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Lamont Black

CEO at Wide Open Ventures

Chicago, United States

Dr. Lamont Black is a finance professor at DePaul University in Chicago and a recognized expert on emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and the metaverse. He has joined Filene Research Institute as a Fellow and is now doing research on “The Credit Union of the Future.” Dr. Black is a regularly invited speaker for conferences, strategy sessions, and the media to discuss the impact of emerging tech on business strategy. His award-winning teaching has been featured in the Chicago Tribune and includes courses on cryptocurrency, data analytics, and business technology. Prior to joining DePaul, Dr. Black was an economist at the Federal Reserve in Washington D.C. during the financial crisis. He received a Ph.D. in finance and economics from Indiana University and a B.A. from Stanford University.

As the founder and CEO of Wide Open Ventures, Dr. Black offers consulting services on AI strategy and adoption. His personal website lamontblack.com has additional information about his speaking, consulting, and content. And you can now watch Dr. Black on AmazonPrime and AppleTV in the crypto documentary “The Highest of Stakes”!

Available For: Speaking
Travels From: Chicago
Speaking Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Crypto, Blockchain

Speaking Fee $10,000 (In-Person), $6,000 (Virtual)

Personal Speaking Website: lamontblack.com
Lamont Black Points
Academic 5
Author 16
Influencer 88
Speaker 77
Entrepreneur 0
Total 186

Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.

Thought Leader Profile

Portfolio Mix

Featured Videos

Featured Topics

Cryptocurrency, Stablecoins and Blockchain Technology

Cryptocurrency and blockchain are no longer fringe topics - they are reshaping how people think about money, payments, and trust in financial systems. In this session, Lamont Black demystifies digital assets, stablecoins, and the underlying blockchain technology, helping credit union and community bank leaders understand both the risks and the opportunities. With a clear and balanced perspective, he explores how these innovations are influencing consumer expectations, regulatory developments, and the broader financial services landscape. Attendees will walk away with practical insights on how to position their institutions in an evolving ecosystem where digital currencies and decentralized finance could reshape the future of banking.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Future of Financial Services

Artificial intelligence is no longer an emerging trend - it is here, and it is transforming the way financial institutions operate. From enhancing member engagement with conversational AI, to improving risk management, fraud detection, and credit decisioning, AI is rapidly becoming a competitive differentiator. In this talk, Lamont Black explains how AI is being applied across financial services, what it means for community-based institutions, and how leaders can embrace this technology responsibly. He also addresses the ethical and regulatory considerations of AI, helping executives balance innovation with trust. This session provides a forward-looking roadmap for credit union and community bank leaders seeking to harness AI to remain relevant and resilient in a digital-first future.

Digital Transformation in Credit Unions and Community Banks

Digital transformation is more than adopting new technology - it is about reimagining the entire member experience while staying true to cooperative values. In this keynote, Lamont Black shares insights into how credit unions and community banks can leverage digital tools to deliver personalized service, expand access, and strengthen financial wellness. He highlights the latest trends in mobile banking, payments, and data-driven innovation, while addressing the cultural and organizational shifts required for true transformation. This session empowers leaders to think strategically about their digital journey, aligning innovation with mission, and ensuring their institutions remain trusted financial partners in an increasingly digital world.

Company Information

Company Type: Company
Minimum Project Size: N/A
Average Hourly Rate: N/A
Number of Employees: N/A
Company Founded Date: Undisclosed

Areas of Expertise

Agentic AI 30.71
AI 30.68
AI Governance 36.07
AI Infrastructure 33.09
Analytics 30.13
Blockchain 30.15
Business Strategy 30.13
Careers 32.19
Cryptocurrency 34.16
Digital Disruption 30.76
Digital Transformation 30.18
Education
Emerging Technology 30.77
Finance 32.41
FinTech 31.40
Future of Work 30.02
Generative AI 30.37
Innovation 30.55
Leadership 30.30
NFT

Industry Experience

Financial Services & Banking
Higher Education & Research

Publications

12 Article/Blogs
Forget Finance: How Personal Finance Will Fade to the Background
Filene
November 06, 2025
The future of finance is frictionless. Biometric payments, embedded experiences, and intuitive, conversational tools are blurring the lines between digital and human connection. Credit unions can lead this shift by building trust into systems so smart, they work almost invisibly.

See publication

Tags: Digital Transformation, Finance, FinTech

Stablecoins: What Are They, Really — and Why Are Institutions Paying Attention?
Lamont Black
October 01, 2025
Stablecoins aren’t fringe anymore.

