Up to now, the most successful fintech firms have tried to fill gaps in underserved market, not replace banks. But a new crop of U.K. startups seeking bank charters is turning up the heat.

MPOWER Financing announced a deal Tuesday with Bank of Lake Mills in Wisconsin that will enable the Washington, D.C.-based company to lend to students in all 50 states.

Varo Money, an app designed for people who want to exclusively bank on their cell phones, announced Tuesday that it has filed formal applications for a national bank charter, adding another credit union competitor to the banking landscape.

Varo Money, an app designed for people who want to bank exclusively on their cellphones, announced Tuesday that it has filed formal applications for a national bank charter.

In recent years, the country’s largest cellphone carriers have begun to experiment with new financing options for smartphones and other devices. That forebodes a deeper interest in financial products.

A handful of underfinanced startups aren’t enough to sink the industry. Community banks will survive digital disruption so long as they concentrate on what their customers want and need.

Auto risks mounting. Mortgage market tightening. Are there any good risks these days in consumer lending? Regional bank executives insist partnerships with online lenders, unsecured personal loans and other niche efforts can work if done properly.

Plug and Play is the world’s largest tech accelerator. This episode profiles its fintech vertical.

A profile of New York's top cop for banking offers insight into her thinking on hot regulatory issues; the women behind the machine learning at Morgan Stanley and UBS see a future with better advice; plus, Jane Austen and the new Doctor Who.

The marketplace lender's application for an industrial bank charter is under fire from small banks and progressives, who say it could violate the barrier between banking and commerce and shut out middle-class and lower-income consumers.

The banking industry is evolving. Doesn’t it make more sense to focus on how to evolve with it rather than how to reduce competition?

On the discussion table: Alipay, Jack Ma, blockchain, AI, building a true digital system, payments, financial inclusion.

The app allows users, many of them first-time investors, to get started for as little as $5.

It's not only regulation that is hurting profitability, but also banks' failure to adapt to the internet age, according to a recent study.

Banco Santander, Spain's biggest lender, bought minority stakes in three financial-technology firms as Chairman Ana Botin makes machine learning a hallmark of her growth plan.

The OCC says banks face growing “strategic risks” from trying to compete and team up with fintech startups; U.K. investor group wants banks to provide more nonfinancial information about their conduct and culture.

Guests include Carl Ryden of PrecisionLender, Felipe Echandi Lacayo of PanaFintech, Sam Shawki of Magic Cube.

There is too much customer and regulatory inertia for banks’ business model to become irrelevant overnight. The real danger is banks will fade out of the picture over time.

Readers this week highlighted the need for banks to upgrade payments systems, debated a small bank’s decision to ditch its legacy core vendor, lamented populist initiatives of the GSEs, and more.

Whether it is a bank branch or an automated fast-food kiosk, talented and engaged employees will remain integral to future success.