President & CoO

Tyler Ferguson

"The Risk & Compliance Sherpa"

Tyler Ferguson is a seasoned banking executive and the President & COO of Chisel, where he brings over 25 years of commercial banking expertise to help fintech companies navigate complex regulatory landscapes and build sustainable banking partnerships.

Known as "The Risk & Compliance Sherpa" for his ability to foresee platform risks and regulatory challenges and guide fintech, financial, and enterprise organizations through the intricacies of sponsor bank relationships, credit risk management, and operational resilience.

As the former Chief Credit Officer of CCBX, the Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) division of Coastal Community Bank, Tyler witnessed firsthand the platform risks that led to industry consolidation and failures like Synapse. His banking perspective provides invaluable insight into how financial institutions evaluate, partner with, and support fintech companies, making him an essential strategic advisor for any organization building financial products or services.

Tyler's "Distributed Risk Model" framework has become the industry standard for fintech companies seeking to build resilient, regulatory-compliant platforms while maintaining sustainable banking partnerships that drive long-term growth.

Professional Experience & Credentials

Banking Leadership & Risk Management

Tyler's quarter-century career in commercial banking spans multiple economic cycles and regulatory environments, providing him with deep institutional knowledge of banking operations and risk management.

Executive Leadership

Chisel - President & COO (2025-Present)
Fintech Tradecraft - Founder (2024-Present)
Payment Stack - Co-Founder/Manager (2024-2025)
Coastal Community Bank - 17+ years of progressive leadership (2006-2024)

Coastal Community Bank Career Progression

Chief Credit Officer, CCBX BaaS Division (2020-2024)

Facilitated effective execution of credit lending programs as intermediary between bank and strategic fintech partners
Formulated strategies to oversee risk management and business ventures within Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS)
Established and implemented the Credit Governance Committee to oversee credit risk management
Played critical role in negotiating partnership agreements, amendments, and renewals
Supervised capital markets desk, overseeing ongoing loan transactions including purchases and sales to BaaS partners

Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer (2015-2020)

Developed strategic initiatives that grew bank assets from $140 million to $3.68 billion
Achieved impressive annual growth rate of approximately 21%
Launched new credit division for fintech partner lending
Implemented bank-wide Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system

Executive Vice President, Chief Operations and Lending Officer (2011-2015)

Led diverse teams responsible for delivering corporate objectives including CCBX Credit Division, Credit Administration, Lending Operations, and Special Assets Group
Developed Loan Concentration Risk Management Program to maximize returns while reducing risk
Guided bank through Great Recession as Special Asset Administrator

Early Banking Career:

Global Credit Union - Participation Manager/Commercial Lender (2005-2006)
US Bank - Relationship Manager (2004-2005)
Northwest Farm Credit Services - Commercial Credit Underwriter (1999-2004)

Areas of Expertise

Credit Risk & Regulatory Compliance

Tyler's expertise in credit risk management and regulatory compliance has been battle-tested through multiple economic cycles and regulatory changes:

Credit Policy Development: Design and implementation of comprehensive credit frameworks
Risk Assessment Methodologies: Quantitative and qualitative risk evaluation systems
Regulatory Framework Navigation: FFIEC, OCC, FDIC compliance strategies
Audit and Examination Preparation: Regulatory readiness and response protocols

Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) & Fintech Partnerships

As the former Chief Credit Officer of CCBX, Tyler has unparalleled insight into BaaS operations and fintech-bank partnerships:

Due Diligence Processes: Bank evaluation criteria and partnership requirements
Partnership Structure Design: Sustainable fintech-bank relationship models
Operational Resilience: Building robust systems that withstand regulatory scrutiny
Platform Risk Assessment: Identifying and mitigating systemic platform risks

Strategic Business Development

Tyler's banking relationship expertise translates into powerful strategic guidance for fintech growth:

Go-to-Market Strategy: Market positioning and customer acquisition
Partnership Ecosystem Development: Building sustainable business relationships
Long-term Strategic Planning: Multi-year growth and sustainability frameworks
Competitive Analysis: Market positioning and differentiation strategies