Not long ago, they were seen as a niche corner of crypto — more novelty than currency. But things have shifted.

With the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts now in play, credit unions have a clear federal framework to issue, custody, and integrate stablecoins under regulatory oversight.

This isn’t about chasing hype. It’s about recognizing:
The legal rails are being built right now.
The definition of “money” is expanding.
Institutions must decide if they’ll operate on these rails — or watch others do it first.

Stablecoins are quickly becoming part of the mainstream financial system. The question is whether credit unions will take advantage of this opening.

See publication

Tags: Digital Disruption, Emerging Technology, FinTech

AI Isn’t Just for Tech Giants: Why Local Institutions Need to Pay Attention
Lamont Black
October 01, 2025
AI has been in credit unions longer than we think.

AML monitoring. Fraud detection. 2FA triggers.
These are all AI-driven systems that have quietly been part of institutional operations for years — just not branded as “AI.”

What’s changing now is visibility.

With the NCUA aligning to the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, credit unions finally have a structured way to approach AI governance. The framework isn’t about scrapping systems or starting from scratch — it’s about:
Mapping where AI is already at work.
Assigning governance and accountability.
Managing exposure responsibly.

The real question isn’t “Should we adopt AI?”
It’s “Are we prepared to manage the AI we’re already using?”

This article digs into that shift — and why it matters for every board and leadership team thinking about AI strategy.

See publication

Tags: AI, AI Governance, Digital Disruption

SIMPLE Payments: Six Consumer Payment Trends Credit Unions Must Embrace
Filene Research Institute
August 18, 2025
The future of payments is here, and credit unions must move fast to keep up. The SIMPLE Payments framework reveals six important trends reshaping how members pay and interact with money. This brief shows how credit unions can embed payments into daily life, deliver real-time experiences, and thrive in a digital-first world.

See publication

Tags: Digital Transformation, Finance, FinTech

Credit Unions and the Quickly Changing Stablecoin Conversation
Filene
July 18, 2025
Stablecoins are back in the spotlight—and credit unions need to be in the conversation.

In my latest article for Filene Research Institute, I break down the recent surge of stablecoin activity—from Amazon and Walmart to major financial players—and what it all means for credit unions.

With federal legislation like the GENIUS Act advancing and institutional interest growing fast, now is the time for credit union leaders to get clear on:
What stablecoins are (and aren’t);
How they could reshape payments, liquidity, and member expectations;
Why waiting on the sidelines is no longer a safe strategy;

At Wide Open Ventures, we’re helping credit unions and mission-driven orgs explore these emerging technologies with confidence and clarity. Want to talk strategy? Let’s connect.

See publication

Tags: Cryptocurrency, Emerging Technology, FinTech

Why AI adoption involves every executive leader
CUInsight.com
July 08, 2025
Check out my new article “Why AI adoption involves every executive leader” for CUInsight.com. This explains the focus of my work with executive teams

See publication

Tags: AI, Business Strategy, Leadership

Still Hiring Humans: What the Best Workers Will Do in the Age of AI
Lamont Black
May 24, 2025
AI fluency is the new baseline. So what’s still worth doing yourself?

AI can generate, recommend, and support - but it can’t lead, decide, or care. That’s your edge.

The best workers won’t just prompt well. They’ll judge well. They’ll know when to lean on AI - and when to lean in themselves.

The future belongs to the Prompt Directors:
Those who combine tech with taste, automation with empathy, and speed with strategy.

AI is the intern. You’re still the CEO of your work.

So ask yourself:
What’s still worth me doing?

See publication

Tags: AI, Digital Disruption, Digital Transformation

From Typing to Prompting: The Next Workplace Skill You Can’t Ignore
Lamont Black
May 20, 2025
Typing used to be optional. Then it became essential.

We’re seeing the same shift again—with AI. At Wide Open Ventures, we believe AI fluency is quickly becoming a core skill in the workplace. Not a nice-to-have. A must.

That’s why we just published our first blog, written by our CXO Ryan Best:
“From Typing to Prompting: The Next Workplace Skill You Can’t Ignore”

It breaks down the quiet but undeniable shift that’s underway—and offers simple, actionable steps to help you start experimenting today.

Download a tool like ChatGPT
Try it on one personal task
Try it on one professional task
Get your reps in

This is the first in a series aimed at helping #leaders, #teams, and organizations get practical about #AI. We hope it gives you something useful—and if it does, we’d love to hear what resonates.

