Leveling Up for Impact: My Big News and the Future of Banking on Fraudology

In this episode of Banking on Fraudology, Hailey Windham reflects on her journey in the industry, sharing major news and zooming out to address the “seismic shift” this change represents for both her career and the broader community. Hailey officially announces that she has joined Sardine as Community Lead for Banking. She directly addresses industry skepticism, explaining that this move is a values-aligned, impact-driven decision and “not a sellout moment.” The conversation explores the evolution of the fraud industry, highlighting how shared learning, cross-institution collaboration, and authentic community are shaping the future of fraud prevention.

Key takeaways: Why the move, what changes, and the future of community

Belief and values alignment are essential: The “why” behind the decision

• The trust filter: Hailey shares that she only puts her name behind brands she genuinely trusts and refuses to stay silent for convenience.
• Culture over tech: What stood out about Sardine was its culture of humility and curiosity, along with a willingness to say, “We don’t have this all figured out. Let’s build it with the community.”
• Voice and ownership: Critically, Hailey was never asked to change her voice, and she retains full ownership of her catalog.

Scaling impact (internal shift): From individual to community

• Hailey explains that the role isn’t about pushing product, it’s about building authentic communities for banks and credit unions and challenging the status quo.
• This move represents a way to scale impact, shifting from helping one or two institutions at a time to reaching many more and connecting them with meaningful resources.
• The goal is to break down institutional silos, guided by the belief that “fraud doesn’t happen in silos, and neither should our solutions.”

Fraud Forward (external evolution): The podcast grows with the industry

• Banking on Fraudology is evolving and will be rebranded as Fraud Forward. The rebrand will bring improved production quality, greater consistency, and expanded reach, creating space for bigger, bolder conversations.
• Hailey promises the same honesty, tough conversations, and unwavering advocacy for fraud fighters will continue.

The next chapter is about moving fraud forward, together.