My latest guest is Chris Black, CEO of Thread Bank, a Nashville-based community bank that has been purpose-built around embedded banking. Chris came to banking by way of a career as an Air Force pilot, followed by time on Wall Street analyzing banks during the financial crisis, before eventually making his way into community banking in Nashville. He partnered with fintech investor Joe Maxwell of Fintop Capital to recapitalize a small Tennessee bank and transform it into an embedded banking platform focused on vertical software companies serving small businesses.

In our conversation, Chris talks about how Thread navigated the BaaS regulatory storm of 2023 and 2024, what they look for in fintech partners, and how their fiduciary-first philosophy was already in place long before regulators came calling. We also discuss the wave of fintechs now seeking bank charters, the future of community banking in America, and what Thread has on the horizon with the launch of embedded lending and merchant acquiring.

In this podcast you will learn:

Lessons Chris learned during his time in the Air Force.
How the idea for Thread Bank came together.
How they took the acquired bank and made it ready for embedded banking.
When they took on their first fintech partner.
What they are looking for in a fintech partner.
Where Chris sees the biggest opportunity for Thread.
How Thread navigated the BaaS regulatory hurricane of 2023 and 2024.
Why the shift in regulatory focus with the Trump Administration has not changed their thinking.
What Chris thinks about all the fintechs that are now acquiring bank charters.
What it takes for a new fintech to be onboarded with Thread.
The process when a fintech wants to do something that Thread does not think is reasonable.
The key to a thriving community bank sector over the next decade.
What exciting developments are coming down the pipe.

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Building a Community Bank for the Embedded Banking Era with Chris Black, CEO of Thread Bank