See publication

Tags: AI, Digital Transformation, Future of Work

Prompt Practice: How I’m Building AI Fluency (and Why You Might Want To, Too)
Lamont Black
May 15, 2025
You don’t need to master AI. But you do need to start practicing. Here’s what that looks like for me.

In my last post, I made the case that learning to work with AI is a lot like learning to type. At first, it’s awkward. Slow. Maybe even frustrating. But over time, it becomes second nature—and gives you a serious edge.

That edge is growing fast.

The professionals getting ahead right now aren’t necessarily smarter. They’re just showing up and getting more reps in with AI than everyone else. A recent study by the St. Louis Federal Reserve found that workers using generative AI saved an average of 5.4% of their work hours per week—that’s more than two hours saved in a typical 40-hour week. The more integrated AI use became, the more time people got back. They’re learning how to prompt better, review faster, and fold AI into their workflow naturally. And it’s starting to show up in how quickly they move, how polished their work is, and how many opportunities come their way.

The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your job to start building AI fluency. You just need to treat it like a skill—and practice.

See publication

Tags: AI, Digital Transformation, Emerging Technology

LAMONT BLACK / WOV - End of Year 2024 Newsletter
LinkedIn
December 30, 2024
As 2024 winds down, I find myself reflecting on the many milestones and special moments that have marked the past year. From celebrating my 50th birthday with a 750-mile bike ride down the beautiful West Coast to connecting with so many incredible credit unions across the country, I feel a profound sense of gratitude for what this year has been.

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Tags: Leadership

Looking Towards New Adventures in 2025
Linkedln
November 30, 2024
As 2024 winds down, I find myself reflecting on the many milestones and special moments that have marked the past year. From celebrating my 50th birthday with a 750-mile bike ride down the beautiful West Coast to connecting with so many incredible credit unions across the country, I feel a profound sense of gratitude for what this year has been.

See publication

Tags: Careers, Innovation, Leadership

Cryptocurrency Comes to U.S. Banking
LinkedIn
February 11, 2021
Crypto is coming to the world of banking! Today, Bank of NY Mellon Corp. (BK) announced that it will hold, transfer and issue bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on behalf of its asset-management clients.

See publication

Tags: Leadership

1 Journal Publication
Subjective Risk Perceptions and Peer Effects: Evidence from a Laboratory Experiment Using Cryptocurrency
Journal of Behavioral Finance
April 17, 2025
Our New #Crypto Research Published! Excited to share my latest article with colleagues Jim Mourey, Ph.D. and Brian Phelan at DePaul Driehaus College of Business now published in the Journal of Behavioral Finance (publisher Taylor & Francis Group)

The paper is about how subjective risk perceptions and peer influence shape investment behavior…

In a controlled lab experiment, we found that participants were significantly less likely to invest in an asset labeled as “cryptocurrency” compared to when the same asset was labeled as a “stock” or “bond” — despite having identical risk profiles.

But here’s the twist: when peer influence to invest was involved, this “crypto hesitancy” disappeared entirely.

The takeaway?
Investment decisions are shaped not just by objective risk, but by labels and social context. Peer influence has the power to override individual risk perception.

See publication

Tags: Cryptocurrency, Finance

5 Keynotes
The Stablecoin Roadmap for Credit Unions
Filene Research Institute
December 03, 2025
KEYNOTE SPOTLIGHT! Want to understand stablecoin fundamentals and how credit unions can adapt to the passage of the GENIUS Act?

Join me for an insightful session – “The Stablecoin Roadmap for Credit Unions” – at big.bright.minds. 2025.

This session will provide a stablecoin roadmap for credit unions in 2026 as the Act enters its implementation phase, addressing potential disruption of interchange fees alongside emerging opportunities for innovation.

Discover how credit unions can:
Educate boards and executive teams.
Develop strategic plans.
Position themselves as key facilitators of stablecoin payments.
Empower members to receive, store, transfer, and spend stablecoins securely.

See publication

Tags: Cryptocurrency, Digital Disruption, FinTech

Artificial Intelligence and Stablecoins for Credit Unions
Catalyst
October 23, 2025
My keynote at the Catalyst Corporate Federal Credit Union conference was half AI and half Stablecoins. Two technologies that are no longer “emerging” but actively shaping the future of financial services. I explored how credit unions can use AI to improve the internal (fraud detection, lending workflows, and productivity tools) and the external (serving members). On the stablecoin side, we unpacked the GENIUS Act, market adoption, and what a roadmap might look like for integration.

