A new report from American Banker's parent company finds that traditional banks are vulnerable to competition from online banks and fintechs such as PayPal and Square. It recommends that banks build deeper relationships with small-business owners by adding more products to their traditional suite of offerings.

The challenger banks Mercury and Nerve are offering networking events, tailored accounts, credit cards and more to attract a once neglected market.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has accused the challenger bank, which charges customers a monthly membership fee, of violating the Military Lending Act and other consumer protection laws. MoneyLion says the allegations are baseless, but some analysts said the consumer bureau appears to have strong claims.

The claim that these arrangements are unregulated is inaccurate, and instead, more oversight would destroy the benefits of banks working with fintechs on consumer products.

The online lender approved Black applicants at lower rates than non-Hispanic whites, according to a law firm that monitors its artificial intelligence models. Upstart said it's an industry leader in fair lending but acknowledged room for improvement, calling disparities "an industry-wide challenge."

Onuu uses artificial intelligence to help its customers with budgeting.

Mechanics Bank in Walnut Creek, California, has signed up to be Inclined's first partner.

The company hopes its new technology infrastructure will help it scale and quickly roll out new products.

The founding CEO of PayPal and former CEO of Intuit plans to launch Nirvana Money next month. It will combine basic banking with an alternative to a secured card that evolves into a normal credit card.

The additional data that will become available as the economy slows should reveal the true strength of the technology companies some banks are working with and that should inform whether more regulation is required.

The Delaware bank, which is also seeking to move its headquarters to South Dakota, says a national charter will allow it to more easily expand across the country as it builds on its banking-as-a-service business model.

A new group called MoreThanFair aims to establish the lines between fair and unfair lending, to set best practices for the use of AI in lending and to lessen the stigma of fintech lenders.

Consumers and small business could eventually feel the impact of stepped-up regulatory scrutiny of bank-fintech partnerships.

The Consumer Bankers Association and the Center for Responsible Lending said the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should renew its efforts to level the regulatory playing field between larger bank and nonbank companies that make installment and other kinds of personal loans.

The neobank combines digital banking with community-based assistance.

In global news this week, Western Union buys a digital wallet maker in Brazil, DBS in Singapore embarks on a green metaverse project, the U.K.'s Wise launches a digital cross-border payments service, and more.

Regulators are starting to look at bank-fintech partnerships as a source of systemic risk, but the real problem is the lack of consistent prudential rules outside of banking.

Regulators have been sending out warning signals about the partnerships between banks and fintechs. Does this mean banks and fintechs have to change what they're doing?

The three challenger banks have defied the odds and created business models that have made them net positive in a market where fewer than 5% of startups are making money.

Revolut Ltd. is launching a one-click payment feature in a bid to rival PayPal Inc. and other tech giants at online checkouts.