When we were looking for Cable’s first-ever CTO, we knew it wasn’t just about finding someone with a strong technical background—it was about finding a leader who truly understands the complexities and nuances of compliance. That’s why we’re so thrilled to have Chris Zehner on board.
Chris joined us from Mercury, where he saw firsthand the challenges compliance teams face and how Cable could transform the way they work. His passion for solving tough problems and his belief in the power of technology to empower compliance teams made him the perfect fit.
Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Chris to discuss his journey, his vision for Cable, and the future of compliance. Here’s what stood out to me from our conversation.
Chris’s career began in fraud prevention, a high-stakes, fast-paced area of risk management. Fraud fighters, as he puts it, are always two steps behind incredibly smart adversaries, requiring constant vigilance and creativity.
Compliance, by contrast, provides structure and stability. For Chris, it’s the balance between these two disciplines—reacting to chaos while building proactive systems—that makes compliance work so rewarding.
“Fraud fighting is high-adrenaline, but compliance gives you a clear framework to build toward something meaningful,” Chris told me.
What I Took Away: Balancing the unpredictability of fraud with the structured world of compliance is key to building resilient risk management programs.
Chris and I share a belief in the importance of what he calls “ground truth” in compliance—the need for accurate, reliable data. With the rapid rise of AI and statistical tools, it’s tempting to lean on inference, but Chris is clear that there’s no substitute for knowing exactly what’s happening in your systems.
“At Cable, we focus on giving compliance teams confidence in their data,” he said. “Sometimes that confidence reveals problems, but more often, it confirms that everything is working as it should.”
This focus on data-driven confidence is at the heart of what makes Cable different. We’re not just guessing—we’re testing 100% of what matters.
What I Took Away: In compliance, there’s no room for assumptions. Accurate, actionable data is the foundation of trust.
One of the things that excites me most about having Chris as our CTO is that he already knows what Cable can do—he experienced it firsthand at Mercury.
Chris described how Mercury adopted Cable early to address gaps in their compliance processes. The platform’s automated testing and insights helped Mercury uncover data issues and prioritize improvements.
“Having data gaps is almost the same as having gaps in your controls,” Chris explained. “Cable showed us where we were falling short and helped us prioritize improvements. It was a game-changer.”
For me, hearing this reinforces why we do what we do. Cable isn’t just a product—it’s a solution that empowers compliance teams to meet their goals more effectively.
What I Took Away: Automation isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about building trust, identifying blind spots, and giving teams the tools they need to succeed.
The relationship between sponsor banks and fintechs is evolving. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, sponsor banks are becoming more actively involved in understanding fintech risks.
This shift, as Chris sees it, is an opportunity for deeper collaboration. “Banks and fintechs need to work together,” he said. “It’s about aligning on compliance priorities and building partnerships that stand up to scrutiny.”
I couldn’t agree more. At Cable, we’re always thinking about how to bridge the gap between banks and fintechs, helping them navigate this complex and highly scrutinized ecosystem.
What I Took Away: Strong compliance partnerships between banks and fintechs will be critical to thriving in a more regulated world.
One thing Chris and I both feel strongly about is that compliance isn’t getting easier. The pace of innovation in finance is accelerating, and compliance teams are under pressure to keep up.
“Every area of finance is rediscovering the rules, but the pace keeps accelerating,” Chris said.
What I admire about Chris’s perspective is his belief that technology should amplify human judgment, not replace it. Tools like Cable empower compliance teams to do more with less while staying ahead of the curve.
What I Took Away: Technology is an enabler, but human oversight and judgment remain at the heart of effective compliance.
As I wrapped up my conversation with Chris, I felt even more excited about what lies ahead for Cable. His vision for the future of compliance—one rooted in accuracy, collaboration, and empowerment—is exactly what the industry needs.
Chris’s insights reminded me why we started Cable in the first place: to give compliance teams the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly complex world. Whether it’s helping fintechs and banks collaborate more effectively or providing the ground truth teams need to feel confident, Cable is here to make compliance better.
What’s Next for You? If you’re ready to embrace a new approach to compliance, I encourage you to explore how Cable can help. Let’s build the future of compliance together. In the meantime, watch the whole conversation with Chris below!
Webinar Recap: Navigating the New Regulatory Climate for Banks and Fintechs
How Grasshopper Bank Saved 50+ Hours per Fintech Partner with Cable’s Automated Compliance Testing.png)
Why Fintechs Need 24/7 Automated Compliance TestingWhen we were looking for Cable’s first-ever CTO, we knew it wasn’t just about finding someone with a strong technical background—it was about finding a leader who truly understands the complexities and nuances of compliance. That’s why we’re so thrilled to have Chris Zehner on board.
Chris joined us from Mercury, where he saw firsthand the challenges compliance teams face and how Cable could transform the way they work. His passion for solving tough problems and his belief in the power of technology to empower compliance teams made him the perfect fit.
Recently, I had the chance to sit down with Chris to discuss his journey, his vision for Cable, and the future of compliance. Here’s what stood out to me from our conversation.
Chris’s career began in fraud prevention, a high-stakes, fast-paced area of risk management. Fraud fighters, as he puts it, are always two steps behind incredibly smart adversaries, requiring constant vigilance and creativity.
Compliance, by contrast, provides structure and stability. For Chris, it’s the balance between these two disciplines—reacting to chaos while building proactive systems—that makes compliance work so rewarding.
“Fraud fighting is high-adrenaline, but compliance gives you a clear framework to build toward something meaningful,” Chris told me.
What I Took Away: Balancing the unpredictability of fraud with the structured world of compliance is key to building resilient risk management programs.
Chris and I share a belief in the importance of what he calls “ground truth” in compliance—the need for accurate, reliable data. With the rapid rise of AI and statistical tools, it’s tempting to lean on inference, but Chris is clear that there’s no substitute for knowing exactly what’s happening in your systems.
“At Cable, we focus on giving compliance teams confidence in their data,” he said. “Sometimes that confidence reveals problems, but more often, it confirms that everything is working as it should.”
This focus on data-driven confidence is at the heart of what makes Cable different. We’re not just guessing—we’re testing 100% of what matters.
What I Took Away: In compliance, there’s no room for assumptions. Accurate, actionable data is the foundation of trust.
One of the things that excites me most about having Chris as our CTO is that he already knows what Cable can do—he experienced it firsthand at Mercury.
Chris described how Mercury adopted Cable early to address gaps in their compliance processes. The platform’s automated testing and insights helped Mercury uncover data issues and prioritize improvements.
“Having data gaps is almost the same as having gaps in your controls,” Chris explained. “Cable showed us where we were falling short and helped us prioritize improvements. It was a game-changer.”
For me, hearing this reinforces why we do what we do. Cable isn’t just a product—it’s a solution that empowers compliance teams to meet their goals more effectively.
What I Took Away: Automation isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about building trust, identifying blind spots, and giving teams the tools they need to succeed.
The relationship between sponsor banks and fintechs is evolving. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, sponsor banks are becoming more actively involved in understanding fintech risks.
This shift, as Chris sees it, is an opportunity for deeper collaboration. “Banks and fintechs need to work together,” he said. “It’s about aligning on compliance priorities and building partnerships that stand up to scrutiny.”
I couldn’t agree more. At Cable, we’re always thinking about how to bridge the gap between banks and fintechs, helping them navigate this complex and highly scrutinized ecosystem.
What I Took Away: Strong compliance partnerships between banks and fintechs will be critical to thriving in a more regulated world.
One thing Chris and I both feel strongly about is that compliance isn’t getting easier. The pace of innovation in finance is accelerating, and compliance teams are under pressure to keep up.
“Every area of finance is rediscovering the rules, but the pace keeps accelerating,” Chris said.
What I admire about Chris’s perspective is his belief that technology should amplify human judgment, not replace it. Tools like Cable empower compliance teams to do more with less while staying ahead of the curve.
What I Took Away: Technology is an enabler, but human oversight and judgment remain at the heart of effective compliance.
As I wrapped up my conversation with Chris, I felt even more excited about what lies ahead for Cable. His vision for the future of compliance—one rooted in accuracy, collaboration, and empowerment—is exactly what the industry needs.
Chris’s insights reminded me why we started Cable in the first place: to give compliance teams the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly complex world. Whether it’s helping fintechs and banks collaborate more effectively or providing the ground truth teams need to feel confident, Cable is here to make compliance better.
What’s Next for You? If you’re ready to embrace a new approach to compliance, I encourage you to explore how Cable can help. Let’s build the future of compliance together. In the meantime, watch the whole conversation with Chris below!
