Fintech Takes x Chime presents Banking on Primacy Ep 1: The Fight for Primacy

Welcome to Banking on Primacy, a four-part podcast miniseries from Fintech Takes, sponsored by Chime.

The series orbits one question that has become the most contested in consumer finance: what does it take to earn (and hold) the most important relationship in someone’s financial life?

In Episode 1, I sit down with Mark Troughton, President at Chime, to dig into primacy.

We kick things off with a structural argument most banks won’t make: the checking account is the front door for traditional banks, but for Chime, it’s the product. That single distinction shapes where you invest, what you build, and who you’re actually building for.

From there, Mark walks through the “silent switch”, the hierarchy of consumer financial needs, and why Chime is currently opening 50% more checking accounts than Chase in the mass market.

What does it take to win a primary relationship in 2026?
What does trust look like when you’re building it without branches?
What does a financial institution owe the customers it’s trying to keep?

This episode is brought to you by Chime.

For most Americans, their primary bank account is their most important financial relationship. Traditional banks held that position and took it for granted. Chime was built differently: fee-free, built to succeed when members do, and now America’s #1 banking choice with roughly 10M active members.

Chime Prime takes that further: 5% cash back, savings rates up to 9x the national average, premium travel perks, no fees. See how at https://www.chimeprime.com/

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