See publication

Tags: AI, Cryptocurrency, Emerging Technology

AI for Credit Unions and Fintechs
TruStage Ventures
September 24, 2025
Diving into how artificial intelligence is reshaping financial services. The session focused on practical insights, emerging risks, and strategic opportunities for credit unions and fintech leaders navigating this rapidly evolving space.

See publication

Tags: AI, AI Governance, FinTech

AI for Financial Institutions: Embracing the Future of Intelligent Finance.
AICPA & CIMA
September 16, 2025
Financial institutions are rapidly moving into a future where AI integrates into every facet of business—from operations to customer experience. At the conference, I shared insights on the latest developments in Generative AI and Agentic AI, along with practical applications for driving growth, efficiency, and innovation across the financial services sector.

See publication

Tags: Agentic AI, AI, Generative AI

FUELmi YP Leadership Summit - Innovation Is Essential for Leadership
Michigan Credit Union League and Affiliates
June 04, 2025
As technological change in the business world continues to accelerate, young professionals will need to embrace a culture of innovation. This session highlights the importance of an entrepreneurial mindset and how emerging leaders can lead with innovation in their organization. It begins with young leaders! And in the world of innovation, vision and passion must be stronger than fear. Every young professional in the session will be challenged to make innovation a daily routine and regular conversation to develop a leadership style for the future.

See publication

Tags: Careers, Innovation, Leadership

4 Speaking Engagements
Agentic AI and the Future of Work
Lamont Black
November 17, 2025
Agentic AI is the new frontier. We recently did a strategy session with Greylock Federal Credit Union focused entirely on Agentic AI. We explored how AI is evolving from automation to delegation - from answering questions to taking action. That’s the promise of agentic systems. And in the world of financial services, this evolution is already here. We walked through real use cases for credit unions: internal AI agents that optimize operations and external agents that help members manage money more proactively.

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Tags: Agentic AI, AI, Digital Disruption

Stablecoins for Financial Institutions
Lamont Black
November 07, 2025
Stablecoins are a fast-emerging form of digital money that combine the technology of crypto with the trust of the U.S. dollar. For financial institutions, they represent a potential shift in how payments are made, recorded, and settled—introducing both opportunity and disruption. This session will outline what stablecoins are, why they matter, and how they could impact operations and client/member relationships.

See publication

Tags: Cryptocurrency, Finance, FinTech

Artificial Intelligence in Financial Services
Lamont Black
November 04, 2025
This week, I had the opportunity to speak with state regulators and financial leaders at Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) about the role of AI in financial services. We talked about the practical side of how AI is already shaping lending, fraud detection, and customer experience. But we also looked at the big picture: how generative and agentic AI are changing what it means to lead, supervise, and serve in this industry.

See publication

Tags: AI, Digital Transformation, Finance

The Credit Union Roadmap for Becoming an Intelligent Enterprise
EDGE 2025
May 08, 2025
What does it take to become an intelligent enterprise—where data acts as a force multiplier, elevating member experiences, streamlining operations and sharpening competitive strategies?

In this opening session, Filene Fellow Lamont Black will set the stage for the next two days by exploring these questions with an optimistic—yet realistic—perspective on the key drivers of analytics mastery. Through real-world insights, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how credit unions can become intelligent cooperatives, harnessing data and digital innovation to become even better at what they do best.

Attendees can expect:

- Illustrations of how intelligent enterprises gain insights, predict outcomes and personalize experiences
- Real-life success stories of improved decision-making and end-user interactions
- Candid discussion of the challenges credit unions may face on the journey to becoming intelligent enterprises and ideas for overcoming them

See publication

Tags: Analytics, Digital Transformation, Innovation

1 Video
Consulting with Wide Open Ventures
Youtube
December 11, 2024

See publication

Tags: Careers, Innovation, Leadership

2 Webinars
Stablecoins - Digital Dollars, Real Impact
TruStage
November 14, 2025
Stablecoins are programmable dollars, and their potential to reshape finance is fast approaching. The question for every credit union is: will you issue, facilitate, or wait?

We covered:
- Why stablecoins are now the leading crypto use case following the GENIUS Act.
- The shift from “digital asset” to payment rail.
- How public blockchains and tokenized money could disrupt legacy payment networks.
- Why credit unions need to start building a strategy now, ahead of the 2026 acceleration.