Operational Excellence

Through his leadership roles at Coastal Community Bank, Tyler developed expertise in:

Team Leadership: Managing diverse teams across credit, operations, and lending
Process Optimization: Streamlining operations for efficiency and compliance
Technology Implementation: CRM systems, loan processing, and reporting infrastructure
Crisis Management: Successfully navigating economic downturns and regulatory challenges

Signature Frameworks & Methodologies

Distributed Risk Model

Tyler's flagship framework that helps fintech companies build resilient business models by distributing risk across multiple vectors instead of concentrating it in single platforms or partnerships. This methodology addresses:

Platform Risk Diversification: Reducing dependency on single BaaS providers
Regulatory Risk Distribution: Spreading compliance obligations across multiple relationships
Operational Risk Management: Building redundancy and resilience into business operations
Financial Risk Mitigation: Sustainable economics that withstand market volatility

Banking Partnership Sustainability Framework

Based on his 25 years of banking experience, Tyler developed a comprehensive approach to building lasting fintech-bank relationships:

Mutual Value Creation: Ensuring partnerships benefit both fintech and banking partners
Regulatory Alignment: Structuring relationships that satisfy regulatory requirements
Long-term Viability: Building partnerships that scale with business growth
Risk-Adjusted Returns: Optimizing partnership terms for sustainable profitability

Credit Governance Architecture

Tyler's systematic approach to credit risk management that he implemented at CCBX and now applies to fintech credit programs:

Committee Structure Design: Effective governance and decision-making frameworks
Risk Monitoring Systems: Real-time tracking of critical risk indicators
Portfolio Management: Optimizing credit exposure and concentration limits
Compliance Integration: Embedding regulatory requirements into operational processes

Industry Recognition & Thought Leadership

Darin writes extensively about composable fintech infrastructure, banking partnerships, and the evolution of financial technology. His content consistently demonstrates the systematically educational approach that has made him a trusted advisor to fintech executives and banking leaders.

Banking Industry Expertise

Tyler is recognized throughout the banking industry for his expertise in:

BaaS Platform Development: Pioneering work in Banking-as-a-Service operations
Credit Risk Innovation: Advanced methodologies for fintech credit assessment
Regulatory Navigation: Successfully managing complex compliance environments
Strategic Banking Partnerships: Building sustainable fintech-bank relationships

Speaking & Advisory Roles

Tyler frequently advises fintech companies, banks, and industry organizations on:

BaaS Platform Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating systemic platform risks
Fintech-Bank Partnership Strategy: Building sustainable, regulatory-compliant relationships
Credit Risk in Digital Finance: Adapting traditional credit principles to fintech models
Regulatory Compliance Strategy: Navigating complex financial services regulations

Test Post

Test Post ...more

Infrastructure

August 07, 2025•0 min read

Why Tyler's Perspective Matters

In an industry where many fintech executives have limited banking experience, Tyler brings the critical perspective of someone who has been "on the bank side" for 25 years. His experience evaluating and partnering with fintech companies provides unique insights that help avoid common pitfalls and build sustainable business models.

Fintech CEOs and CTOs seeking to build scalable, compliant infrastructure
Banking executives evaluating partnership strategies and technology investments
Investors and advisors assessing fintech business models and platform risks
Compliance and risk professionals implementing regulatory frameworks

The Banking Perspective Advantage

Tyler's banking background provides fintech companies with insider knowledge of:

How Banks Really Evaluate Fintech Partners: Understanding due diligence processes and decision criteria
Regulatory Expectations and Requirements: Knowing what compliance actually looks like in practice
Sustainable Partnership Structures: Building relationships that benefit both parties long-term
Risk Management Best Practices: Implementing banking-grade risk controls and monitoring

Post-Synapse Market Insight

Having worked in BaaS during the platform consolidation period, Tyler provides critical perspective on:

Platform Risk Identification: Recognizing early warning signs of platform instability
Vendor Diversification Strategies: Reducing dependency on single platform providers
Direct Banking Relationships: Building sustainable sponsor bank partnerships
Operational Resilience: Creating robust systems that withstand market disruption