A company’s approach to regulation and compliance, including issues concerning diversity and inclusion, can and likely will have a huge impact on growth, profitability, and longevity, say lawyers from Seyfarth.

Opportunity Financial, which offers consumer installment loans in partnership with banks, is merging with FG New America Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition corporation. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter.

The Swedish installment lender's diversification makes it a direct competitor to mainstream banks.

The Swedish installment lender's diversification makes it a direct competitor to mainstream banks.

Financial inclusion is a key enabler to reducing poverty and Fintech is leading the way forward. New businesses and creative banking services are emerging with new means of providing financial services to the financially underserved. But technology is just part of the equation, not the whole solution. Join Daniel Wolfe, Editor-in-Chief of PaymentSource as he explores the issues surrounding financial services as infrastructure and how it can address the wealth gap in various communities with our special guests Wole Coaxum, Founder & CEO of MoCaFi and Marc Weill, Partner & Senior Advisor at Two Sigma Ventures.

Discovery Bank in South Africa and other overseas financial companies say healthier customers are more profitable. They are giving reward points, gym subsidies and even free Apple Watches to those who meet fitness goals.

The next administration must halt the practice of allowing new entrants into the banking system to forgo a full Community Reinvestment Act exam.

There's already an appetite for digital and consumers should quickly embrace Apple's range of services, says CellPoint Digital's Howard Blankenship.

Fintechs and challenger banks are small, nimble and tech-centric. However, incumbents have strong reputations, customer trust and loyalty built over many decades, says Twilio's Bijon Mehta.

A showdown between megabanks such as JPMorgan Chase and the likes of Apple and PayPal could be the prelude to a broader fight.