, The Payments Professor sits down with Marwan to unpack why international payments still mean multiple rails, correspondent banks, fees, delays and the never-ending question: “Where’s my money?” Marwan shares how he went from turning Nokia phones into point of sale devices, to eBillMe and Western Union, to building Veem, which stands for “very easy exchange of money.” “If you can track your pizza delivery, you should be able to track your payment.” Marwan Forzley In this episode: Why cross-border payments move across local rails and correspondent banks How KYC, compliance, risk, FX, pricing and speed stack up the complexity How to pinpoint what actually broke when “my international payment isn’t working” The traditional wire, from invoice to usable funds, and where it goes sideways A modern alternative: payment choices, real-time tracking and accounting integration (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite) Faster rails, including same day ACH, RTP®, FedNow®, stablecoins and push to card How cash flow and urgency decide the right payment route What makes a provider safe: state money transmitter licensing, SOC 2 Type 2 and PCI Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:14 Welcome to The Payments Podium 0:33 How Marwan got into payments 2:25 Why cross-border payments remain so difficult 4:35 “My international payment isn’t working”: finding what broke 7:49 “Why can’t I do this?” Rules, regulation and protection 8:57 Paying an overseas supplier: the traditional wire 11:49 A better way, and what Veem stands for 12:12 Payment choices, tracking and accounting integration 15:10 Why payment tracking changes everything 17:30 Faster rails: same day ACH, RTP®, FedNow®, stablecoins, push to card 19:04 Choosing the right payment route 20:26 Keeping cross-border payments safe and secure 22:33 How to connect with Marwan and Veem 23:16 Class dismissed Connect with Marwan and Veem Website: https://www.veem.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marwanforzley/

October 8, 202627 min

Would AI Reccomend yout Bank or Credit Union

Would AI Recommend Your Bank or Credit Union? More and more people skip Google and go straight to ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini with questions like "Where can I get the best auto loan near me?" Those AI answers often name only one to three companies, not the usual page of ten. So is your financial institution one of them? On this episode of The Payments Podium, I sit down with Avi Mash and Jody Flournoy, co-founders of Scanley, to talk about AI search visibility for banks and credit unions. We cover: How consumers are really using AI to shop for cars, loans and financial services Why AI answers lean on reviews, Reddit threads and other third-party sources, not just your marketing copy What a bank or credit union can do to show up in AI answers, starting with an audit of what AI is already saying about you Why local results are harder to measure, and why that matters for community institutions The low-hanging fruit: missing product pages, unpublished rates and the hard numbers AI likes to cite For the "over my dead body" crowd: Jody's highway exit sign analogy for why sitting out AI only hurts you Chapters 0:00 Intro 0:14 Welcome: do you pop up in AI? 0:41 People are skipping Google and going straight to AI 2:35 Jody's car-buying story: AI as a personal shopping assistant 5:41 How does a bank or credit union get on the AI list? 8:47 Finding the best deal: a 0% Ford (and the G Wagon) 9:39 It's not just SEO: reviews, Reddit and sentiment 12:26 Real-world example: paymentsprofessor.com 15:01 Location matters: local AI searches 17:09 Do you have to talk to every AI engine? 18:44 From buried citation to front and center 21:36 "A race to be first to be third": overcoming fear of AI 22:24 The highway exit sign analogy 24:12 Closing thoughts on AI and the future of banking 26:01 How to reach Scanley Connect with Scanley Website: https://meetscanley.com For events or to get in touch: Jody@MeetScanley.com or Avi@MeetScanley.com

July 30, 202628 min

Stop Overpaying for Credit Card Processing

Are you paying more than you should for credit card processing? The answer for many businesses is yes. In this episode of Payments Podium, Kevin Olsen sits down with Jimmy Moore, CEO of FLO Business Solutions, to uncover the biggest mistakes business owners make when choosing a payment processor, understanding processing fees, and managing payment acceptance costs. From hidden fees and PCI compliance charges to cash discounting and dual pricing, this conversation is packed with practical advice that can save businesses thousands of dollars each year. In this episode, you'll learn: Why many businesses unknowingly overpay for payment processing How to identify hidden fees on your merchant statement Understanding effective processing rates PCI compliance and how to avoid unnecessary monthly charges Cash discounting vs. surcharge vs. dual pricing How to choose the right payment processing partner What banks and credit unions can do to better support their business customers The one strategy that can significantly reduce payment processing costs Whether you're a small business owner, banker, payments professional, or fintech leader, this episode provides practical insights to help you make smarter payment decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Guest: Jimmy Moore, CEO & Co-Founder, FLO Business Solutions

July 17, 202628 min

Why Traditional Fraud Defenses Are Failing

E-commerce fraud isn't just the work of a lone hacker anymore. Today's fraud is driven by organized criminal networks using artificial intelligence, automation, synthetic identities, and sophisticated attack strategies that challenge even the best fraud prevention systems. In this episode of Payments Podium, Kevin Olsen sits down with Aviram Ganor of Riskified to explore how online fraud has evolved, why traditional payment defenses are falling behind, and what merchants, payment providers, and financial institutions must do to stay ahead. In this episode you'll learn: How organized crime has transformed e-commerce fraud The growing role of AI in fraud attacks Why identity-based fraud detection is replacing transaction-only analysis How synthetic identities and coordinated fraud rings operate Why fraud prevention requires a holistic view of the customer journey What payment leaders should be doing today to prepare for tomorrow's threats Whether you work for a bank, credit union, fintech, merchant, or payment processor, this conversation offers practical insights into the rapidly changing world of payment fraud. Subscribe to Payments Podium for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of payments, risk, compliance, and financial technology. #Payments #Fraud #Ecommerce #Cybersecurity #RiskManagement #AI #DigitalPayments #Fintech #Banking #CreditUnions #PaymentSecurity #RiskifiedLearn more from the Payments Professor "We make learning about payments rules and regulations fun and easy!" www.PaymentsProfessor.com www.WhatIsFedNow.com www.WhatIsRTP.com www.ACHRulesUpdates.com

April 23, 202625 min

Agentic AI + ACH Transforming Healthcare Payments

Healthcare payments have been stuck in the past… but not any longer In this episode of the Payments Podium, Kevin “Payments Professor” Olsen sits down with Ryan Tennyson from SolutionReach to break down what’s really happening behind the scenes in healthcare payments—and why things are finally starting to change. From agentic AI transforming revenue cycle management to ACH becoming a core payment strategy, this conversation dives into the real gaps, real challenges, and real opportunities shaping the future. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why healthcare payments have lagged behind retail and fintech How AI is improving billing transparency and patient experience The role of ACH, cards, and digital wallets in modern healthcare Why communication (text + payment links) is becoming the new payment hub What the future looks like for stablecoins, automation, and patient payments If you’ve ever wondered why healthcare billing feels so complicated—and what’s finally being done about it—this is a must-watch. Featuring: Ryan Tennyson, SolutionReach Hosted by: Kevin “Payments Professor” Olsen

January 29, 202630 min

2026 Payments Predictions

The payments world is heading into uncharted territory. In this episode, we explore what’s next for banking and treasury, from the rise of digital-asset-focused bank charters to AI agents executing payments on behalf of humans. We dig into identity, programmability, smart contract risk, and why immutability still makes treasurers nervous. The conversation also tackles regulatory clarity, quantum computing as a “Y2K redux,” and the growing gap between institutions that can afford innovation and those that can’t. A candid look at why 2026 and beyond may force hard choices, consolidation, and a redefinition of how financial institutions survive and compete.

January 8, 202634 min

2025 Year in Payments

2025 was a whirlwind for electronic payments, and this episode breaks it all down. The Payments Professor is joined by industry voices from treasury and fintech to unpack the biggest developments of the year, from explosive M&A in treasury management systems to AI-driven cash forecasting, fintech compliance concerns, stablecoins, instant payments, and the stubborn persistence of checks. We explore what’s hype, what’s real, and what treasurers, banks, and fintechs should actually be paying attention to as the industry evolves. This is your year-in-review of payments, with clear insights and candid perspectives you won’t hear anywhere else.

June 6, 202529 min

Who is the ICBA? Discover the Independent Community Bankers of America.

In this conversation, Payments Professor and Kari Mitchum discuss the role of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) in supporting community banks and the electronic payments industry. Kari shares her personal journey into the field, the importance of community banks in local economies, and the advocacy efforts ICBA undertakes to represent these institutions. The discussion also covers ICBA's educational initiatives, innovation in banking, and the future of community banking.

March 27, 202526 min

AAP (Accredited ACH Professional) Accreditation, what you need to know!

In this episode, the Payments Professor, Kevin Olsen, speaks with Ashley Mustico from Nacha about the AAP (Accredited ACH Professional) accreditation. They discuss the importance of the AAP in the electronic payments industry, the journey into electronic payments, the benefits of obtaining the AAP for both individuals and organizations, the format and preparation for the AAP exam, and what to do after passing the exam, including maintaining the accreditation. The conversation emphasizes the value of education and professional development in the payments industry. Takeaways: Nacha governs the ACH network and offers accreditations. The AAP accreditation signifies expertise in the ACH network. Individuals should pursue AAP after gaining at least two years of payment experience. Getting an AAP can enhance career prospects and salary. Organizations benefit from having AAPs on staff for compliance and risk management. The AAP exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions, with 100 scored. Candidates can find out if they passed the exam on the same day. Preparation through Payments Associations significantly increases the chances of passing. Continuing education is required to maintain AAP accreditation every five years. Celebrating the achievement of AAP is essential for personal and professional growth. Learn more from the Payments Professor "We make learning about payments rules and regulations fun and easy!" www.PaymentsProfessor.com

March 21, 202521 min

Electronic Payments in Africa

In this eye-opening episode of The Payments Podium, the Payments Professor welcomes a special guest from Nairobi, Kenya — Patrick Tanui, a seasoned expert in risk, compliance, and governance across banking, telecom, and fintech sectors in Africa. Patrick shares invaluable insights on how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation in Africa’s financial landscape. From the rise of mobile wallets and fintech collaborations to the increasing role of AI in fraud detection, Patrick unpacks how innovation is reshaping financial access, especially for the unbanked. Topics covered include: The merging of telecom and banking through digital wallets The impact of blockchain and crypto on cross-border payments How Africa is leapfrogging traditional banking models The real-time risks of digital finance — and how to combat them Regulatory challenges and the need for robust compliance tools The future of a unified digital ecosystem in Africa Advice for fintech startups and young professionals entering the space Whether you’re in fintech, banking, or just curious about how payments are evolving globally, this conversation offers a rare and real-time look into Africa’s rapidly advancing digital economy. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more global fintech insights. Connect with us or suggest a future guest via LinkedIn! Class dismissed