S6 Ep1: Fintech Recap: Revolut Cries Wolf, Tomo Boost’s Continued Craziness, and Tales from BaaS Island

Alex Johnson
Alex Johnson
January 10, 2024

Alex and Jason are back at it again for the first time this year, and can we just say that it’s way too early for fintech to be doing so many crazy things already? 

On the bright side, the UK is cracking down to improve authorized push payments fraud. So, there’s that…

And then there’s Revolut, who’s yet again floating stories in the media about getting their banking license. Are they just the little fintech company that keeps crying, “Bank,” or will they become a real bank someday? Alex and Jason try to unravel Revolut’s constant state of quantum uncertainty.

Also, in “we never saw this twist coming” news, Jason signed up for Tomo Boost, and… he’s currently waiting to see if his promises credit line ever shows up. He and Alex discuss the morality (and legality) of the sketchy credit-building product.

Later, Jason reports from BaaS Island where Mercury and Synapse are fighting over who gets to hold the conch shell, and it looks like neither company is coming out of the intense legal battle looking good. 

  

00:00:03 – Walmart Boys vs. Target Guys

00:04:06 – UK Regulator Enhances Protections Against Payment Fraud

00:19:56 – Revolut’s Profitability and Rapid Growth

00:26:50 – Scaling Across Jurisdictions: Banking Efficiency

00:32:13 – Unlocking Tax-Advantaged Bank Accounts

00:40:47 – Tomo Boost

00:49:13 – Tales from BaaS Land

00:52:38 – Can’t Let It Go

 

Sign up for Alex’s Fintech Takes newsletter for the latest insightful analysis on fintech trends, along with a heaping pile of pop culture references and copious footnotes. Every Monday and Thursday: https://workweek.com/brand/fintech-takes/

 

And for more exclusive insider content, don’t forget to check out my YouTube page.

 

Follow Jason:

Newsletter: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmikula/

 

Follow Alex: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgfH47QEwbQmkQlz1V9rQA/videos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhjohnson

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/AlexH_Johnson

 

Alex Johnson
Alex Johnson