Starting a Bank in the Age of AI Artwork

Plugged In - A Banking Podcast

Plugged In brings you raw, honest takes on all things in the banking industry. That means you aren’t going to get some buzzword-filled, cliche podcast – you’re getting an unfiltered look into topics in the financial world no one else is talking about. Your hosts, Al Dominick and Steve Williams, will talk to top players in the industry about what matters now, and what will shape the future.

To groove along with Al and Steve's song references in each episode, check out the official Plugged In Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Z7NWPIQuaXQlfHxLWJb3g?si=o552CzjwTr6R4mx13NmOBA

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All Episodes

Plugged In - A Banking Podcast

Starting a Bank in the Age of AI

May 06, 2026 • Al Dominick and Steve Williams • Season 1 • Episode 50

0:00 | 25:07

We’re at a wake-up moment. In ten years, banking has changed more than it did in the century before.

So, Al and Steve pose a question: If you created a bank from scratch in 2026, how would you build it? Their answer: cleaner data models, AI agents embedded from day one and a workforce already fluent in the tools.

Plus, Al and Steve highlight what established banks can embrace right now to stay competitive at a time of turbulent change.

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Chapters
[00:00] Intro: Building a Bank From Scratch
[02:00] AI Is Changing Everything
[03:30] If We Started a Bank Today…
[05:30] Data as the Foundation
[07:00] The “Tiger Team” Approach
[09:20] Tech vs Banks: Who’s Learning Faster?
[11:30] Why Small, Fast Teams Win
[13:00] AI Experiments & Real-World Examples
[14:30] Rethinking Bank Performance Metrics
[16:00] Service as Software
[17:30] AI, Stablecoins & Cost of Funds
[19:30] Advice for Existing Banks
[21:30] The Future Bank Leadership Team
[23:00] Why Curiosity Matters Now
[24:30] Final Thoughts: Adapting to What’s Next