See publication

Tags: Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, FinTech

AI and Executive Leadership: How CU Execs Should Approach AI Strategy
Filene
August 06, 2025
AI & Executive Leadership: How Should CU Leaders Approach AI Strategy?

Join me on August 6 for a live webinar hosted by Filene Research Institute —designed specifically for credit union executives navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

This session will explore:
What AI means for leadership—not just IT;
How to align your teams around a clear AI vision;
Common roadblocks (and how to overcome them);
Practical steps to move from exploration to execution.

If you’re shaping strategy in your credit union, you don’t want to miss this.

See publication

Tags: AI, Business Strategy, Leadership

3 Workshops
AI for Credit Unions
Lamont Black
December 02, 2025
Eight hours of AI strategy with Consumers Credit Union. I met with the executives in the morning and then with a series of four departments to prioritize and develop specific goals for their AI initiatives. There is so much happening across Consumers that most of the work was deciding where to focus efforts in 2026. I helped facilitate the discussions among the teams to help them identify a clear and measurable direction.

See publication

Tags: AI, AI Governance, AI Infrastructure

SNC AI Workshop
Lamont Black
November 16, 2025
A great morning in Dallas at State National Companies (SNC) meeting with their advisory council for an AI workshop. We explored:
• How generative and agentic AI are reshaping operations and member experience
• What an internal + external AI roadmap can look like
• Why this is about tech AND strategy
• How leaders can align innovation with long-term values

See publication

Tags: Agentic AI, AI, AI Governance

An AI Roadmap for Credit Unions
Credit Union Executives Society
January 28, 2025
In this engaging and forward-thinking session, Dr. Lamont Black guides credit union CEOs and executives through the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence. Tailored for leadership teams, the session breaks down what AI really means for the future of financial services—beyond the buzzwords—and explores how credit unions can adopt these technologies strategically and responsibly.

Attendees will walk away with a practical AI adoption roadmap, insights into current and emerging use cases, and a deeper understanding of how to align innovation with mission.

This session empowers leaders to move from uncertainty to action with clarity and confidence.

See publication

Tags: AI, Digital Transformation, Emerging Technology

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Blog

1 Article/Blog
Stablecoins and the Genius Act
Thinkers360
August 25, 2025

Stablecoins, Stablecoins, Stablecoins. Their time has arrived! I’m getting sooo many inquiries about the GENIUS Act and how credit unions and banks can prepare for the coming changes to the U.S payments system. Everyone in financial services seems to be talking about it.

Of course, July was a huge month for stablecoins. The House passed the GENIUS Act and it was signed into federal law.

It’s the first federal framework designed to regulate payment stablecoins in the U.S., a step that could reshape how traditional financial institutions, fintechs, and large retailers engage with digital payments.

For those not in the loop: Stablecoins are crypto assets pegged to a fiat currency like the dollar. Think of them as using the technology of crypto but having the value of the dollar. Fast to send, efficient processing, and designed not to swing in value like Bitcoin.

Until now, they’ve lived in a legal gray zone. Some backed by treasuries, some backed by nothing. Some issued by U.S. fintechs, others by decentralized protocols. The regulatory oversight? Fragmented at best.

The GENIUS Act changes that.

Here’s the TLDR:
Only regulated issuers can issue payment stablecoins.
Issuers must hold 1:1 reserves (like cash or T-bills).
Monthly public disclosures + annual audits are mandatory.
It sets up a dual regulatory model: → Federal oversight for large issuers → Coordinated state oversight for smaller ones (<$10B issuance)

And importantly: Stablecoins will no longer be the wild west. They’ll become part of the U.S. financial infrastructure.

Why this matters: This is less about crypto, and more about payments infrastructure. We’re watching the rails evolve, with a potential disruption of cards, ACH, and wires. This Act gives traditional finance a roadmap for how to launch, custody, and use stablecoins safely.

A few questions I’m thinking about: How will credit unions and banks rethink their payments strategy now that stablecoins are on the table? Could stablecoins finally replace our payment rails from the 1970s?

Most important - Will this be a disruptive threat or a new opportunity for traditional financial service providers?

Now that the House passed the GENIUS Act and the President has signed it, the signal is clear: Stablecoins are here to stay - and Washington is finally writing the rulebook.

See blog

Tags: Cryptocurrency, Emerging Technology, FinTech

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