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