1/02/2024

BAAS 2023 Wild West




Banking as a Service: Wild West Bust?

The Banking as a Service (BaaS) landscape is facing some turbulence, with whispers of trouble brewing after a period of rapid growth. While it's not a full-blown crisis, there are certainly challenges and uncertainties that warrant attention. Here's a breakdown of the current state of affairs:

Reasons for Worry:

  • Overaggressive growth and shaky partnerships: The hype surrounding BaaS led to some partnerships forged without thorough due diligence. Some fin-techs partnering with banks had questionable business models or struggled with regulatory compliance. This exposed banks to potential reputational and financial risks. In 2009-10 I managed default for Wachovia Bank. If you recall they got fined $160 million dollars for laundering money for Mexican Cartels. We found money in walls, cars buried under dirt filled pools, the real wild west until the Feds took over. Bad guys want to hide their stash, the best way is to grind it through a dumb fintech app that doesn't check anything. Due diligence seems to have been overlooked in this new frontier.  
  • Regulatory scrutiny: As BaaS evolves, regulators are taking a closer look, concerned about potential systemic risks and consumer protection issues. This increased scrutiny could slow down growth and impose stricter compliance burdens.
  • Profitability squeeze: Many BaaS players, particularly on the fintech side, are struggling to turn a profit. The reliance on transaction fees and limited control over interest rates makes it difficult to achieve sustainable revenue streams. Even big banks are getting hit on the back side of the head with fines for over charging customers for non sufficient funds and repeating daily usury fees. These apps fail to check every state law, as well as federal regulation before they implement big charges.
  • Competition heating up: With established banks and tech giants entering the BaaS fray, the competition is getting fiercer. This puts pressure on smaller players to differentiate themselves and find a clear niche. It also encourages advertising that over promises. They use gameplay tactics, prizes, puzzles all sorts of kooky gimmicks to attract. Coinbase uses influencers and pays referral fees. Crowdfunding, promises to win a supped up car, content that is not true are common. 
  • Most are vulnerable to hacking and imply that the customer is safe. My son did not even know he had Zelle and someone stole from his Bank of America account which BofA did not make him whole.

However, it's not all doom and gloom:

  • Strong underlying potential: The core value proposition of BaaS – offering seamless financial services embedded within non-financial platforms – remains compelling. It has the potential to disrupt traditional banking models and improve financial inclusion.
  • Consolidation and adaptation: The current challenges might lead to consolidation and restructuring within the BaaS ecosystem. This could result in stronger, more sustainable players emerging.
  • Regulatory clarity: Increased regulatory scrutiny, while challenging in the short term, could provide much-needed clarity and ensure responsible growth in the long run.

So, where does this leave us?

The BaaS industry is at a crossroads. While some companies might falter, the overall trajectory remains positive. The key will be for players to adapt, address concerns, and focus on offering truly valuable and compliant financial services.

Keep an eye out for these key developments:

  • Regulatory pronouncements and their impact on the industry. Our government and those in EU are actively investigating and probing into every practice. Not a day goes by without a call.
  • Consolidation and partnerships among key players.
  • Innovative BaaS offerings that provide real value to both businesses and consumers.

 

Banking as a service has made accessing financial products and services more accessible for everyone. However, for organizations offering this convenience, there are also increased third-party risks, including cybersecurity, compliance, business continuity concerns, and the potential for reputational damage

BAAS Wild West


Trouble in Paradise: A Rundown of 2023's BaaS Woes A Few Highlights this past year:

While Banking as a Service (BaaS) has been touted as the future of finance, 2023 painted a rather turbulent picture for the industry. Here's a closer look at some of the prominent issues that arose:

1. Moonstone's Tangled Trajectory:

  • From FTX to Farmington: Bank Prov's BaaS partner, Moonstone Bank, initially sought to cater to the crypto and cannabis industries with FTX backing. However, it quickly backtracked, dropping the "Moonstone" name and returning to its original moniker, Farmington Bank. This flip-flop raised concerns about stability and commitment.

2. BankProv's Crypto Stumble:

  • Mining Mishap: The bank suffered significant losses from lending against crypto mining rigs, highlighting the volatility and unpredictability of the crypto market. This also exposed potential weaknesses in BankProv's internal controls and risk management practices. Last year my dry cleaner's office had a huge mine spinning because the power was stealing from a neighbor commercial. Scammy people abound...

3. TAB's Predatory Partnership:

  • Puppy Loan Blues: The BaaS platform's partnership with EasyPay, a BNPL company accused of predatory lending practices, particularly targeting puppy loans, led to a downgraded CRA rating. This episode drew attention to the ethical considerations surrounding BaaS partnerships and the potential for reputational damage.

4. OppFi's Lending Limbo:

  • True Lender Tussle: The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) locked horns with OppFi, a fintech lender partnered with BaaS bank FinWise, over who bears the true responsibility for OppFi's allegedly unfair loans. This legal battle highlighted the regulatory ambiguities surrounding BaaS partnerships and lending models.

5. AML Woes Across the Pond:

  • European Crackdown: BaaS platforms Solaris and Railsr faced anti-money laundering (AML) issues in Europe. Railsr's Lithuanian entity, PayrNet, even fell victim to regulatory action and was forced into bankruptcy. This raised concerns about the adequacy of AML compliance measures within the BaaS ecosystem.

6. Fintech Biz Weekly's Bombshell Report:

  • BaaS Market Unveiled: The inaugural BaaS market report by Fintech Biz Weekly shed light on the industry's complexities and challenges, providing valuable insights but also potentially stoking further anxieties about the sector's future.

7. SVB's Fallout:

  • Ripple Effects: While not directly related to BaaS, the implosion of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) sent shockwaves throughout the banking ecosystem, including BaaS players. This heightened regulatory scrutiny across the industry, with a particular focus on banks' risk management practices and exposure to volatile assets.

These are just some of the many BaaS-related troubles that surfaced in 2023. While the industry undoubtedly faces challenges, it's important to remember that growing pains are often part of the evolution process. The key forward will be for BaaS players to prioritize transparency, compliance, and responsible partnerships to weather the storm and build a more resilient and sustainable future for this innovative financial model.


Post-Goldman & Apple's Savings Account Launch:

1. Regulatory Crackdown:

  • Cross River: Faced fines and a consent order for fair lending compliance issues, highlighting the lack of due diligence within BaaS platforms.
  • Synapse & Evolve: Their clients, like SoLo Funds and Money Ave, faced trouble with regulators for unlicensed lending, suggesting lax oversight within the BaaS ecosystem.

2. Consolidation & Controversy:

  • Bond Acquisition: FIS acquired Bond, indicating industry consolidation amidst changing market dynamics.
  • Maza's Misleading Practices: a16z, Unit, and Blue Ridge-backed Maza faced criticism for targeting undocumented immigrants with misleading claims, raising concerns about ethical practices within BaaS.
  • Stripe & Celtic's Embarrassment: The unauthorized launch of the "no KYC" crypto card Laso without their approval raised questions about their control over their partnerships and compliance procedures.

3. BaaS Dependence Backfires:

  • Lineage's Fall: Lineage's reliance on BaaS deposits led to financial instability and ultimately, a hostile takeover by its shareholders, highlighting the potential risks of overdependence on external funding sources.

Overall, these events suggest a growing landscape of challenges for BaaS providers, including:

  • Increased regulatory scrutiny: Regulators are tightening their grip on BaaS platforms, demanding stricter compliance and due diligence practices.
  • Reputational risks: Misleading practices and compliance failures can damage the reputation of BaaS providers and their partners.
  • Financial instability: Overdependence on external funding sources can expose BaaS platforms to financial risks and potential hostile takeovers.

Additionally, the deterioration of the Goldman-Apple relationship underscores the complexities and uncertainties surrounding tech giants' entry into the financial services space.

 Then we also have these other events:

2023 OCC hired a con artist as its first-ever Chief Fintech Officer. How did he pass background? 


The BaaS platform Solid faked its revenue number to raise a Series B and is being sued by its investors. Liars.

Synapse and Evolve are arguing over who's responsible for some $13 million in missing customer funds.???

Metropolitan Commercial Bank got a consent order for partnering with Movocash, which fraudsters used to steal millions in COVID-era relief funds

Blue Ridge, operating under a BaaS-related consent order from 2022, announced it would seek to raise fresh capital as it reduces its exposure to fintech

Mercury filed suit against one-time partner Synapse, in an effort to recoup $30 million Mercury claims it is owed & describing Synapse as in "financial freefall."


In the Wild West of olde' times it was the hardware store that sold shovels not the digger who made money.