CBA LIVE 2025 Concludes With a Focus on Retail Banking’s Policy Priorities

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) today concluded retail banking’s premier annual event – CBA LIVE – with robust panel discussions featuring CBA subject matter experts and thought leaders discussing industry policy priorities:

• CBA Senior Executive Vice President, Head of Policy Kelvin Chen moderated a panel focused on decentralized finance with Circle Director of Regulatory Strategy Andy Gallucci and Fintech Takes Founder and Host Alex Johnson;
• CBA Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Head of Regulatory Affairs David Pommerehn moderated a panel focused on banking-as-a-service (BaaS) with Klaros Group Partner and Co-Founder Brian Graham, Zeta President, North America Gary Singh, and Fifth Third Executive Vice President, Commercial Payments and Treasury Management Bridgit Chayt; and
• CBA Vice President, Associate General Counsel Brian Fritzsche moderated a panel focused on safeguarding consumers from scams with USTelecom Senior Vice President, Policy and Executive Director of Industry Traceback Group Josh Bercu and EverBank Vice President of Fraud Risk Management (and Vice Chair of CBA’s Fraud Management Committee) Patrick McDade.

Panelists agreed that the stablecoin market is on the verge of becoming mainstream and lawmakers’ forthcoming federal legislation will help put the necessary guardrails in place for America’s leading retail banks to lead in this space.

Andy Gallucci echoed these sentiments, stating:

“There has been a sea change in the proposition about building a regulatory framework for stablecoin […] There is a global convergence around this […] We’re about to see an explosion of stablecoin issuers.”

Alex Johnson agreed, highlighting the business opportunities that lie ahead for the retail banking industry when it comes to stablecoins:

“Stablecoins are just an infrastructure […] There is going to be some downstream impact, deposits will be on the move […] If you can get ahead of that, you can be the winner when it comes to this market shift.”

Similarly at the panel focused on BaaS, panelists highlighted the opportunities with this emerging technology and the importance of clear regulatory guidelines.

Bridgit Chayt highlighted the importance of scaling BaaS at both the technology and talent levels:

“Operational deposits have always been in style […] If you want to grow deposits, [BaaS] is a great business to be in. We’re in a better position to scale this business now […] But you need to make sure lots of people in the business are familiar with BaaS in your audit group, compliance group […] You need to scale the talent in addition to the technology.”

Brian Graham discussed the regulatory environment for BaaS:

“There are ramifications in the regulatory space […] if you’re a BaaS bank. The regulators have now caught up with this, but they were four years too late in developing the playbook for what they want.”

Gary Singh reiterated the opportunity for America’s leading banks in this space:

“The one that gets it right will become a market leader very quickly. We live in a digital world and there is great opportunity in this space […] Timing is essential, and the technology is there.”

Panelists highlighted the work of CBA and the Aspen Institute in combating fraud and scams but also recognized there is much more work to do.

Patrick McDade called for a national strategy to combat fraud and scams:

“Banks are leveling up in combatting scams, but so are the fraudsters […] They have the funding, they have the technology, they are trying becoming more sophisticated […] CBA has taken a leadership in combatting fraud and scams with its white paper on combatting frauds […] We need to have a national conversation, a national campaign […] Everyone has to work together.”

Josh Bercu echoed these sentiments, while reiterating the need for cross-industry cooperation and collaboration:

“The Aspen Institute effort is great with cross-sector and cross-industry […] It is a complex issue, there is no magic bullet […] Designing a comprehensive information ecosystem takes decades to stand up. We do need a national strategy, a focus, with this issue.”

Background

Entering its 16th year, CBA LIVE is the must-attend annual event for the retail banking industry. Nearly 2,000 senior bankers and industry leaders gather from across the country to experience this premier event, which offers 80+ hours of top-notch programming, delivered by 230 speakers, tailored toward professionals motivated to learn new trends and share ideas with the most influential decision makers in the business.