{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Pathward\u2019s road to innovation in financial inclusion","description":"On the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast \u2014 sponsored by Biz2X \u2014 Anthony Sharett, president of Pathward N.A., discusses how his FDIC-insured bank works alongside depository institutions to expand offerings that enhance financial inclusion and reach the unbanked. Sharett discusses Pathward\u2019s reloadable co-branded prepaid card business \u2014 which can help a bank offer a Bank On-certified account \u2014 as well as its gift card business line. Sharett discusses how Pathward uses a design thinking approach to work with its bank clients to \u201cco-create\u201d products. \u201cThere are lots of banks out there that are providing valuable services to customers, providing solutions, providing products that they need, but is there a gap?\u201d He also talks about new areas where Pathward is branching out, including commercial finance solutions like merchant services, and working capital. \u201cAs we think about financial inclusion and financial education and bringing people through that journey of creditworthiness, we are excited about the credit builder product for small and midsize businesses, which are really those entrepreneurs that are the backbone of how we just expand commerce in the United States,\u201d he says. During the conversation, Sharett also talks about his own background in bank leadership as an attorney who rose up the ranks on the risk and compliance side of banking, and he discusses how Pathward, formerly known as Metabank, developed its new brand when it sold its trademarks to newly renamed Meta Platforms. This episode is presented by Biz2X. ","author_name":"ABA Banking Journal Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/bankingjournal.aba.com\/tag\/podcast\/","html":"