Dave Fishwick's Quest to Make Banking Sexy

The subject of Bank of Dave, Netflix’s most successful U.K. indie film, is back with a sequel, a musical, and a plan to defend community banks on both sides of the Atlantic.

Welcome, Bank Slaters!

We’re glad to have you with us as we dive into another big week in banking and fintech, full of insights, announcements, and a few exciting firsts.

Let’s talk about growth, readiness, and the power of collaboration.

I’m excited to share that I am leading a dynamic panel at the Fintech + Insurtech Generations conference in Charlotte on June 11-12, followed by a workshop tailored specifically for entrepreneurs.

We’ve pulled together a powerhouse group of panelists: Brandon Oliver (principal, BankTech Ventures), Georgina Merhom (founder/CEO, SOLO), and Rob Burnett (director of startup banking, Grasshopper Bank). We’ll dig into the most common (and costly) hurdles founders face—from compliance risk to scalability.

On that note, I’m pleased to announce that Bank Slate is now an official consulting partner of Grasshopper Bank. It’s been great getting to know the bank’s team over the past few months—you’ll recall that we interviewed CEO Mike Butler at AOBA in January. Through this collaboration, I’ll be working with the bank’s fintech clients and prospects to help them navigate the competitive and regulatory landscape through tailored readiness plans.

Big things ahead—stay tuned.

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Let’s talk about what happens when a regular guy opens a bank against all odds, takes on payday lenders, inspires a Netflix hit, and makes it his mission to put banking back in the hands of the people.

Dave Fishwick, the larger-than-life founder of the Bank of Dave, has built a global following by turning his mission—bringing banking back to the people—into a movement. His story inspired Netflix’s most successful U.K. independent film, and now he’s back with a sequel, a musical in the works, and a renewed push to protect community banking on both sides of the Atlantic.

In our Q&A, Fishwick talks about the real threats facing underserved communities, the role of regulation, and why payday lenders and loan sharks are circling as banks shut down. He also explains what makes community banking “sexy”—and why younger generations need to be at the heart of the industry’s next chapter.

“We need to make banking exciting again,” Fishwick says. “And we need to do it now.”

Here’s an edited transcript of our chat, which took place at ICBA Live earlier this year.