Jeff John Roberts
Finance Editor Fortune Magazine
Jeff John Roberts is the Finance Editor of Fortune magazine, where he oversees coverage ranging from banks to private equity to cryptocurrency. He also writes news and magazine features, and co-hosts the Crypto Playbook vodcast. A former attorney, Jeff has also written for Reuters, the New York Times, the Globe&Mail and The Economist. He is the author of Kings of Crypto, a critically-acclaimed account of Coinbase. Jeff is based in Southern California.
2026 Agenda Sessions
The New Frontier for Digital Banking: Access to Affordable Credit
The first wave of digital banking was defined by access and convenience; features like early paycheck access and online checking are now the industry baseline. But as the K-shaped economy puts fresh pressure on U.S. households, affordable and flexible credit becomes the new frontier.
Upgrade Co-founder and CEO Renaud Laplanche joins Fortune’s Jeff Roberts to discuss the next evolution of the category: moving beyond simple transactions into a cohesive mobile banking ecosystem designed for the needs of everyday consumers. They will explore how the most successful neobanks are combining deposit accounts with credit cards, BNPL, interest-free cash advances, 10.00% APY savings incentives, and automated credit building. Discover why the future of banking isn't just about moving money and having access to a paycheck faster, but collapsing traditional product silos to build consumer resilience in an increasingly unpredictable and often bifurcated economy.
Tuesday 31 March 15:00 - 15:20 Main Stage
Upgrade Co-founder and CEO Renaud Laplanche joins Fortune’s Jeff Roberts to discuss the next evolution of the category: moving beyond simple transactions into a cohesive mobile banking ecosystem designed for the needs of everyday consumers. They will explore how the most successful neobanks are combining deposit accounts with credit cards, BNPL, interest-free cash advances, 10.00% APY savings incentives, and automated credit building. Discover why the future of banking isn't just about moving money and having access to a paycheck faster, but collapsing traditional product silos to build consumer resilience in an increasingly unpredictable and often bifurcated economy. Main Stage US/Pacific
