(2/1) Capital One didn’t miss a beat when it was announced that Luka Dončić was being traded to the Lakers.

(2/3) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has put the CFPB on ice, halting rulemaking, litigation, and communications as he takes over as acting director. This pause affects key policies like the medical debt reporting ban and a $5 overdraft fee cap. The move follows President Trump's firing of Rohit Chopra and aligns with broader efforts to scale back federal agencies, including Elon Musk’s push to "Delete CFPB." The CFPB’s legal team is reviewing the memo to assess its full impact. [Bloomberg Law]

(2/4) AI is transforming social media marketing, helping brands like Mastercard stay ahead of fast-moving microtrends. AI tools streamline content creation, automate customer interactions, and provide real-time insights, making social media strategies more efficient. According to a Sprout Pulse Survey, 82% of marketers using AI tools have already seen positive results, and 93% of business leaders plan to invest more in AI-driven marketing over the next three years. The message is clear: brands that embrace AI will set the pace in the evolving digital landscape. [Sprout Social]

“Mastercard built a digital marketing engine to monitor conversations across social media and identify microtrends before they go mainstream. The technology helps Mastercard target relevant trends by cross-referencing them with specific approved topics. If it’s a good fit for MasterCard, AI will notify the marketing team, and if they want to participate, the brand taps in with pre-made social media posts and targeted ads.”

(1/30) Santander is making a bold move in the U.S. digital banking space with the launch of Openbank and its "You’re Smart Like That" campaign. Instead of boasting about features, the campaign—created with Dentsu—focuses on making customers feel like financial pros by highlighting smart banking decisions, like opening a High Yield Savings Account. With bespoke illustrations and a full-funnel strategy across billboards, social, and streaming platforms, Santander aims to stand out in a crowded market of over 4,500 banks. [Little Black Book]

(1/30) U.S. Bank Avvance is expanding its point-of-sale lending reach through a new partnership with Magwitch, a fintech specializing in lending-as-a-service. This integration allows Avvance to offer real-time installment loans to Magwitch’s network of over 3,000 merchants, making financing more accessible at checkout. Launched in 2023, Avvance is U.S. Bank’s first real-time consumer lending product, aiming to simplify POS lending for both merchants and customers. [U.S. Bank]

(1/30) Citi Flex Pay is now available on Apple Pay, giving U.S. Citi cardholders the option to pay for purchases over $75 in installments. Users can choose a default three-month repayment period or extend it for a monthly fee. This move comes after Apple discontinued Apple Pay Later in 2024, shifting its BNPL strategy to partners like Affirm, Klarna, and Synchrony. With BNPL usage growing—40% of Americans have used it—financial regulators are increasing oversight to ensure consumer protections. [The Paypers]

(1/30) Cushion, a fintech startup that aimed to be the “Plaid for BNPL,” is shutting down after eight years and $21.6 million in funding. Despite automating bank fee negotiations and processing $300 million in BNPL loans, the company couldn’t scale enough to sustain its business. Founder Paul Kesserwani announced the closure, reflecting on Cushion’s achievements, including reaching $3 million ARR in 10 months and onboarding over 1 million users. The shutdown highlights ongoing struggles in fintech, with more startup closures expected in 2025. [TechCrunch]

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