Launching a New Banking-as-a-Service Platform (Avenu)
- schelbert
- Sep 22
- 2 min read
Challenge
MainStreet Bank sought to expand beyond its traditional retail banking model by creating a modern Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform that could support fintech partners and new revenue streams. At the time, the bank had no unified infrastructure to deliver APIs for core banking services such as account creation, payments, compliance, and card issuance. The challenge was to build a 0→1 platform that would meet strict regulatory standards, integrate with legacy systems, and scale to B2B2C use cases—all under aggressive timelines and budget oversight.
Leadership
As Lead Product Manager at MetroStar, I directed the end-to-end product lifecycle for the new platform, branded Avenu. I defined the strategic roadmap and managed twelve API and SDK product lines, covering critical banking services such as ACH transfers, FBO account management, P2P ledgers, debit card issuance, and KYC/KYB/AML compliance. I implemented hypothesis-driven development to validate features with early fintech adopters, aligning engineering priorities with customer and market needs. To ensure platform maturity, I established clear segmentation strategies, integrated developer experience feedback loops, and built processes for continuous risk management—including regulatory compliance and technical reliability. By learning basic Java, I was able to collaborate more effectively with engineers, bridging business goals with technical execution.
Outcome
The platform successfully launched as one of MainStreet Bank’s flagship digital offerings, representing a $10M investment in new revenue opportunities. Avenu enabled fintechs and partners to embed banking services seamlessly into their applications, positioning the bank as a competitive player in the fast-growing BaaS market. Beyond the launch, the platform created a foundation for sustained growth, with scalable APIs and SDKs that could evolve with customer demands. This initiative demonstrated my ability to lead 0→1 platform builds in highly regulated industries, delivering innovation, compliance, and business impact in parallel.
