In this podcast episode of Restaurant Technology Guys, the guest Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial, discusses the important aspects of fintech and wage access in the restaurant industry. With Tal's two-decade experience in the financial technology space, he describes the role of Instant Financial in facilitating digital payments, increasing accessibility, and making transactions cost-effective. The conversation includes an in-depth discussion about the necessity and benefits of earned wage access and direct access to tips for restaurant staff. Acknowledging the increasingly cashless society, they also discuss the challenges with traditional banking and the rise of alternative financial institutions. Tal also highlights the Instant's efforts to lower the barriers for pay access, including those who are underbanked.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:28 Guest's Background and Journey in FinTech
01:31 Understanding FinTech and Its Impact
02:37 Challenges in Restaurant Industry and Earned Wages
03:10 Importance of Instant Access to Earned Wages
09:06 The Shift to Digital Payments and Tips
12:17 The Cost of Using Cash in Restaurants
16:04 The Rise of Alternative Banking and Its Impact
19:23 How Instant Works: Earned Wages and Tips
27:17 Getting Started with Instant
28:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts