# LLMs.txt - Sitemap for AI content discovery # ezbob > --- ## Pages ## Pages - [Homepage](https://www.ezbob.com/): Our Core Lending Platform enhances your current infrastructure & enables to develop new lending offerings in a fraction of the time and cost. - [Tomer Guriel](https://www.ezbob.com/tomer_guriel/): - [Events](https://www.ezbob.com/events/): Check out our upcoming events in finance and banking and come meet us there! Reach out to us for more info. - [Applications](https://www.ezbob.com/applications/): A robust Core Lending Platform designed for your digital transformation, and scale-up strategy, while keeping it secure and reliable. - [Platform](https://www.ezbob.com/platform/): ezbob provides tailored embedded finance solutions that are optimized for the unique requirements of our customers. - [Contact Us](https://www.ezbob.com/contact-us/): Are you ready to take your lending to the next level with ezbob's Core Lending platform? Book a demo today! - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.ezbob.com/about-us/terms-conditions/): ezbob terms and conditions. Here you can familiarize yourself with the guidelines and rules that govern your use of our services. - [About us](https://www.ezbob.com/about-us/): For over a decade ezbob has pioneered the digital lending transformation of leading financial institutions worldwide. - [Insights](https://www.ezbob.com/insights/): Discover the latest insights and news about, embedded finance solutions, banking and lending business from ezbob experts. - [Privacy Policy](https://www.ezbob.com/about-us/privacy-policy/): ezbob privacy policy. Here you can learn about how we handle and protect your personal information. Download in PDF or read. ## Posts ## Posts - [The 5 Essential Pillars of BSA: Strengthening Your AML Program for Maximum Compliance](https://www.ezbob.com/the-5-essential-pillars-of-bsa/): What is the Purpose of the Bank Secrecy Act? The Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), enacted in 1970, is a cornerstone... - [Trends in Small Business Lending: Europe vs. United States](https://www.ezbob.com/trends-in-small-business-lending-europe-vs-united-states/): Explore the key differences and emerging trends in small business lending between Europe and the United States in this insightful analysis. - [The Role of Explainable AI in Modern Lending](https://www.ezbob.com/explainable-ai-in-modern-lending/): Explore how explainable AI boosts transparency, trust, and compliance in modern lending while enhancing decision-making and efficiency. - [Top 5 Point of Sale Lenders and Financing Solutions to Empower Retailers](https://www.ezbob.com/point-of-sale-lenders/): Discover the top 5 POS lenders and financing solutions designed to empower retailers with flexible funding options and seamless transactions. - [10 Groundbreaking Embedded Lending Trends Set to Redefine 2025](https://www.ezbob.com/embedded-lending-trends/): The Rise of Embedded Lending Embedded lending has moved from a niche innovation to a mainstream financial strategy, seamlessly integrating... - [From Open Banking to Open Finance: The Next Evolution in SME Lending ](https://www.ezbob.com/from-open-banking-to-open-finance/): Explore SME lending, its key challenges, and opportunities for growth in small business financing. Learn how lenders support SMEs today. - [Beyond the Mainframe: How Banks Can Accelerate Application Modernisation](https://www.ezbob.com/beyond-the-mainframe/): Discover effective strategies for banks to accelerate application modernisation, boost efficiency, and enhance customer experience. - [Exploring the Future of Finance: Top Banking Conferences for 2025](https://www.ezbob.com/top-banking-conferances/): Explore the top banking conferences of 2025, featuring key trends, insights, and networking opportunities shaping the future of finance. - [The Digital Banker Innovation Series: An exclusive interview with Tomer Guriel](https://www.ezbob.com/digital-banker-innovation-series/): SMEs drive the economy, and providing efficient and profitable financing for them is on every bank's agenda. - [Transforming Lending with Four Types of Software](https://www.ezbob.com/transforming-lending-with-four-types-of-software/): Transform lending with efficient loan management software. Explore key features, types, and strategies for smarter success. - [Lending to Sole Traders and Micro-Businesses: Thriving Amid Economic Challenges](https://www.ezbob.com/lending-to-sole-traders-and-micro-businesses/): Understanding the Current Economic Climate The UK economy today presents a mixed picture. On the brighter side, the unprecedented consumer... - [Cloud Lending: Benefits, Architecture & Best Practices](https://www.ezbob.com/cloud-lending-benefits-architecture-best-practices/): As banks and other lenders navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape, cloud lending has emerged as a cornerstone of modern lending... - [Reinventing Lending for MSMEs: Embracing Data-Driven Decisions to Elevate Customer Experience](https://www.ezbob.com/reinventing-lending-for-msmes/): For MSME lenders, the key to staying relevant is innovating: configurable offerings, unified credit limits, and a robust platform. - [Application of AI to Credit Risk Measurement and Management for MSMEs ](https://www.ezbob.com/application-of-ai-to-credit-risk-measurement-and-management-for-msmes/): Learn how AI enhances credit risk measurement and management for MSMEs, driving smarter financial decisions and growth. - [ezbob Wins Best SaaS Provider of the Year at the Global BankTech Awards 2024](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-wins-best-saas-provider-of-the-year-at-the-global-banktech-awards-2024/): We are thrilled to announce that ezbob has been named the Best SaaS Provider of the Year (Software) at the... - [The Best Banking Podcasts for 2024](https://www.ezbob.com/best-banking-podcasts/): To help you navigate the vast landscape of options, we’ve compiled a list of the best banking podcasts for 2024. - [Embedded Payments: Models, Benefits, and Examples](https://www.ezbob.com/embedded-payments-models-benefits-and-examples/): Explore Embedded Payments: Key models, benefits, and real-world examples to streamline transactions and enhance customer experience. - [Regulatory Compliance in Digital Banking: What You Need to Know](https://www.ezbob.com/regulatory-compliance-in-digital-banking/): Discover the importance of regulatory compliance in digital banking, key frameworks, and challenges for financial institutions. - [Unlocking the Potential of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) - Key Benefits and Steps to Get Started](https://www.ezbob.com/banking-as-a-service/): Banking-as-a-Service is a model that allows neobank and non-bank businesses to integrate complete banking services into their own offerings. - [ezbob Announces Galia Goldstein as New Chief Product Officer](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-announces-galia-goldstein-as-new-chief-product-officer/): LONDON, July 3, 2024 -- ezbob Ltd. , a leading provider of innovative digital lending solutions, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Galia... - [Revolutionizing the Embedded Finance Landscape with AI Integration](https://www.ezbob.com/revolutionizing-the-embedded-finance-landscape-with-ai-integration/): Discover how AI-powered embedded finance can transform your business, enhance user experience, and boost engagement. - [Three Benefits of Using Cloud Loan Management Solutions](https://www.ezbob.com/three-benefits-of-using-cloud-loan-management-solutions/): Transform lending with cloud-hosted solutions that boost efficiency, enhance security, and improve customer experience. Discover more! - [The Rise of Intelligent Document Processing for Financial Services and AI](https://www.ezbob.com/intelligent-document-processing-for-financial-services-and-ai/): AI-driven document processing revolutionizes finance: efficiency, accuracy, compliance, fraud detection, and customer experience. - [Embracing AI – How AI is Changing Lending Practices in Banks and Financial Institutions](https://www.ezbob.com/ai-changing-lending-practices-in-banks-and-financial-institutions/): AI revolutionizes lending: faster processing, personalized solutions, fraud detection, compliance, shaping future of banking with efficiency. - [Honing the Customer Experience in Digital Lending: Best Practices](https://www.ezbob.com/honing-the-customer-experience-in-digital-lending-best-practices/): Fintech revolutionizes digital lending with a focus on speed, simplicity, and personalized customer experiences. Read more here. - [Digital Lending Operations in 2024: What You Need to Know](https://www.ezbob.com/digital-lending-operations/): The banking industry is well-known for relying on legacy core banking systems and rigid architectures designed for specific banking functions.... - [Lending Industry Evolution: Top 5 Trends Reshaping the Financial Landscape](https://www.ezbob.com/lending-industry-evolution-top-5-trends-reshaping-the-financial-landscape/): The digital lending industry is experiencing a change driven by a potent mix of technology, innovation, and a healthy dose of disruption. - [Core Lending Platform: Top 5 Benefits for Banks](https://www.ezbob.com/core-lending-platform/): A core lending platform is a software solution that manages the entire lending lifecycle, from origination to servicing to collection. - [Empowering Innovation in Lending with ezbob](https://www.ezbob.com/empowering-innovation-in-lending/): The lending lifecycle isn’t a series of discrete steps or a collection of features to be implemented one after the other. - [Top Banking Innovation Conferences for 2024](https://www.ezbob.com/banking-innovation-conferences/): We have compiled the best and most impactful 2024 events across the USA, Canada, UK, and Europe. Check our list here. - [Digital Banking, Embedded in Reality – the American Banking Association Podcast with ezbob](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-and-israel-discount-bank-0/): Elevate SME financing with embedded digital banking. Learn from industry experts on ABA's podcast. Listen to the Full Podcast - [ABA Associate Member Podcast](https://www.ezbob.com/aba-associate-member-podcast/): SMEs drive the economy, and providing efficient and profitable financing for them is on every bank's agenda. - [David and Goliath as Friends: ezbob and Israel Discount Bank Pioneering Innovative Partnerships Through the Fintech Hybrid Model](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-and-israel-discount-bank/): David and Goliath as friends: ezbob and Israel Discount Bank pioneering innovative partnerships through the fintech hybrid model - [6th World Digital Banking Summit: Reflections on Innovation and the Future of Banking](https://www.ezbob.com/world-digital-banking-summit/): Insights from the 6th World Digital Banking Summit: A convention for global executives, digital transformation, and high-end networking. - [Handelsblatt Banking Summit: A Deep Dive into the Future of Banking](https://www.ezbob.com/handelsblatt-banking-summit/): A hub of decision-makers, emphasizing Germany-centric approaches, digital transformation, and high-end networking. Read here. - [Fintech Partnerships: Hesitation vs. Headway](https://www.ezbob.com/fintech-partnerships-hesitation-vs-headway/): Unlocking the potential of fintech partnerships: explore the key strategies for success in financial technology collaborations. - [The Secret to Segmentation for SME Loan Applications](https://www.ezbob.com/segmentation-sme-loan-applications/): Explore how fintech platforms enhance SME risk assessment through precise customer segmentation and increased transactions. - [Servicing SME Customers Through Embedded Lending](https://www.ezbob.com/servicing-sme-customers-through-embedded-lending/): Discover how embedded lending benefits SMEs. Learn how to enhance customer service through innovative lending solutions. - [How Open Banking Drives Embedded Finance Forward](https://www.ezbob.com/open-banking-drive-embedded-finance/): Explore how open banking revolutionizes embedded finance, enhancing SME financial integration & fostering innovation for seamless transactions. - [Unlocking Growth Opportunities with B2B Embedded Finance](https://www.ezbob.com/b2b-embedded-finance/): Discover how B2B embedded finance unlocks growth, enhances cash flow, and offers competitive advantages for businesses. - [Digital Transformation in Lending: Should Banks Buy or Build?](https://www.ezbob.com/digital-transformation-in-lending/): Explore the digital transformation in lending: the critical choice for banks between building technology in-house or partnering with fintechs. - [Benefits of Open Banking: A Game-Changer for the Financial Industry](https://www.ezbob.com/benefits-of-open-banking/): Unveil the transformative power of open banking for SMEs: fostering innovation, security, and seamless financial integration across Europe. - [Providing a One-stop Shop for Digital Transformation in Lending](https://www.ezbob.com/providing-a-one-stop-shop-for-digital-transformation-in-lending/): Ezbob's innovative platform offers a comprehensive digital transformation solution for lending, enhancing efficiency and customer experience. - [Why Banks Must Look Beyond Credit Bureaus to Assess Risk](https://www.ezbob.com/why-banks-must-look-beyond-credit-bureaus-to-assess-risk/): Integrating Open Banking into existing customer processes doesn't have to be an extensive technological overhaul that spans months. - [The Importance of an Efficient Merchant Onboarding Process](https://www.ezbob.com/the-importance-of-an-efficient-merchant-onboarding-process/): An efficient merchant onboarding process is critical for financial institutions looking to lend to small and medium-sized businesses. - [Understanding the Benefits of a Loan Origination System for Financial Institutions](https://www.ezbob.com/understanding-the-benefits-of-a-loan-origination-system-for-financial-institutions/): Unlock the advantages of Loan Origination Systems for financial institutions. Discover streamlined processes and enhanced efficiency. - [Embedded Finance Presents Ambitious Brands with a Huge Growth Opportunity](https://www.ezbob.com/embedded-finance-growth-opportunity/): Technology in combination with the expanding open banking movement is paving the way for growth and opportunities throughout the global... - [The Importance of Embedded Finance Solutions for Business Success](https://www.ezbob.com/the-importance-of-embedded-finance-solutions-for-business-success/): In our fast-paced digital world, businesses must adapt to stay relevant, and embedded finance solutions are quickly becoming crucial for... - [Embedded Banking: Disrupting Traditional Banking Models with Seamless Integration](https://www.ezbob.com/embedded-banking-disrupting-traditional-banking-models-with-seamless-integration/): The new embedded banking allows non-financial companies to seamlessly integrate banking services into their platforms. Learn more about here. - [Discount Bank and ezbob set up fintech co Greenlend](https://www.ezbob.com/greenlend-jv-discountbank/): Discount Bank and ezbob's Greenlend JV will offer flexible and immediate solutions in the consumer credit sector as well as... - [Open Banking in the US – The State of Play](https://www.ezbob.com/open-banking-in-the-us/): What is the state of play of open banking in the US? Read to find out more. - [The Future of Credit Decisioning - Big Data Initiatives](https://www.ezbob.com/big-data-initiatives/): What is the future of credit decisioning using big data initiatives? Get the facts in our report. - [The Future of Credit Decisioning](https://www.ezbob.com/the-future-of-credit-decisioning/): What is the future of credit decisioning? Get the facts in our report. - [Winning the Post-pandemic Customer Acquisition Marathon](https://www.ezbob.com/winning-the-post-pandemic-customer-acquisition-marathon/): Marketing departments work hard in our busy digital world to sell their company’s product, but it’s fair to say they’re... - [Boosting Profitability by Minimising Customer Friction](https://www.ezbob.com/boosting-profitability-by-minimising-customer-friction/): 30% of banking customers said they face high friction when applying for a loan or mortgage, whilst 28% cited the... - [We’ve re-engineered our platform in response to the changing digital banking landscape](https://www.ezbob.com/weve-re-engineered-our-platform-in-response-to-the-changing-digital-banking-landscape/): As the financial services ecosystem continues to shift around us, we’re proud to have launched Ezbob Express, our new high-speed,... - [ezbob Wins Awards in Credit and Innovation](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-wins-awards-in-credit-and-innovation/): Ezbob have won two awards in credit and innovation! - [What do US customers really want from their banking providers?](https://www.ezbob.com/what-do-us-customers-really-want-from-their-banking-providers/): Having seen what’s available in adjacent industries, US consumers and small businesses are demanding a higher level of customer service... - [US financial institutions embrace digital transformation in the wake of COVID-19](https://www.ezbob.com/us-financial-institutions-embrace-digital-transformation-in-the-wake-of-covid-19/): As the dust settles, a strong digital appetite is emerging amongst US financial institutions who are increasing focus and spend... - [Matching the Challenger Banks in Digital SME Lending](https://www.ezbob.com/matching-the-challenger-banks-in-digital-sme-lending/): The UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have traditionally turned to the big high street lenders for all of their... - [Pioneering Innovative Partnerships](https://www.ezbob.com/how-to-accelerate-digital-lending-with-data-automation/): Pioneering Innovative Partnerships | ezbob and Israel Discount Bank webinar Pioneering Innovative Partnerships: Unveiling the game-changing Fintech hybrid model at... - [Watch On-Demand Ezbob at Fintech Talents Lending 3.0](https://www.ezbob.com/watch-on-demand-ezbob-at-fintech-talents-lending-3-0/): In February, Ezbob were speakers at FinTech Talent’s Lending 3. 0, the conference completely dedicated to exploring the next generation... - [Navigating the dominance of Tier 1 banks in UK SME lending](https://www.ezbob.com/navigating-the-dominance-of-tier-1-banks-in-uk-sme-lending/): Industry research highlights that SME lending in the UK is dominated by five Tier 1 banks that small companies know... - [Fintech Talents Lending](https://www.ezbob.com/fintech-futures-virtual-arena-ezbob-profile/): ezbob Roundtable at Fintech Talents Lending 3. 0 | 24 Feb 2021 Virtual round table: 50 Shades of Digital Lending,... - [A silver lining for lending](https://www.ezbob.com/ftt-clinic-on-demand/): A silver lining for lending - FTT Chat with Tomer Guriel In this chat, Tomer Guriel Co-Founder and CEO @... - [EzBob Panel at Fintech Talents Lending](https://www.ezbob.com/ftt-roundtable-on-demand/): ezbob Panel at Fintech Talents Lending 3 0 Decisions powered by Data Panel Discussion: “Decisions Powered by Data” explored how... - [Data automation - ezbob and Finextra Webinar](https://www.ezbob.com/ftt-panel-on-demand/): How to accelerate digital lending with data automation - ezbob and Finextra Webinar | 25 Feb 2021 This webinar focuses... - [Ezbob digital lending events in Feb - Finextra and FTT Lending 3.0](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-events-in-feb-finextra-and-ftt-lending-3-0/): Want to see Ezbob live in action? This month you have two opportunities: Fintech Talents (FTT) Lending 3. 0 and... - [Conquer the New World of Risk](https://www.ezbob.com/?p=833): Download the White Paper on How can banks conquer the new world of risk? - [Smarter onboarding in lending](https://www.ezbob.com/?p=829): Download the White Paper: Bringing Smarter Onboarding to the Lending Sector - [Building SME Relationships Post-Pandemic](https://www.ezbob.com/banking-in-transition-podcast/): Banking in Transition Episode 1: Building SME Relationships post-pandemic Tomer Guriel, co-founder and CEO of ezbob, talks to The Banker’s... - [‘Banks should deliver the same experience as Amazon and Netflix’, says Ezbob CEO](https://www.ezbob.com/banks-should-deliver-the-same-experience-as-amazon-and-netflix-says-ezbob-ceo/): After a year that was hugely disrupted by Covid-19 and the entire economy and its workforce moved online, City A.... - [4 drivers fueling digital lending](https://www.ezbob.com/4-drivers-fuelling-digital-lending/): In the last few years, new digital lending models have emerged around the world and this trend has been hastened... - [Esme Loans 300% Growth](https://www.ezbob.com/?p=836): Download the Esme Loans Case Study: How Esme Loans Tapped Advanced Technology to Fuel Its 300% Growth - [Innovation in the Digital Post-Covid World - Intesa Sanpaolo](https://www.ezbob.com/?p=1644): Download the Esme Loans Case Study: How Esme Loans Tapped Advanced Technology to Fuel Its 300% Growth - [Helping British Business to Bounce Back - Metro Bank Case Study](https://www.ezbob.com/?p=1646): Download the Esme Loans Case Study: How Esme Loans Tapped Advanced Technology to Fuel Its 300% Growth - [Ezbob Win Best Technology Partner at Lending Awards 2020](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-win-best-technology-partner-at-lending-awards-2020/): This week, Ezbob won the Best Technology Partner award at the Lending Awards 2020. - [How Banks Can Accelerate Customer Acquisition by Simplifying the Application Process](https://www.ezbob.com/how-banks-can-accelerate-customer-acquisition-by-simplifying-the-application-process/): Today people are expecting the same ease-of-use and convenience that tech leaders such as Amazon and Google provide them in... - [COVID-19 has Spiked Unmet Demand for SME Lending – How the UK Government’s BCR Programme is Helping](https://www.ezbob.com/covid-19-has-spiked-unmet-demand-for-sme-lending-how-the-uk-governments-bcr-programme-is-helping/): Across the UK 360,000 SMEs loans have been rejected and the loans approved, were 30% below pre-COVID averages – BCR... - [Pioneering ‘lending-as-a-service’ in the UK](https://www.ezbob.com/pioneering-lending-as-a-service-in-the-uk/): Yaron Shoshani - CTO of ezbob on pioneering the ‘lending-as-a-service’ in the UK Yaron Shoshani is the CTO of ezbob... - [Interview: Digital transformation in small business lending](https://www.ezbob.com/interview-digital-transformation-in-small-business-lending/): Axis Corporate have produced a podcast interview on Digital Transformation in Small Business Lending. - [Digital transformation in small business lending](https://www.ezbob.com/interview-digital-transformation-in-small-business-lending-2/): Interview: Digital transformation in small business lending Axis Corporate have produced a podcast interview on Digital Transformation in Small Business Lending.... - [ezbob awarded £2.5m BCR’s Pool E funding](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-awarded-2-5m-bcrs-pool-e-funding/): ezbob has today announced that it has been awarded £2. 5m as part of the BCR’s (Banking Competition Remedies) £100m... - [ezbob technology delivers £1b+ to UK SMEs during June and July](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-technology-delivers-1b-to-uk-smes-during-june-and-july/): The impact of the Coronavirus has had a profound effect on small businesses with emergency funding being at its most... - [Lending Post Covid-19: New Data Sources and Technologies](https://www.ezbob.com/lending-post-covid-19-new-data-sources-and-technologies/): Coronavirus is changing the world, and this includes people’s financial behaviour. Lenders need to understand this new operating environment - [Things to Consider – Digitising your SME Lending Customer Journey](https://www.ezbob.com/things-to-consider-digitising-your-sme-lending-customer-journey/): We interview Tomer Guriel (CEO and Founder, ezbob) and Yaron Shoshani (CTO, ezbob) on key questions around digitising SME lending. - [ezbob Submits Bid for Part of BCR’s £100m Pool E](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-submits-bid-for-part-of-bcrs-100m-pool-e/): ezbob, an established technology provider that powers the digital SME lending arm of several UK banks has today announced that... - [Contagion boosts the case for creditR](https://www.ezbob.com/contagion-boosts-the-case-for-creditr/): The world’s economy has taken a major hit. With millions more businesses and individuals needing to access finance to mitigate... - [ezbob selected for Financial NewTech Watchlist 2020](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-selected-for-financial-newtech-watchlist-2020/): Efma and Capgemini have selected ezbob for the Financial NewTech Watchlist 2020. - [The crucial role of fintechs in the battle against COVID-19](https://www.ezbob.com/the-crucial-role-of-fintechs-in-the-battle-against-covid-19/): The UK’s fintechs are stepping up amidst the COVID-19 crisis, rapidly creating new solutions to ease the financial pressure for... - [ezbob announced as finalists in Financial NewTech Challenge 2020](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-announced-as-finalists-in-financial-newtech-challenge-2020/): ezbob are Finalists for the Financial NewTech Challenge 2020. - [How the UK’s ‘Big Five’ banks are handling CBILS applications](https://www.ezbob.com/how-the-uks-big-five-banks-are-handling-cbils-applications/): The UK’s SME community continues to be hit hard by the effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown. - [CFO Interview: The Secret to Working with the Big Banks](https://www.ezbob.com/cfo-interview-the-secret-to-working-with-the-big-banks/): Ben is CFO at ezbob, heading up financial servicing and strategy for one of the leading startups in the lending-as-a-service... - [ezbob launches CBILS Smart Onboarding engine](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-launches-cbils-eligibility-and-credit-assessment-engine/): ezbob CBILS solution allows financial institutions to deploy smart assessment filtering ensuring SMEs eligible for funding can receive funds quickly - [Five ways lending technology can help banks navigate COVID-19](https://www.ezbob.com/five-ways-lending-technology-can-help-banks-navigate-covid-19/): The global economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with SMEs and entrepreneurs struggling to access the funds... - [Are banks prepared for the battle with big tech?](https://www.ezbob.com/are-banks-prepared-for-the-battle-with-big-tech/): Until recently, it was the fintechs keeping the banks up at night. But as the incumbent-fintech dynamic moves from disruption... - [How can UK lenders utilise the £330bn of government Covid-19 lending support?](https://www.ezbob.com/how-can-uk-lenders-utilise-the-330bn-of-government-covid-19-lending-support/): We are in unchartered waters and given the day-to-day dynamism of the global economy and political responses, it’s an increasingly... - [Bank of England takes steps to boost SME lending during Covid-19 crisis](https://www.ezbob.com/bank-of-england-takes-step-to-boost-sme-lending-during-covid-19-crisis/): With the Budget today and the expected impact of Covid-19 on the UK population, the Bank of England have taken... - [Metro bank and ezbob partner to deliver next-generation small business loans platform](https://www.ezbob.com/metro-bank-and-ezbob-partner-to-deliver-next-generation-small-business-loans-platform/): Metro Bank has today announced a new partnership with award-winning Lending-as-a-Service (LaaS) provider ezbob to offer Metro Bank’s business customers... - [AI and ML in lending: moving beyond a buzzword](https://www.ezbob.com/ai-and-ml-in-lending-moving-beyond-a-buzzword/): There’s been a lot of discussion on the conference circuit about how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can... - [ezbob hires first CCO to deliver first class customer service](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-hires-its-first-chief-customer-officer-cco-in-push-to-deliver-first-class-customer-service/): Uri Melzer has joined ezbob as Chief Customer Officer (CCO) as the company dedicates itself to delivering first-class customer service. - [How banks can retain their customers in the digital age](https://www.ezbob.com/how-banks-can-retain-their-customers-in-the-digital-age/): In today’s digital-first world, your customers expect more. The advent of Open Banking means that it’s easier than ever for... - [ezbob appoints new CFO as it seeks to double client base](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-appoints-new-cfo-as-it-seeks-to-double-client-base/): ezbob has announced that Ben Feldman has been appointed as CFO as the company seeks to double its client base... - [Opening up banking data in lending in 2020](https://www.ezbob.com/opening-up-banking-data-in-lending-in-2020/): This month marks the two year anniversary of open banking. How has the much-lauded legislation impacted the financial services industry? - [The impact of 'Golden Files' in lending](https://www.ezbob.com/the-impact-of-golden-files-in-lending/): This year, you can expect to hear a lot more noise about ‘Golden Files’ and the benefits they can introduce. - [Accelerate Digital Lending with Data & Automation](https://www.ezbob.com/?p=847): Download the case study: How to Accelerate Digital Lending with Data & Automation. - [ezbob and Esme Loans, pick up the 2019 Banking Technology award for ‘Best Fintech Partnership’](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-esme-loans-award-best-fintech-partnership/): ezbob and Esme Loans win two Banking Industry Awards in 2019: announced as winners of the ‘Best Fintech Partnership’ award - [Building the case for biometrics in lending](https://www.ezbob.com/building-the-case-for-biometrics-in-lending/): The term may still sound rather futuristic, but biometrics – the study of distinctive and measurable characteristics to label an... - [Banks are fighting back against big tech](https://www.ezbob.com/banks-are-fighting-back-against-big-tech/): As the likes of Apple, Facebook and Google – the ‘big tech’ companies – set their sights on financial services,... - [What is ‘smart onboarding’ and how does it help banks?](https://www.ezbob.com/what-is-smart-onboarding-and-how-does-it-help-banks/): Today’s banks and financial institutions offer a plethora of different and independent financial products to their increasingly demanding customers. - [ezbob picks up prestigious industry award for smarter onboarding in SME lending](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-picks-up-prestigious-industry-award-for-smarter-onboarding-in-sme-lending/): ezbob, a leader in the ‘Lending as a service’ (LaaS) sector, has won ‘Best Fintech Partnership’ in The Banker’s Tech... - [Providing the perfect remedy](https://www.ezbob.com/providing-the-perfect-remedy/): BCR, or Banking Competition Remedies Limited, was established post-financial crisis to implement the Alternative Remedies Package of measures. - [Five reasons why digital transformation in lending is increasing access to credit](https://www.ezbob.com/five-reasons-why-digital-transformation-in-lending-is-increasing-access-to-credit/): In recent years, SMEs, particularly those at the smaller end of the market, have faced well-documented struggles to access credit. - [Jason O’Shaughnessy joins ezbob’s business development team to support global expansion as VP Business Development](https://www.ezbob.com/jason-oshaughnessy-joins-ezbobs-business-development-team-to-support-global-expansion-as-vp-business-development/): ezbob, the award winning ‘Lending as a Service’ platform provider hires Jason O’Shaughnessy. Read more about here. - [American Express announces new partnership with digital lender ezbob](https://www.ezbob.com/american-express-announces-new-partnership-with-digital-lender-ezbob/): American Express has partnered with ezbob to offer small-to medium-sized UK businesses fast, secure and competitive access to finance. - [Ezbob hires Marc Philippo as VP Sales & Marketing to lead global expansion](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-hires-marc-philippo-as-vp-sales-marketing-to-lead-global-expansion/): Business growth fuelled by recent equity investment ezbob platform is revolutionising SME and Consumer lending capabilities. - [ezbob secures equity investment from Honeycomb Investment Trust](https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-secures-equity-investment-from-honeycomb-investment-trust/): ezbob secures equity investment from Honeycomb Investment Trust, Lindsey McMurray, founding partner of Pollen Street Capital joins the Board. - [As Blockchain Finds A Foothold Traditional Fintech Plants The Flag](https://www.ezbob.com/as-blockchain-finds-a-foothold-traditional-fintech-plants-the-flag/): A PWC survey of financial services sector / fintech shows that almost 77% of financial services industry plan on adopting... - [To Comply And Compete, Community Banks Need Fintech](https://www.ezbob.com/to-comply-and-compete-community-banks-need-fintech/): Despite the promise blockchain holds, the fintech industry continues to find new ways to solve existing problems on its own... - [Fintech Innovations in Europe Prove the Merit of Regulation](https://www.ezbob.com/fintech-innovations-in-europe-prove-the-merit-of-regulation/): Many of the modern notions of finance that we hold today have their origin in Europe. - [EU SMBs Can Benefit from Smart Financial Regulation](https://www.ezbob.com/eu-smbs-can-benefit-from-smart-financial-regulation/): Ezbob is a company that has flourished since the introduction of new finance laws to European markets. - [Hate Banks? Fund Your Company With Blockchain and ‘Laas’ Technology](https://www.ezbob.com/hate-banks-fund-your-company-with-blockchain-and-laas-technology/): The small revolution happening in global finance has had a welcome influence on many business processes. - [The Rise of the Fintechpreneur, and Why It Matters](https://www.ezbob.com/the-rise-of-the-fintechpreneur-and-why-it-matters/): The financial technology field is rapidly expanding, but remains in flux and continues to be unpredictable. - [5 Fintech Trends SMBs Need to Embrace or Risk Falling Behind](https://www.ezbob.com/5-fintech-trends-smbs-need-to-embrace-or-risk-falling-behind/): Though smaller businesses have a lot of disadvantages compared to large enterprises, they can gain an advantage with these five... - [Why ezbob Has Focused On Technology Over Lending](https://www.ezbob.com/why-ezbob-has-focused-on-technology-over-lending/): UK-based ezbob is now one of the leaders of the growing LaaS (lending as a service) market. - [Tech Is Changing The Game For Small Banks – Q&A With Tomer Guriel, CEO of Ezbob](https://www.ezbob.com/tech-is-changing-the-game-for-small-banks-qa-with-tomer-guriel-ceo-of-ezbob/): UK-based fintech company Ezbob is finding success in their collaborations with traditional lenders. - [Collaboration Is The Way Forward For Banks And Fintech](https://www.ezbob.com/collaboration-is-the-way-forward-for-banks-and-fintech/): Banking, as we know it, is changing because of Fintech, but it would take a major event of cataclysmic proportions... - [New NatWest platform offers quick and easy loans to SMEs](https://www.ezbob.com/new-natwest-platform-offers-quick-and-easy-loans-to-smes/): NatWest launches a new digital platform to speed up the lending process for SMEs. - [Online lending platform EZbob raises $28 million in Series C funding](https://www.ezbob.com/online-lending-platform-ezbob-raises-28-million-in-series-c-funding/): Online lending platform EZBob has raised £20m (about $28. 3 million) in Series C funding in a round led by... - [Online lender Ezbob boosted after £30m fundraising](https://www.ezbob.com/online-lender-ezbob-boosted-after-30m-fundraising/): Ezbob has raised money from fund manager Oaktree, in a sign that non-bank lending is becoming more mainstream. - [EU supports over EUR 50m for businesses in the UK following EIF and Orange Money (Ezbob) agreement](https://www.ezbob.com/eu-supports-over-eur-50m-for-businesses-in-the-uk-following-eif-and-orange-money-ezbob-agreement/): EU supports over EUR 50m for businesses in the UK following EIF and Orange Money (Ezbob) agreement. - [Alibaba enlists startups to provide UK trade financing](https://www.ezbob.com/alibaba-enlists-startups-to-provide-uk-trade-financing/): ezbob announced a partnership with Alibaba intended to provide short-term working capital to businesses who would have trouble securing funds... - [First Progress Microfinance agreement with internet lender Ezbob and the EIF](https://www.ezbob.com/first-progress-microfinance-agreement-with-internet-lender-ezbob-and-the-eif/): The European Investment Fund (EIF) and EZBOB today signed a guarantee agreement aimed at supporting over 1,000 micro-enterprises in the... --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages ### Homepage > Our Core Lending Platform enhances your current infrastructure & enables to develop new lending offerings in a fraction of the time and cost. - Published: 2025-02-13 - Modified: 2025-02-20 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ --- ### Tomer Guriel - Published: 2024-06-02 - Modified: 2025-01-12 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/tomer_guriel/ --- ### Events > Check out our upcoming events in finance and banking and come meet us there! Reach out to us for more info. - Published: 2024-01-09 - Modified: 2024-02-20 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/events/ --- ### Applications > A robust Core Lending Platform designed for your digital transformation, and scale-up strategy, while keeping it secure and reliable. - Published: 2023-10-25 - Modified: 2024-04-15 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/applications/ --- ### Platform > ezbob provides tailored embedded finance solutions that are optimized for the unique requirements of our customers. - Published: 2023-10-17 - Modified: 2024-04-21 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/platform/ --- ### Contact Us > Are you ready to take your lending to the next level with ezbob's Core Lending platform? Book a demo today! - Published: 2023-10-16 - Modified: 2024-02-11 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/contact-us/ --- ### Terms & Conditions > ezbob terms and conditions. Here you can familiarize yourself with the guidelines and rules that govern your use of our services. - Published: 2023-10-16 - Modified: 2024-08-27 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/about-us/terms-conditions/ --- ### About us > For over a decade ezbob has pioneered the digital lending transformation of leading financial institutions worldwide. - Published: 2023-10-09 - Modified: 2025-04-24 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/about-us/ --- ### Insights > Discover the latest insights and news about, embedded finance solutions, banking and lending business from ezbob experts. - Published: 2023-09-21 - Modified: 2024-02-11 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/insights/ --- ### Privacy Policy > ezbob privacy policy. Here you can learn about how we handle and protect your personal information. Download in PDF or read. - Published: 2023-09-18 - Modified: 2024-08-27 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/about-us/privacy-policy/ --- ## ## Posts ### The 5 Essential Pillars of BSA: Strengthening Your AML Program for Maximum Compliance - Published: 2025-04-15 - Modified: 2025-04-15 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/the-5-essential-pillars-of-bsa/ - Categories: Blog Post What is the Purpose of the Bank Secrecy Act? The Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), enacted in 1970, is a cornerstone of the United States' anti-money laundering (AML) framework. The purpose of the Bank Secrecy Act is to prevent financial institutions from being used as tools for money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit financial activities. The law requires financial institutions to maintain certain records and file specific reports that could be helpful in detecting and preventing financial crimes. Over time, the BSA has been amended and expanded, forming the foundation for modern AML regulations in the U. S. financial sector. Understanding Bank Secrecy Act Regulations Bank Secrecy Act regulations are enforced by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U. S. Department of the Treasury. These rules apply to a wide range of financial institutions, including banks, credit unions, securities firms, and money services businesses. Key regulations include: Filing Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) for cash transactions exceeding $10,000 Submitting Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) when potential money laundering or fraud is detected Maintaining robust customer identification and verification processes Establishing an effective AML compliance program Retaining records of certain financial transactions for specified periods Noncompliance with BSA requirements can result in substantial penalties, reputational harm, and increased regulatory scrutiny. The 5 Key Bank Secrecy Act Requirements The BSA framework is built around five core pillars that all covered institutions must implement to maintain compliance: 1. Development of Internal Controls Institutions must create and enforce written AML policies and... --- ### Trends in Small Business Lending: Europe vs. United States > Explore the key differences and emerging trends in small business lending between Europe and the United States in this insightful analysis. - Published: 2025-04-08 - Modified: 2025-04-08 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/trends-in-small-business-lending-europe-vs-united-states/ - Categories: Blog Post Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) form the economic backbone of both Europe and the U. S. , accounting for about 99% of all enterprises. However, access to financing has traditionally been a challenge. In 2024, small business lending is undergoing rapid change due to post-pandemic economic pressures, technological advances, and regulatory shifts. This report compares key trends across four core areas: loan product demand, data usage in credit assessment, technological innovation, and regulatory/economic conditions, highlighting contrasts and convergences between the U. S. and Europe. Loan Product Demand Traditional Lending: Both U. S. and European SMBs continue to rely on term loans and lines of credit. In the U. S. , term loans dominate among small banks (used by 74%), while larger banks balance between term loans and lines of credit. Lines of credit are vital for working capital and liquidity. In Europe, while many SMEs see bank loans as relevant, only 14% use them, mainly due to accessibility issues. Instead, overdrafts and credit lines are more commonly used for day-to-day needs. Alternative Lending: Revenue-Based Financing (RBF) and Merchant Cash Advances (MCAs) are growing rapidly as businesses seek more flexible, cash-flow-linked repayment models. These are especially popular in the U. S. , where fintechs like Square, PayPal, and Shopify offer integrated financing. In Europe, adoption is increasing but remains behind. Still, invoice financing is widely used. Both regions are seeing strong growth in the alternative lending market – with Europe growing faster in percentage terms. Embedded Lending: A transformative development is... --- ### The Role of Explainable AI in Modern Lending > Explore how explainable AI boosts transparency, trust, and compliance in modern lending while enhancing decision-making and efficiency. - Published: 2025-03-31 - Modified: 2025-03-31 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/explainable-ai-in-modern-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post What is Explainable AI in Modern Lending? Lenders are increasingly turning to AI to drive efficiency, manage risk, and improve credit decisioning. But when an AI system denies a loan or flags a borrower as high risk, the question isn't just whether the decision was accurate, it's whether it can be explained. Explainable AI (XAI) makes that possible. In contrast to opaque or "black-box" models, XAI provides visibility into how decisions are made. For lenders, this means they can understand the rationale behind credit scoring and risk assessments and provide clear, documented reasons to regulators and borrowers alike. As the adoption of AI in lending accelerates, explainability is becoming a fundamental requirement. It supports compliance, enhances trust, and enables institutions to confidently deploy advanced decisioning tools without sacrificing oversight. What is Explainable AI in Modern Lending? Explainable AI (XAI) refers to artificial intelligence systems designed to make their decision-making processes transparent and understandable to humans. In the context of lending, this means that AI-driven decisions related to credit scoring, risk assessment, and loan approvals can be interpreted and justified both internally and externally. Traditional AI models, particularly complex ones like deep learning algorithms, often function as "black boxes" where even developers cannot fully explain why a certain decision was made. This lack of transparency can be a significant issue in regulated environments such as consumer lending, where fairness, accountability, and compliance with regulatory standards are essential. Explainable AI in modern lending addresses this challenge by providing visibility into how and... --- ### Top 5 Point of Sale Lenders and Financing Solutions to Empower Retailers > Discover the top 5 POS lenders and financing solutions designed to empower retailers with flexible funding options and seamless transactions. - Published: 2025-03-17 - Modified: 2025-03-18 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/point-of-sale-lenders/ - Categories: Blog Post The Shift Toward Seamless Retail Financing Retailers face a growing demand for flexible payment options that align with modern shopping habits. Consumers expect instant access to financing at checkout, whether online or in-store, without the friction of traditional credit applications. Point of sale (POS) lenders have stepped in to bridge this gap, enabling businesses to offer financing solutions that drive higher sales, improve customer retention, and expand purchasing power. The evolution of embedded finance has made POS lending more accessible and efficient than ever before. By integrating financing directly into the shopping experience, retailers can remove barriers to conversion while providing customers with tailored, transparent, and convenient payment options. Top 5 POS Lenders in the Market 1. Affirm Affirm is a leading point-of-sale lender offering transparent, fixed-rate installment loans for online and in-store purchases. The company partners with thousands of retailers, allowing customers to split payments over a set period with no hidden fees. Affirm’s financing solutions integrate seamlessly with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, making it a preferred choice for digital-first retailers. 2. Klarna Klarna has established itself as a dominant force in POS lending, particularly in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) sector. Klarna offers multiple financing options, including Pay in 4 (interest-free installments), Pay Later (30-day invoice), and longer-term financing plans. Retailers benefit from Klarna’s strong consumer brand recognition, increasing conversion rates and average order values. 3. Afterpay (Acquired by Block, Inc. ) Afterpay specializes in interest-free installment payments, allowing customers to pay for purchases... --- ### 10 Groundbreaking Embedded Lending Trends Set to Redefine 2025 - Published: 2025-03-10 - Modified: 2025-03-10 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/embedded-lending-trends/ - Categories: Blog Post The Rise of Embedded Lending Embedded lending has moved from a niche innovation to a mainstream financial strategy, seamlessly integrating credit solutions into non-financial platforms. Businesses across industries, from e-commerce to SaaS, are embedding lending options directly into their ecosystems, enabling frictionless access to credit at the point of need. This shift is reshaping the financial landscape, providing businesses with new revenue streams and offering consumers and SMEs more convenient borrowing options. As the embedded finance landscape continues to evolve, lenders, fintechs, and embedded finance providers are redefining how credit is accessed, delivered, and utilized. The acceleration of embedded lending is fueled by technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and evolving consumer expectations, setting the stage for a pivotal year ahead. Why 2025 Will Be a Pivotal Year for Embedded Finance Several factors are converging to make 2025 a defining year for fintech-embedded finance: Mainstream Adoption: More businesses across retail, logistics, and B2B services are embedding financial solutions into their platforms, making lending a fundamental part of their customer journey. Regulatory Developments: As embedded finance solutions gain traction, regulators are increasing their focus on consumer protection, risk management, and compliance frameworks. AI-Driven Innovation: Artificial intelligence is playing a critical role in underwriting, fraud detection, and personalized loan offerings, enhancing the efficiency of embedded finance providers. Evolving Consumer Behavior: Customers increasingly expect instant, seamless financing options at checkout or within their business platforms, driving demand for more sophisticated embedded lending models. Partnership Ecosystems: Banks, fintechs, and technology platforms are deepening collaborations to refine... --- ### From Open Banking to Open Finance: The Next Evolution in SME Lending  > Explore SME lending, its key challenges, and opportunities for growth in small business financing. Learn how lenders support SMEs today. - Published: 2025-02-12 - Modified: 2025-02-16 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/from-open-banking-to-open-finance/ - Categories: Blog Post The fintech landscape across the UK, Europe, and beyond has reshaped how individuals and businesses access financial services. One of the most transformative shifts has been Open Banking, which enables third-party providers to access financial data via APIs. This has been particularly impactful for small enterprises lending, operating under frameworks like the EU’s Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2).   However, as the financial needs of SMEs become more complex, Open Banking alone may no longer be enough. This is where Open Finance comes in - a broader framework that extends data access beyond traditional banking to include pensions, investments, insurance, and other financial products.   For MSEs, Open Finance unlocks greater access to credit, more seamless financial management, and deeper innovation within the lending ecosystem. By leveraging a wider set of financial data, lenders can gain richer insights, tailor products more precisely, and ultimately bridge critical funding gaps for small enterprises.   The shift from Open Banking to Open Finance isn’t just an evolution - it’s a strategic leap toward a more inclusive, data-driven financial ecosystem. The question now is: how quickly will the industry embrace it?   The Limitations of Open Banking for SMEs There is no doubt that Open Banking has enabled better access to some financial products, as it primarily focuses on bank transaction data, together with further expanding the granularity of CDD and EDD, but this limited scope presents information asymmetry challenges for lenders seeking to lend to MSBs and MSBs seeking finance:  Incomplete Financial Picture... --- ### Beyond the Mainframe: How Banks Can Accelerate Application Modernisation > Discover effective strategies for banks to accelerate application modernisation, boost efficiency, and enhance customer experience. - Published: 2025-02-03 - Modified: 2025-02-04 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/beyond-the-mainframe/ - Categories: Blog Post Legacy banking systems - built decades ago, often in COBOL and still running on-premises and, in some cases, even on mainframes - are becoming a significant barrier to innovation.  These monolithic applications were once the foundation of financial institutions, but now they hinder agility, scalability, and digital transformation. As banks transition to cloud-hosted environments, they face a critical decision: lift and shift existing applications or fundamentally rethink their architecture. The real opportunity lies in modernisation - restructuring not just the technology but also the business logic underpinning these systems. The Challenges of Legacy Systems Rigid Architecture and High Maintenance Costs Rigid banking applications were designed for a stable, predictable environment, an environment that no longer exists. Today’s financial landscape demands flexibility and, yet these legacy systems make even minor updates complex and costly. Beyond technical rigidity, the expense of maintaining outdated infrastructure continues to climb. Skilled COBOL developers are in short supply, and mainframe operational costs are escalating, creating a financial drain without delivering competitive advantages. Incompatibility with Modern Banking Demands Customers expect seamless, real-time digital banking experiences, and yet legacy applications struggle to support API-driven integrations, AI-powered insights, and real-time processing. These outdated architectures limit a bank's ability to adopt fintech partnerships, launch innovative products, and meet evolving regulatory requirements. The Modernisation Imperative Moving to the cloud (public, private, or hybrid) is not merely an infrastructure decision - it’s an enabler of agility and innovation but achieving meaningful transformation requires more than simply migrating old applications from one environment... --- ### Exploring the Future of Finance: Top Banking Conferences for 2025 > Explore the top banking conferences of 2025, featuring key trends, insights, and networking opportunities shaping the future of finance. - Published: 2025-01-16 - Modified: 2025-01-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/top-banking-conferances/ - Categories: Blog Post Can't read right now? Listen instead! Your browser does not support the audio element. As we gear up for an exciting 2025, here’s a sneak peek at the industry events we plan to attend. These conferences and summits are hubs of knowledge-sharing, networking, and thought leadership, providing us with invaluable insights to enhance our solutions. This list is for anyone who is looking for events that focus on technology and digital transformation for banks and financial institutions. We hope to see you there! The Best Banking Innovation Conferences for 2025 European Digital Finance Conference Date: 20 February 2025 Location: Amsterdam The European Digital Finance Conference focuses on advancements in financial technology, policy, and regulation. Attending this event will give us insights into the evolving digital finance landscape and the latest trends impacting the European market. Finovate Europe Date: 25–26 February 2025 Location: London, UK Finovate Europe is known for showcasing innovative fintech solutions through live demonstrations. With a spotlight on cutting-edge technology, this event is a great opportunity to connect with startups and established players driving change in the industry. MoneyLive Summit Date: 10–11 March 2025 Location: London, UK MoneyLive Summit brings together banking and payments professionals to discuss transformative technologies and customer experience. It’s the perfect venue to explore how financial services are adapting to digital-first demands. Money2020 Asia Date: 22–24 April 2025 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Money2020 Asia serves as a global platform for exploring the future of financial services in Asia. From payments and lending to cryptocurrencies and... --- ### The Digital Banker Innovation Series: An exclusive interview with Tomer Guriel > SMEs drive the economy, and providing efficient and profitable financing for them is on every bank's agenda. - Published: 2025-01-09 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/digital-banker-innovation-series/ - Categories: Podcasts Banking in Transition Episode 1: Building SME Relationships post-pandemic Tomer Guriel, co-founder and CEO of ezbob, talks to The Banker’s Kimberley Long about how SME lending may change in the future, and how digital transformation will progress this. --- ### Transforming Lending with Four Types of Software > Transform lending with efficient loan management software. Explore key features, types, and strategies for smarter success. - Published: 2024-12-11 - Modified: 2024-12-18 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/transforming-lending-with-four-types-of-software/ - Categories: Blog Post The banking and financial services industry is constantly evolving, driven by innovation and increasing customer expectations. Lenders are constantly searching for ways to streamline operations, ensure compliance, and deliver a seamless customer experience. In this dynamic environment, loan management software remains an essential tool for staying competitive. Here’s a question: with so many solutions available, how do you choose the right one for your business? In this article, we explore the importance of efficient loan management, the types of software available, and the key features that can transform your lending processes. Why Efficient Loan Management is Key to Lending Success The loan lifecycle - from a potential borrower's first visit to your website, through application to the final repayment leaving the balance owing to the lender as zero - comprises numerous critical steps. In today’s digital-first world, relying on outdated systems or manual processes can lead to inefficiencies, errors, and poor customer experiences. Here’s why efficient loan management is essential: Speed and Accuracy: Automation eliminates the operational risk (for which additional capital must be held by banks) of manual errors, ensuring faster and more reliable processing in all stages – from application processing and underwriting, through payment processing and through to renewal of credit lines or reborrowing. Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring adhesion to both the letter and the spirit of the ever-changing regulatory environment is crucial. Software can help lenders to evidence their ability to maintain compliance seamlessly. Enhanced Customer Experience: Borrowers expect fast approvals with limited additional requirements, transparent borrowing... --- ### Lending to Sole Traders and Micro-Businesses: Thriving Amid Economic Challenges - Published: 2024-12-03 - Modified: 2025-02-12 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/lending-to-sole-traders-and-micro-businesses/ - Categories: Blog Post Understanding the Current Economic Climate The UK economy today presents a mixed picture. On the brighter side, the unprecedented consumer price inflation of 2023, which exceeded 10%, appears to be a thing of the past. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projects inflation to hover near the 2% target through 2029. However, challenges remain: UK five-year gilt yields are forecasted to rise to around 4%, adding pressure to borrowing costs and business operations.   Economic Headwinds for Small Businesses Sole traders and micro-businesses, particularly those in B2C markets or with high fixed costs like retail premises and complex supply chains, continue to grapple with the ripple effects of the cost-of-living crisis. Insolvencies among small businesses remain a concern, as highlighted by recent data from the UK Insolvency Service (see Figure 1). For businesses with solid capital bases, opportunities to gain market share exist, but many others have struggled to survive.   Figure 1: Count of Individual Insolvencies, England and Wales (Source: UK Government Insolvency Service) Rising Borrowing Costs for Small Businesses Small businesses face growing challenges in accessing credit. According to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the cost of credit has risen, and rejection rates for loan applications are climbing. Figure 2: Flow of Applications for Credit and Credit Pricing, Q2 2024 to Q3 2024 (Source: FSB) Key insights include:  Increased credit demand: Applications rose from 15. 7% in Q2 2024 to 16. 5% in Q3 2024 (a 4. 8% increase).   Higher rejection rates: Loan rejection rates surged... --- ### Cloud Lending: Benefits, Architecture & Best Practices - Published: 2024-11-14 - Modified: 2024-11-14 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/cloud-lending-benefits-architecture-best-practices/ - Categories: Blog Post As banks and other lenders navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape, cloud lending has emerged as a cornerstone of modern lending strategies. By leveraging lending solutions in the cloud, banks and other lenders can enhance their agility, scalability, and improve their customer experience while keeping costs for both acquisition and ongoing servicing under control. This blog post explores the definition, benefits, and best practices for implementing cloud lending systems effectively. What Is Lending in the Cloud? Lending in the cloud refers to the use of cloud-based software and platforms for managing and automating lending processes, from loan origination, data gathering, credit decision making through to ongoing credit servicing. Unlike traditional, on-premises, systems, cloud-based lending software operates through a web-based architecture, enabling real-time collaboration, enhanced flexibility, and seamless integration with other digital tools, such as CRM or underlying general ledger products which are necessary to understand revenues, capital and, where required, reporting into central databases such as EU Anacredit. At its core, lending technology located in the cloud supports banks, credit unions, and other lenders in transitioning from manual, siloed processes to automated, customer-centric operations. Whether it's automating credit decisions, digitizing loan workflows, or optimised customer onboarding, a web-based lending system is designed to deliver efficiency and scalability. Learn more about the digital transformation in lending here. Key Benefits of Cloud Lending Improved Scalability Traditional lending systems often struggle to handle growing and changing customer demands. Lending solutions in the cloud, by contrast, provide the flexibility to scale up or down, adapting... --- ### Reinventing Lending for MSMEs: Embracing Data-Driven Decisions to Elevate Customer Experience > For MSME lenders, the key to staying relevant is innovating: configurable offerings, unified credit limits, and a robust platform. - Published: 2024-11-11 - Modified: 2024-11-12 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/reinventing-lending-for-msmes/ - Categories: Blog Post In a recent article, Accenture emphasized the crucial role of data-driven decision-making in lending - a philosophy that ezbob champions. By embedding data insights into every stage of lending to MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), ezbob leads the way in leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence to transform lending to MSMEs.   The article by Accenture points to the need for banks and non-bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) also, to “craft intuitive, end-to-end digital experiences to satisfy borrower demands for a seamless lending process. ” It goes on to suggest an all-in-one account that enables, for MSMEs, the ability to have within a single account, sub-accounts, enabling differing lending products. For lenders, meeting this demand means creating versatile account structures that offer a flexible range of sub-accounts, giving MSMEs greater financial control and agility.    To make this vision a reality, three core components are essential:  Lender-Configurable Product Offerings  A Unified Credit Limit Across Products  A Modern Core Lending Platform  Each of these elements plays a pivotal role in reshaping MSME lending, enabling lenders to adapt to market shifts with unprecedented agility. Let’s delve deeper into each.   Lender-Configurable Product Offerings  For lenders - whether banks, NBFIs, or other fintech businesses - staying ahead of market changes is key to success. But adapting to evolving market conditions can be challenging if reliant on IT teams for every adjustment. A lending platform that empowers lenders to independently configure products, risk assessments and criteria, enables them to respond rapidly to new opportunities.... --- ### Application of AI to Credit Risk Measurement and Management for MSMEs  > Learn how AI enhances credit risk measurement and management for MSMEs, driving smarter financial decisions and growth. - Published: 2024-10-23 - Modified: 2024-10-23 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/application-of-ai-to-credit-risk-measurement-and-management-for-msmes/ - Categories: Blog Post A recent IBM report, conducted alongside the SME Finance Forum, highlights a crucial insight: “Banks can increase their relevance to SMEs by embracing tech-led innovation while taming operational costs and managing risks. ” Among these innovations, 56% of surveyed bankers prioritize using AI for credit risk. But how can AI transform how banks approach micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)? Let’s take a closer look.   AI and Credit Risk: A Match Decades in the Making  AI and machine learning (AIML) aren’t new inventions. In fact, as evidenced by Professor Geoffrey Hinton's Nobel Prize in 2024, these technologies have been shaping industries since the 1990s, especially in consumer banking. Yet, despite their proven effectiveness, AIML hasn’t been widely applied to MSMEs. Further, how do banks and other lenders provide for the explicability of their AIML models in the absence of significant use? Shapley or Shapley-Laplace values will only take us so far. Why? There’s an ongoing debate: Do banks and tech firms fundamentally misunderstand MSMEs, or is it simply that the credit risk of these businesses is seen as too complex to model accurately? This question is particularly relevant given the data silos that often exist within financial institutions.    As seen below, at first glance the data structures in MSME and consumer banking appear similar, but the unique complexities of corporate banking, including larger balances and more diverse products, have led to a slower adoption of AI for MSME credit risk management.   Figure 1: Example Data Silos in Major... --- ### ezbob Wins Best SaaS Provider of the Year at the Global BankTech Awards 2024 - Published: 2024-10-07 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-wins-best-saas-provider-of-the-year-at-the-global-banktech-awards-2024/ - Categories: Blog Post We are thrilled to announce that ezbob has been named the Best SaaS Provider of the Year (Software) at the Global BankTech Awards 2024 by The Digital Banker. This prestigious recognition highlights our unwavering commitment to delivering cutting-edge SaaS solutions that drive innovation and digital transformation in the financial services industry. As the leading platform in banking orchestration, ezbob empowers banks and financial institutions with a flexible, scalable, and robust software platform that enhances operational efficiency, improves customer experiences, and accelerates go-to-market strategies. This award is a testament to the trust and confidence our clients place in us as we continuously strive to deliver world-class technology that enables them to stay ahead in an ever-evolving digital landscape. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible team, valued clients, and partners who have supported us throughout this journey. Together, we’re building the future of banking, one innovative solution at a time. Here’s to continued growth and more milestones ahead! --- ### The Best Banking Podcasts for 2024 > To help you navigate the vast landscape of options, we’ve compiled a list of the best banking podcasts for 2024. - Published: 2024-09-12 - Modified: 2024-09-12 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/best-banking-podcasts/ - Categories: Blog Post Keeping up with changes in the banking industry requires a continuous thirst for knowledge, especially as the landscape continues to evolve. Podcasts offer a wide range of perspectives, from community banking to fintech, regulations, and digital transformation. Whether you're a banking executive, a fintech enthusiast, or just someone looking to stay informed, podcasts are a fantastic way to learn from the experts and keep up with the latest trends To help you navigate the vast landscape of options, we’ve compiled a list of the best banking podcasts for 2024. These podcasts are not only informative but also entertaining, making it easy to stay ahead of the curve. 7 Best Banking Podcasts You Must Follow in 2024 1. The Banker Podcast The Banker Podcast is produced by The Banker, one of the most well-respected sources of financial news. With over 90 years of reporting expertise, The Banker offers unparalleled insight into global financial markets, institutions, and the latest banking trends. The podcast features interviews with top banking executives and thought leaders who discuss everything from digital transformation to regulatory updates. For anyone looking to gain a deep understanding of the macroeconomic factors shaping the banking world, this podcast is a must-listen. Why Listen: If you want to stay informed on the latest global banking news, this podcast delivers high-level insights from industry leaders. 2. Banking with Interest Hosted by Rob Blackwell, a veteran financial journalist, Banking with Interest is a weekly show that dives into the most pressing issues affecting the... --- ### Embedded Payments: Models, Benefits, and Examples > Explore Embedded Payments: Key models, benefits, and real-world examples to streamline transactions and enhance customer experience. - Published: 2024-08-15 - Modified: 2024-08-15 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/embedded-payments-models-benefits-and-examples/ - Categories: Blog Post Embedded payments are gaining traction as a transformative solution for businesses and consumers alike. As businesses look for seamless ways to integrate financial services into their platforms, understanding the intricacies of embedded payment solutions becomes critical. What Are Embedded Payments? Embedded payments refer to the integration of payment processing capabilities directly within a company's platform or application, allowing users to make transactions without leaving the ecosystem. This means that users can complete transactions without being redirected to an external payment gateway. For businesses, offering embedded payment solutions enables a frictionless user experience, which is increasingly essential in today’s digital-first economy. By embedding payment capabilities into their platforms, companies can enhance customer satisfaction, drive higher conversion rates, and create new revenue streams. Examples of Embedded Payments To illustrate, consider the experience of using a ride-sharing app. After the ride, payment is processed automatically within the app, without requiring the user to input payment details each time. Another example is in e-commerce, where marketplaces integrate payment solutions so that transactions are processed directly within the platform. Why Embedded Payments Matter? Embedded payments are more than just a convenience; they represent a shift in how financial services are delivered. Here’s why they matter: Seamless User Experience Today’s consumers demand seamless and frictionless experiences. Embedded payment processing eliminates the need for users to switch between apps or platforms to complete a transaction, thereby reducing friction and improving the overall user experience. This streamlined process not only saves time but also reduces the likelihood of... --- ### Regulatory Compliance in Digital Banking: What You Need to Know > Discover the importance of regulatory compliance in digital banking, key frameworks, and challenges for financial institutions. - Published: 2024-07-23 - Modified: 2024-07-24 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/regulatory-compliance-in-digital-banking/ - Categories: Blog Post In the rapidly evolving world of digital banking and provision of finance to both businesses and consumers, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards is not just a legal obligation but a crucial component of maintaining customer trust and business integrity. This blog post delves into the importance of regulatory compliance in digital banking and finance, explores some of the key regulatory frameworks, and highlights the challenges faced by financial institutions. The Evolution of Digital Banking Digital banking has revolutionized financial services, not only from the perspective of the technology offered but also from the point of view of democratizing access to capital. It is no longer the case, for example, that only the largest, most well-established businesses or consumers can access credit, and the adage for business lending that “your bank will only lend to you if you can prove that you don’t need the money” is no longer the case. From traditional banking methods to modern-day digital solutions, the transformation can be described as having been changes not only in terms of steps from one to the next but changes in orders of magnitude; for example, digital banking was limited at the beginning to the most basic of online transactions – and in some cases, only being able to view your balance, but not transact, but today encompasses a wide range of services including mobile banking, digital wallets, and advanced lending platforms who use the various layers of artificial intelligence to enable the best possible outcomes for their customers. Some... --- ### Unlocking the Potential of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) - Key Benefits and Steps to Get Started > Banking-as-a-Service is a model that allows neobank and non-bank businesses to integrate complete banking services into their own offerings. - Published: 2024-07-10 - Modified: 2024-07-10 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/banking-as-a-service/ - Categories: Blog Post In the evolving landscape of financial technology, Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) has emerged as a transformative force, enabling neobank and non-bank businesses to offer banking services. This introductory guide explores what BaaS is, its benefits, tips for getting started, and best practices for implementation. What is Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS)? Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) is a model that allows neobank and non-bank businesses to integrate complete banking services into their own offerings. Through API links, companies can access bank functionality such as payments, lendinge, and customer account management services without having to build the infrastructure from scratch and, in some cases, without the regulatory burdens of being a bank. The BaaS model operates through a partnership between fintechs and a regulated banking entity. The fintechs leverage banking infrastructure and regulatory compliance of banks, while focusing on delivering innovative, user-friendly financial services to their customers. Key Benefits of Banking-as-a-Service Enhanced Customer Experience By integrating banking services directly to their platforms, fintech and other companies can offer seamless and convenient customer experiences and customers can access financial services without leaving the app or website they are using, making transactions faster, more efficient and often at comparable cost. Cost Efficiency Building banking infrastructure both in terms of technology and regulation is costly and time-consuming. BaaS allows fintech and other companies to bypass these challenges by using the existing infrastructure of partner banks. This significantly reduces the capital expenditure required to offer banking services from scratch. Innovation and Flexibility BaaS platforms provide the flexibility to innovate rapidly. Non-bank fintech and... --- ### ezbob Announces Galia Goldstein as New Chief Product Officer - Published: 2024-07-04 - Modified: 2024-10-07 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-announces-galia-goldstein-as-new-chief-product-officer/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: digital lender, Fintech LONDON, July 3, 2024 -- ezbob Ltd. , a leading provider of innovative digital lending solutions, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Galia Goldstein as Chief Product Officer (CPO), effective July 1st, 2024. Galia brings with her a wealth of experience and a proven track record in scaling product organizations, and we are excited about the incredible impact she will have on our company. Galia joins ezbob with extensive experience in the payments domain and a history of establishing robust processes and frameworks that support growth. Her expertise will ensure that our product strategy aligns with our long-term objectives for scale, setting us up for sustained success. With her fresh perspective and deep expertise, Galia will significantly enhance our product offerings and drive innovation in this critical area. Her vision will help us develop cutting-edge payment solutions that meet and exceed market expectations. Galia's career spans over two decades, during which she has held several key leadership roles. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Payments Product at Melio, and Director of Product at Behalf. Her previous experiences also include leading product management roles at WIX where she successfully delivered numerous high-impact products. "We are delighted to welcome Galia to the ezbob team," said Tomer Guriel, CEO of ezbob. "Her extensive background in scaling product organizations and her expertise in payments will be invaluable as we continue to grow and innovate. We are confident that Galia's leadership will propel us to new heights. " Galia Goldstein expressed her enthusiasm about joining ezbob: "I am excited to... --- ### Revolutionizing the Embedded Finance Landscape with AI Integration > Discover how AI-powered embedded finance can transform your business, enhance user experience, and boost engagement. - Published: 2024-06-24 - Modified: 2024-06-30 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/revolutionizing-the-embedded-finance-landscape-with-ai-integration/ - Categories: Blog Post In a world where customer expectations are higher than ever, embedded finance powered by artificial intelligence (AI) may just be the game-changer you've been looking for. Imagine being able to offer seamless financial services directly from within your platform, driving engagement, and enhancing user experience like never before. This article explores the synergy between AI and embedded finance, highlighting how these innovations can transform your business, attract more customers, and set you apart from the competition. Dive in to discover the benefits, impact, and challenges of integrating AI into your embedded finance strategy. What is Embedded Finance? Embedded finance refers to the integration of financial services, such as payments, lending, or insurance products, into non-financial applications or platforms. Seamless integration allows businesses to offer financial products directly from their own ecosystem, enhancing user experience and driving engagement. Key Features of Embedded Finance: Seamless Integration: Financial services are embedded into existing platforms, reducing friction for users. Enhanced User Experience: Users can access financial services without leaving the platform they are using. Increased Engagement: Offering financial services can enhance customer loyalty and retention. The Role of AI in Embedded Finance Artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in enhancing embedded finance by providing intelligent, data-driven insights and automation capabilities. AI-Powered Innovations in Embedded Finance: AI Lending Platforms: AI can analyse vast quantities of data to provide accurate decisions, making lending more efficient and accessible. Personalising Financial Services: AI algorithms can tailor financial products to individual needs based on user data and behavior. Fraud... --- ### Three Benefits of Using Cloud Loan Management Solutions > Transform lending with cloud-hosted solutions that boost efficiency, enhance security, and improve customer experience. Discover more! - Published: 2024-06-10 - Modified: 2024-06-10 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/three-benefits-of-using-cloud-loan-management-solutions/ - Categories: Blog Post Cloud-hosted loan management solutions have emerged as a game-changer for financial institutions. These solutions leverage the power of the cloud to streamline lending operations, enhance efficiency, and improve customer experience. With the increasing demand for digital transformation in the banking sector, adopting a cloud-based approach to core lending software has become essential. This blog post will explore the benefits of cloud loan management solutions, discuss key considerations for implementation, and highlight how this technology can transform lending operations. Benefits of Cloud Loan Management Solutions Enhanced Efficiency and Scalability One of the primary advantages of cloud loan management solutions is the significant boost in efficiency and scalability they offer. Traditional lending operations often involve cumbersome manual processes and disparate systems, leading to delays and errors. Cloud-based solutions integrate seamlessly with core banking systems, automating workflows and reducing the need for manual intervention. With commercial loan software hosted on the cloud, financial institutions can easily scale their operations to meet changing demands. Whether it's expanding the loan portfolio, managing peak application periods, or entering new markets, the cloud provides the flexibility needed to adapt quickly. This scalability is particularly beneficial for institutions looking to grow their business without the constraints of legacy systems. Improved Security and Compliance Security and compliance are paramount concerns for any financial institution. Cloud loan management solutions offer robust security measures to protect sensitive customer data and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Leading cloud providers invest heavily in state-of-the-art security technologies, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and advanced threat... --- ### The Rise of Intelligent Document Processing for Financial Services and AI > AI-driven document processing revolutionizes finance: efficiency, accuracy, compliance, fraud detection, and customer experience. - Published: 2024-05-20 - Modified: 2024-05-20 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/intelligent-document-processing-for-financial-services-and-ai/ - Categories: Blog Post Financial institutions are under constant pressure to increase efficiency and improve customer experiences. This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) steps in, offering robust solutions like Intelligent Document Processing (IDP), utilizing AI to extract, process, and understand data from a variety of document types, ranging from structured forms to unstructured content like emails and hand-written notes. Key Intelligent Document Processing Solutions in Finance: Automated Data Extraction and Entry: IDP leverages Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and machine learning to extract data from financial documents such as loan applications, bank statements, and invoices, reducing the risk of errors from manual data entry. Regulatory Compliance Checks: IDP can automatically ensure that documents being reviewed are in adherence with regulations, scanning for necessary clauses and other information, thus maintaining compliance and reducing legal risks. Fraud Detection: IDP can compare document information against historical data to flag inconsistencies or anomalies that may indicate fraudulent activity, to prevent financial crimes. Customer Onboarding: The onboarding process for new clients is of reduced complexity with IDP. By quickly processing identity documents and extracting relevant information, banks and other lenders can create customer profiles and perform elements of customer due diligence in a fraction of the usual time. Contract Analysis and Management: IDP can read and interpret complex contract language, providing insights into the contractual terms and obligations on the part of all parties. This helps in contractual risk management and thus ensures contractual understanding on the part of all parties. Real-Time Document Collaboration: By integrating with cloud-based platforms, IDP... --- ### Embracing AI – How AI is Changing Lending Practices in Banks and Financial Institutions > AI revolutionizes lending: faster processing, personalized solutions, fraud detection, compliance, shaping future of banking with efficiency. - Published: 2024-05-09 - Modified: 2024-05-19 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ai-changing-lending-practices-in-banks-and-financial-institutions/ - Categories: Blog Post In the rapidly evolving world of finance, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changer, particularly in the domain of lending. Banks and financial institutions are increasingly harnessing the power of AI to streamline processes, enhance decision-making, and improve customer experiences. Here’s a closer look at how AI-based solutions are transforming the lending landscape. Enhanced Credit Scoring Models Traditional credit scoring methods have often relied on a limited set of financial indicators such as income, expenditures, credit history (as stored at a credit bureau), and repayment behavioural records. AI broadens this scope dramatically. By integrating machine learning algorithms, banks can analyze vast arrays of non-traditional data points, including utility payments, rental payment histories, and even web browsing behaviours, This allows for more nuanced risk assessments but also makes credit more accessible to those with incomplete credit files, potentially democratizing opportunities to borrow for eligible customers. Automated and Accelerated Loan Processing AI can streamline the entire loan application process, from initial inquiry to final decision. Automated systems can quickly assess an applicant's submitted information, perform background checks, and evaluate creditworthiness in a fraction of the time it takes human counterparts. The speed and efficiency not only reduce operational costs but also enhance customer satisfaction by delivering swift responses to loan applications and ensuring a tailored approach to loan processing: for example, those who are the best risks, can go through a reduced process, leveraging information known about them already and, by contrast, those who have had issues with their credit history... --- ### Honing the Customer Experience in Digital Lending: Best Practices > Fintech revolutionizes digital lending with a focus on speed, simplicity, and personalized customer experiences. Read more here. - Published: 2024-03-25 - Modified: 2024-03-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/honing-the-customer-experience-in-digital-lending-best-practices/ - Categories: Blog Post Thanks to the recent wave of disruptive fintech solutions, customer expectations are growingly set on fast, seamless, and accessible services. Perhaps the most glaring example is digital lending, where there are plenty of options in the form of digital lending platforms for today’s borrowers. Yet, customer care leaves quite a bit to be desired.   A one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t cater to individual borrower needs and circumstances, redundancies in the application process via cumbersome application forms, lack of transparency and communication - these are just some of the areas banks and other lenders can improve with a focused effort.   Importance of Customer Experience in Digital Lending For modern banking customers, being able to apply for loans from any device and receive updates in a timely manner is the essence of a great digital customer experience. For digital lenders, it‘s a differentiating factor.   More and more businesses are realizing the importance of delivering a streamlined digital lending process that eliminates friction and automation for faster transactions from start to finish. Making the banking experience as user-friendly and efficient as possible not only boosts customer satisfaction but also fosters loyalty.   Regardless of their size, banks that want to compete will need to achieve the optimal balance between what are arguably the three pillars of customer experience in digital lending: Speed Simplicity Convenience To ensure that the unique requirements of every customer are met, their best bet is to stick to tried-and-true practices that make a potent digital lending strategy.... --- ### Digital Lending Operations in 2024: What You Need to Know - Published: 2024-03-18 - Modified: 2024-03-18 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/digital-lending-operations/ - Categories: Blog Post The banking industry is well-known for relying on legacy core banking systems and rigid architectures designed for specific banking functions. As you can imagine, this presents many challenges in moving forward to modernization and digitization.   Banking cloud architecture, instant approvals, streamlined processes, access to a wider customer base, and more - all possible thanks to constant innovation in the fintech ecosystem. One might say that staying ahead of the curve is crucial for any finance leader (particularly smaller banks) looking to record strong growth amid the current macroeconomic environment. Simply put, banking executives need to look ahead to integrating digital lending if they’re to really embrace digital transformation.   That’s why we’re here today, so you can take a look at the key movers and shakers when it comes to digital lending operations. Rise of Digital Lending Platforms Ever since the pandemic, we have witnessed a shift driven by younger generations who are comfortable navigating the digital world and prefer getting things done via their mobile devices and from the comfort of their homes.   From the start, digital lending platforms were there to serve this need, leading the charge with faster and simplified processes that offer paperless and hassle-free access to funds. They opened the doors for borrowers who not only like the convenience that the digital-first approach brings but also don’t meet strict loan criteria imposed by the banks due to alternative credit measures. As a result, the $12. 2 billion digital lending platform market will reach... --- ### Lending Industry Evolution: Top 5 Trends Reshaping the Financial Landscape > The digital lending industry is experiencing a change driven by a potent mix of technology, innovation, and a healthy dose of disruption. - Published: 2024-02-22 - Modified: 2024-02-25 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/lending-industry-evolution-top-5-trends-reshaping-the-financial-landscape/ - Categories: Blog Post The digital lending industry is experiencing a metamorphosis driven by a potent mix of technology, innovation, and a healthy dose of disruption - courtesy of fintech companies.   With so many loan opportunities, banks and other financial players must have a steady pulse of the lending industry trends so they can optimize their processes and reap the benefits of more flexible and convenient offerings. Here’s the Scoop: 1. Greater adoption of open banking and APIs While concerns about data control and privacy initially caused friction, we are now witnessing a shift in the lending industry's stance on open banking and APIs. Banks recognized the growing demand for user-friendly, data-based experiences, and businesses saw the potential for improved efficiency and access to finance. APIs bridge data silos and integrate often-fragmented legacy systems, turning previously isolated information into powerful insights while streamlining data communication. Lenders can now access, analyze, and present borrower data from diverse sources, making more informed lending decisions.   Contrary to initial fears, renowned API standards like REST and Open API prioritize data security. These protocols create a controlled environment for secure data exchange. That makes it all the much easier (or, at the very least, encouraging) to not only fuel innovation and personalized services but also drive cost reduction. It’s a simple equation: smooth-running processes and better data utilization translate to improved bottom lines. Banks are now also exploring AI and generative language tools like ChatGPT that promise further benefits. Client-facing chatbots, fraud detection, and automated KYC and... --- ### Core Lending Platform: Top 5 Benefits for Banks > A core lending platform is a software solution that manages the entire lending lifecycle, from origination to servicing to collection. - Published: 2024-01-08 - Modified: 2024-02-22 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/core-lending-platform/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, Fintech, Lending, open banking It’s no longer news to anyone in the banking industry: Digital transformation is a given for any bank planning to thrive. In the European banking world, digital transformation has quickly gone from an advantage to a necessity; but the road to digitalization is proving to be challenging. This reality is clear in a study from the European Central Bank from earlier this year. In it, the ECB reports that while 88% of significant European institutions have some kind of digital transformation strategy, the nature and maturity of those plans vary, with many struggling to develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor digital progress and quantify the impact of digital transformation on their profitability. Nowhere is this felt more keenly than in the development of digital lending and finance products. This is not for lack of effort. Engineering and IT personnel at the banks are just as keen as their counterparts on the business side to bring new digital products to the market. However, they (the engineers) are faced with two daunting challenges, one technological and the other cultural: their legacy systems, and long-established internal processes. To compound the problem many banks have a bitter history of deploying point solutions only after too much effort, time, and money has been spent. To be quite blunt, any attempt at digitalization will fail that does not embed itself in the culture and technology of the bank. Any new system should aim at enhancing established processes and technology, and not pretend to switch them... --- ### Empowering Innovation in Lending with ezbob > The lending lifecycle isn’t a series of discrete steps or a collection of features to be implemented one after the other. - Published: 2023-12-26 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/empowering-innovation-in-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, Fintech, Lending, open banking We are fortunate to meet dozens of accomplished professionals in banking product design, IT, and engineering. Over and over we hear that their backlog of products, especially in lending, finance, and credit only gets longer as time goes on. Every single one of these professionals would like to develop and deploy these new services faster, but they are constrained by the very nature of their existing technological ecosystems which have evolved over time to be solid and reliable, but often at the cost of being rigid. Enter the Core Lending Platform ezbob offers a cloud-based, fully customizable tool for banks and other financial institutions to digitalize their lending journeys from the very simple to the complex. ezbob's platform leverages the experience of over a decade working with Tier 1 and 2 institutions, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data to provide a smart, fast, and easy lending experience for both the bank and the customer. The Core Lending Platform is designed with one objective in mind: to help banks Lend. Better: Reduce the time to market: Once the Core Lending Platform is installed, applications can be deployed in weeks, not months, integrated with the bank's existing systems and data sources, using APIs and web services. The CLP puts a premium on the reusability of resources, flows, and integrations. The platform can also be configured and customized according to the bank's branding, business rules, and workflows, using a drag-and-drop interface and a low-code environment. Increase conversion rate: ezbob's platform provides a... --- ### Top Banking Innovation Conferences for 2024 > We have compiled the best and most impactful 2024 events across the USA, Canada, UK, and Europe. Check our list here. - Published: 2023-12-13 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/banking-innovation-conferences/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, Fintech, Lending, open banking Banking innovation conferences happen all around the globe, year-round. For our team, these shows are much more than catching up on what’s new in the industry. Our top executives invest time attending these shows — often as sponsors and speakers — because our sector is moving so quickly that you need to stay updated constantly. We network, we listen, we learn, get real-time feedback, and create new partnerships. We have compiled the best and most impactful 2024 events across the USA, Canada, UK, and Europe. We attended most of them last year and found them well-organized, interesting, and very valuable for us. We look forward to attending again this year and taking an active part as sponsors and key speakers. We hope to see you there! The Best Banking Innovation Conferences for 2024 Open Banking Customer Experience Transformation 2024 (Berlin, 14-15 February 2024) - A global event focused on open banking and customer experience. Learn how to create value for customers and businesses by offering personalized, seamless, and secure services, hear from regulators, FinTechs, and incumbents, and get insights, best practices, and case studies from around the world. Finovate Europe 2024 (London, 27-28 February 2024) - Showcases the latest fintech innovations and connects you with the leaders of the financial services industry. See live demos of market-ready fintech solutions, learn from expert speakers on various topics related to banking automation, embedded finance, sustainable finance, and network with senior decision-makers from banks, FinTechs, and investors. MoneyLIVE Summit 2024 (London, 6-7 March 2024)... --- ### Digital Banking, Embedded in Reality – the American Banking Association Podcast with ezbob > Elevate SME financing with embedded digital banking. Learn from industry experts on ABA's podcast. Listen to the Full Podcast - Published: 2023-11-07 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-and-israel-discount-bank-0/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, Fintech, Lending, open banking Elevate SME financing with embedded digital banking. Learn from industry experts on ABA's podcast. Listen now. This week, ezbob CEO Tomer Guriel talked with Sharon Whitaker, VP, CRE & Mortgage Finance, Mortgage at ABA, on the American Bankers Association podcast episode titled “Digital banking, embedded in reality – monetizing the SME relationship. ” SMEs drive the economy, and providing efficient and profitable financing for them is on every bank's agenda. The challenge is technological - how to leverage existing back-end systems, and add innovative technology that embeds seamlessly into the bank's ecosystem. “The COVID period showed us that self-service from the customer point of view and from the bank’s operational point of view is a must-have, not nice-to-have. ” Tomer stated, “And the digitalization processes this migration is shifting to a much more urgently needed process rather than over a longer period. " Here’s what you’ll find in the conversation: Why are embedded digital lending services on the rise. How to bring data from disparate sources can help banks make more and better loans. AI in banking is already here. How to use it safely, ethically, and profitably. How ezbob’s long experience, first as a lender itself, and later as a cutting-edge fintech can make all the difference between developing a successful digitalization product, and a mediocre one. Listen to the Full Podcast --- ### ABA Associate Member Podcast > SMEs drive the economy, and providing efficient and profitable financing for them is on every bank's agenda. - Published: 2023-10-26 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/aba-associate-member-podcast/ - Categories: Podcasts Digital Banking, embedded in reality - Monetizing the SME relationship SMEs drive the economy, and providing efficient and profitable financing for them is on every bank's agenda. The challenge is technological - how to leverage existing back-end systems, and add innovative technology that embeds seamlessly into the bank's ecosystem. --- ### David and Goliath as Friends: ezbob and Israel Discount Bank Pioneering Innovative Partnerships Through the Fintech Hybrid Model > David and Goliath as friends: ezbob and Israel Discount Bank pioneering innovative partnerships through the fintech hybrid model - Published: 2023-10-15 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-and-israel-discount-bank/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, Fintech, Lending, open banking David and Goliath as friends: ezbob and Israel Discount Bank pioneering innovative partnerships through the fintech hybrid model Simean Preston, previous Managing Director of BUPA (British United Provident Association Limited), a British multinational health insurance and healthcare company put it best: “The biggest part of our digital transformation is changing the way we think. ” Indeed, the banking industry is undergoing a radical shift driven by new competition from FinTechs changing business models mounting regulation and compliance pressures, and disruptive technologies over which they may have few dedicated resources to pursue. None of these transformations are happening in a vacuum; they are driven by a new kind of client, especially SMBs who are ambitious, creative, and often used to a paperless, frictionless digital experience for all their business engagements - with both customers and service providers. Those SMB customers are telling banks precisely what they need in a lender. They are saying: “Keep it simple. Be there all hours. Be where I am. Know me. Listen to me. Respond now. Help me when I need it, not weeks later. ” Unsurprisingly, large established banks often struggle to adapt and answer these customers with new products and services: These institutions are built on legacy systems, complex internal infrastructures, and allegiance to a tried-and-true conservative mindset. Even those forward-thinking institutions with an “innovation lab” can often generate exciting ideas but need a new level of experienced resources to actually build, maintain, and improve an elegant, fully operational, new technical solution. Hiring a fintech startup is a common solution, but many banks are hesitant to take the leap; they want to... --- ### 6th World Digital Banking Summit: Reflections on Innovation and the Future of Banking > Insights from the 6th World Digital Banking Summit: A convention for global executives, digital transformation, and high-end networking. - Published: 2023-10-09 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/world-digital-banking-summit/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, Fintech, Lending, open banking Insights from the 6th World Digital Banking Summit in Berlin: A convention for global executives , digital transformation, and high-end networking. I recently had the pleasure of attending the 6th World Digital Banking Summit in Berlin, and I must say, it was an event to remember. The summit was very well attended (not massive in scale), but it felt like everyone present had something interesting and valuable to bring to the table. Here's a peek into the highlights and some intriguing quotes that caught my attention.   Bill Gates' Resonating Wisdom  One of the most powerful quotes that echoed throughout the event, shared three times on the summit stage, was from none other than Bill Gates himself: "Banking is necessary, banks are not. " You sort of can’t “un-hear” it once it sinks in. In today's digital age, where fintech innovations are rapidly reshaping the financial landscape, this quote serves as a reminder that the traditional banking model simply needs to evolve. The emphasis now is on adaptability and staying relevant, even as the banking institutions themselves undergo transformation.   The Dreaded Comparison  Jerome Vicq, Head of IT Strategy at Societe Generale, added another layer of insight with his quote, "Most people would rather go to the dentist than go to the bank. " Ouch! It's a stark reminder of the common perception that traditional banking is essentially dismissed as a tedious, time-consuming process by customers of all ages. As we discuss the future of banking, addressing this perception and creating a more user-friendly experience must be a top priority. There are too many easy alternatives; loyalty is fading, and many... --- ### Handelsblatt Banking Summit: A Deep Dive into the Future of Banking > A hub of decision-makers, emphasizing Germany-centric approaches, digital transformation, and high-end networking. Read here. - Published: 2023-10-04 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/handelsblatt-banking-summit/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, Fintech, Lending, open banking Insights from Handelsblatt Banking Summit: A hub of decision-makers, emphasizing Germany-centric approaches, digital transformation, and high-end networking. I just returned from the Handelsblatt Banking Summit in Frankfurt and wanted to share some observations while they are still fresh. For those unfamiliar with it, the Summit is a prestigious event that brings together key players from the banking industry, fintech startups, regulatory bodies, and government officials. Now in its twenty-fourth year, the summit is a platform for dialogue on global financial stability and profitability. It's an event known for its high CEO density, making it a hotspot for decision-makers from the banking, fintech, media, and compliance sectors. Indeed, it didn’t disappoint, and I’m still trying to digest it all. Here are my initial, brief takeaways: A German-centric Approach One of the unique aspects of the Handelsblatt Banking Summit is its clear orientation towards Germany and German-speaking countries. This focus lends the event a depth and nuance that is often missing in more open-ended, universal international events. The discussions are enriched by the unique perspectives and insights deeply rooted in these regions' economic and cultural contexts. Rather than feeling less relevant in its application for our work in other countries, the experience reminded me that banking paradigms are simultaneously universal and regional in their various implementations. High-profile Speakers The summit boasts an impressive lineup of speakers, featuring top executives from leading banks . These industry leaders share their strategies, plans, and challenges in today's rapidly evolving financial landscape. The insights gained from these discussions are invaluable for anyone looking to understand the future direction of the banking industry. The... --- ### Fintech Partnerships: Hesitation vs. Headway > Unlocking the potential of fintech partnerships: explore the key strategies for success in financial technology collaborations. - Published: 2023-09-07 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/fintech-partnerships-hesitation-vs-headway/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, Fintech, Lending, open banking Unlocking the potential of fintech partnerships: explore the key strategies for success in financial technology collaborations. Among fintech startups it’s no secret that pitching to and securing a banking partner is a long, complex, and often frustrating process. Indeed, these startups have chosen a sector that is by its very nature, conservative and cautious; with no physical production of goods or standardised, commoditized services- bank performance is based on return on capital employed. This calculation is often expressed via profits and loss accounting and, for those banks which are publicly traded, market capitalisation. In addition, banks must adhere to strict regulations designed to protect their customers and society that both rely on the banking industry's stability: failure to adhere to these standards can be fatal to a bank, either directly or indirectly. This observation is not in any way a critique of the banking sector or a suggestion that it eases up on its safeguards by introducing new risks beyond those that it currently successfully measures and mitigates. However, let’s discuss a new reality in which banks can simultaneously protect themselves and innovate their way to enhanced revenue, working with young start-ups with much to offer. First, let’s review the (quite valid) objections that banks often voice when debating an engagement with a fintech startup: 1.    Young companies have a high failure rate. Whether from lack of business experience, unproven technology that is not bank-grade, or the absence of enough real-world scenarios to cover all relevant use cases, the percentage of start-ups that succeed long-term may be in single digits. Even when a particular implementation... --- ### The Secret to Segmentation for SME Loan Applications - Published: 2023-08-27 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/segmentation-sme-loan-applications/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: customer segmentation, Embedded finance, Lending Explore how fintech platforms enhance SME risk assessment through precise customer segmentation and increased transactions. Cathy is the owner of a small organic ice cream parlor in Munich. She is 25, and the store, her first business venture, has been in business for just over a year. She has relatively few substantial assets: the display chillers where the ice cream is kept, the ice cream makers, a good espresso machine, and all the associated bits and pieces necessary to make things work. She enjoys a steady flow of customers, but revenues are naturally somewhat seasonal: sales drop in the winter and spike in the summer. Aside from a few final payments on the equipment, she’s almost at break-even.   Optimistic about potential, she’d now like to open a second location and needs funds for outfitting the store, marketing it, and purchasing initial inventory. At first blush, Cathy’s business looks like a risky, challenging case from a lending perspective; any risk officer would say as much. It’s only been open a year, sells a niche product, has seasonal dips, and offers few collateral assets. The problem is, of course, that Cathy needs a loan. It is the key element of every business loan process: the lender must assess a potential SME borrower's business and assign a risk level to determine first the binary decision of whether or not to lend, and then amount, price, and repayment terms of lending. Even before deep-diving into the company’s credit rating, current financials, and other indicators, there’s one initial factor that can hold significant weight in the scoring process: bank... --- ### Servicing SME Customers Through Embedded Lending - Published: 2023-08-10 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/servicing-sme-customers-through-embedded-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, Lending Discover how embedded lending benefits SMEs. Learn how to enhance customer service through innovative lending solutions. SMEs (especially the very small ones) are a massive market; they represent  over 99% of businesses, almost three quarters of which are actually single-employee entities. As common as they are, these companies often face unique challenges in attaining operational funding to meet seasonal shortfalls, overcome supply chain hiccups, expansion, and other ongoing challenges. Their requests are sometimes rejected by banks — or the process is too lengthy and complicated to help in the short term — due to the inherent nature of small business: 1.    Lack of collateral – Risk and thus price to the SME increases when there are no assets to secure any financing facilities. This can be due to a variety of factors, such as small quantities of equipment or real estate, or the fact that a service-based firm may simply have no need for many physical assets of redeemable value. 2.    Perceived as being of greater risk than larger companies - Due to their size and possibly niche products or services, with the corresponding risk to revenue streams. This perception can make it difficult for startups and other young or small-scale companies to secure financing. 3.    Insufficient credit history – If they have not borrowed often, newer or independently funded SMEs often have limited easily accessible credit histories, which can make it difficult to assess trends and financial stability. 4.    Lack of financial expertise - SMEs often lack the financial expertise required to build and present a strong financial model. This can... --- ### How Open Banking Drives Embedded Finance Forward > Explore how open banking revolutionizes embedded finance, enhancing SME financial integration & fostering innovation for seamless transactions. - Published: 2023-07-18 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/open-banking-drive-embedded-finance/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, Fintech, open banking Let’s delve into open banking in a little more detail and explore a case study to give you an idea of exactly how it works in practice. Two significant trends are reshaping the way SMEs interact with money: embedded finance and open banking. These concepts, though distinct, are converging to break down barriers, foster innovation, and integrate financial processes into our daily digital interactions in ways previously unimaginable. Embedded finance refers to the fusion of financial services into non-financial platforms or applications. For instance, when you hail a ride using an app and pay for it within the same app or buy something online and get a loan offer from the e-commerce platform itself, you're experiencing embedded finance. It feels like a seamless, integral part of the experience, but it’s actually an “add-on” from a technical perspective. Open banking is a set of protocols, technologies, and policies where banks and financial institutions can share user data (if given permission) securely through APIs. This data sharing enables third-party developers to create new, user-friendly services. Think of it this way - in the traditional banking model, only you and your bank would have access to your financial data. But with open banking products, this data is shared with third parties to benefit you in all sorts of situations, whether you’re making a big purchase that would normally trigger delays or applying for a business loan. In a word, open banking enables and supercharges embedded finance services.  Let’s delve into open banking in a little more detail and explore a case study to give you an idea of exactly how it works in practice. What is Open Banking At its... --- ### Unlocking Growth Opportunities with B2B Embedded Finance > Discover how B2B embedded finance unlocks growth, enhances cash flow, and offers competitive advantages for businesses. - Published: 2023-07-10 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/b2b-embedded-finance/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: digital transformation, Embedded finance, Fintech The potential for embedded finance growth is vast and largely untapped. It presents an opportunity for businesses to accomplish critical goals. Embedded finance represents a paradigm shift in how businesses in the B2B space approach payments and lending alike. By integrating financial services into existing products or platforms, companies are enhancing their core offerings while also unlocking new avenues for growth. A recent Forbes article summarizes this trend well. As it explains, while embedded payments are becoming commonplace, they are actually seen as a stepping stone towards further embedded finance integration.  In short, embedded finance, not embedded payments, is the endgame. The potential for embedded finance growth is vast and largely untapped. It presents an opportunity for businesses to accomplish three parallel, critical goals: diversify their revenue streams, deepen customer engagement, and achieve a competitive edge in their respective markets too. Why Embedded Finance? Embedded finance is still an emerging concept. But savvy companies are pivoting to incorporate this new technology and take advantage of that all-important “first mover” advantage. Take Apple, for example; the world’s first trillion-dollar company is shifting towards the fintech space. For the astute observer, the writing’s been on the wall for a while. First, it was Apple Pay, a handy instant payment tool that saw one billion transactions shortly after it launched. It dwarfed PayPal’s numbers at the time. But since then, Apple has moved on to introducing its own financial services for businesses that wish to switch to Apple products. For Apple, embedded financing seems to be the endgame as it aims to “offer” companies cost-effective ways to become Apple-reliant. With trailblazers like Apple paving... --- ### Digital Transformation in Lending: Should Banks Buy or Build? > Explore the digital transformation in lending: the critical choice for banks between building technology in-house or partnering with fintechs. - Published: 2023-06-14 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/digital-transformation-in-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: digital transformation, Embedded finance, Fintech Before making the choice of digital transformation in lending, it’s key to weigh up the advantages and drawbacks of buy or build. In the ever-evolving landscape of the fintech-banking partnership, financial institutions are faced with the pivotal decision to either develop their own lending technology or source it externally. Before making the choice, it’s key to weigh up the advantages and drawbacks of each option.   Back in 2020, a Barclays report underscored how the age of competition between fintechs and banks was already over, paving the way for a new collaborative financial services model. The then emerging banking-as-a-platform paradigm emphasised a symbiotic relationship between banks and fintech firms, establishing itself as the predominant force.   Barclays surveyed nearly 2000 industry leaders at Money 20/20 events across Europe, Asia, and the US. The consensus from over two-thirds of those participants was that collaboration and strategic alliances with fintech companies for mutual gain should be the preferred course of action for traditional banks moving forward.   The underlying driver for this enhanced collaboration can be primarily attributed to elevated customer expectations according to the report. Customers now expect smooth, tailored digital experiences in various areas of their lives from shopping, holiday planning, to securing a spot in sought-after yoga courses.   To put it simply, banks need to partner with experts in complex digital transformation.   And when it comes to lending, the debate between building vs buying tech solutions rages on. Technology is a perpetual disruptor, and large financial institutions continue to grapple with modernising their legacy systems to align with emerging trends.   If a bank chooses to build its new... --- ### Benefits of Open Banking: A Game-Changer for the Financial Industry > Unveil the transformative power of open banking for SMEs: fostering innovation, security, and seamless financial integration across Europe. - Published: 2023-06-06 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/benefits-of-open-banking/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Lending, open banking, SMEs Open banking revolutionized the financial market. It created a more accessible and interconnected ecosystem. Open banking revolutionized the financial market. It created a more accessible and interconnected ecosystem. This financial technology allows third-party developers to build services that interact with banks and other financial institutions, thus fostering competition and innovation.   More than seven million small businesses and individuals in the UK alone rely on open banking services. As this transformation unfolds, the financial industry will see a paradigm shift in B2B financing. The benefits of this movement is what continually attracts SMEs in the UK and across Europe.   4 Types of B2B Financing  A 2020 Ernst and Young study found that borrowing comprised 10% of open banking use. Consumer borrowing accounts for much of this, but SMEs’ use of B2B financial services has continued to grow. Today, a long list of B2B financing options are available to businesses, each catering to specific needs and requirements. Here are some of the most common types available.   Term Loans With term loans, businesses receive a lump sum upfront, with a fixed repayment schedule and interest rate. One Forbes article reported that 32% of SME owners chose not to apply for business loans from 2020 to 2021 because of the barriers they anticipated. Consequently, term loans provide a solution for the big capital problem that many companies face.   Revenue-Based Lending B2B business loans allow companies to borrow working capital from and through their payment service providers using an online platform. The amounts they can borrow, and the repayment scheme is based on the historical... --- ### Providing a One-stop Shop for Digital Transformation in Lending > Ezbob's innovative platform offers a comprehensive digital transformation solution for lending, enhancing efficiency and customer experience. - Published: 2023-05-30 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/providing-a-one-stop-shop-for-digital-transformation-in-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: big data, digital lender, digital transformation, Lending, Technology Discover how our comprehensive solutions drive digital transformation in lending. Stay ahead of the curve. Evolving consumer behaviours spurred on by the aftermath of the pandemic have prompted traditional banks to adopt digital lending solutions that enhance the customer journey and bolster SME lending profitability. The key to success lies in working with the right partner in deploying the necessary systems to enable all of these new services.   Challenger banks have raised the bar when it comes to customer experience, processing speed and reduced operational costs. They’ve set a new benchmark that other financial institutions must strive to meet to remain competitive.   The days of antiquated legacy systems are coming to an end, paving the way for cutting-edge, cloud-based platforms that boost efficiency, transparency and user experience. According to the Digital Banking Report (2020), 85% of banks and lending institutions have now enabled their clientele to apply for loans online, emphasising their commitment to delivering a top-notch experience. Many are seeking the assistance of agile fintech companies. Traditional banks and financial institutions are shifting their perspective. They no longer see FinTechs as unpredictable newcomers encroaching on their territory. Instead, they now see them as crucial collaborators key to achieving ambitious objectives pertaining to digital transformation and lending processes.   What to look for in a digital lending platform   As banks continue to shift towards digital transformation in lending, it’s important to choose the right digital lending platform. A robust digital lending platform should improve the overall customer experience, reduce lending costs, and provide seamless integration with existing systems.    When choosing a digital... --- ### Why Banks Must Look Beyond Credit Bureaus to Assess Risk - Published: 2023-05-16 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/why-banks-must-look-beyond-credit-bureaus-to-assess-risk/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: credit, Lending, Small to medium sized businesses Integrating Open Banking into existing customer processes doesn't have to be an extensive technological overhaul that spans months. Marking one of the steepest declines in a decade, EY has predicted that business lending will contract by 3. 8% this year. This substantial decrease can be attributed to the worsening economic climate which has led to diminished demand and increased borrowing costs. But lenders operating in, or wishing to enter, the unsecured SME lending space should not get complacent. A growth in bank to business lending is expected in 2024, making this the perfect year to lay the groundwork and make the most of the opportunity when it arises.    And banks need to remember that relying solely on credit bureau data for determining credit risk has become inadequate in our post-pandemic world. The UK government's COVID-19 driven lending initiatives, for instance, are not consistently documented by traditional credit bureaus. This may lead to improper evaluation of loan limits and repayment obligations. In addition, when credit default events occur within government programmes, they are not reported to private credit bureaus.   To add to this, private sector lending schemes, encompassing both consumer and commercial loans, are not consistently disclosing information on capital repayment holidays, arrears, or defaults. This lack of data consistency results in the understatement of impairments under the IFRS9 framework.   It’s therefore vital that banks and lending institutions diversify and strengthen their data sources when evaluating the credit risk related to loan approvals. This calls for a progressive approach which merges identity verification, credit bureaus, and data obtained via Open Banking.    To effectively assess risk,... --- ### The Importance of an Efficient Merchant Onboarding Process - Published: 2023-05-03 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/the-importance-of-an-efficient-merchant-onboarding-process/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, Merchant onboarding, Technology An efficient merchant onboarding process is critical for financial institutions looking to lend to small and medium-sized businesses. The success of any business today relies heavily on its ability to adapt to digital transformation. With the rise of e-commerce and fintech, customers expect a seamless and streamlined experience for onboarding. An efficient merchant onboarding process is critical for financial institutions looking to lend to small and medium-sized businesses.    The Importance of Merchant Onboarding  Companies must strike a balance between preventing fraud and reducing friction for merchant customers. This can be a challenging balancing act to keep up, so proactive companies invest heavily in designing a smooth and effective process.   Here are some top reasons companies need to focus on creating a solid merchant onboarding process:  Merchant Experience: An efficient process reduces frustration and enhances the customer experience. Word spreads fast online and 90% of consumers rely on referrals.   Desired Speed: We live in a world of instant gratification, even in business. Note that 40% of internet users will close a web page that takes more than three seconds to load.   Preserved Trust: The onboarding process typically requires disclosing sensitive data. SME owners will trust a more well-designed process with security features built in.     The Merchant Onboarding Process  Each lender or payment processor uses a different onboarding process. Nevertheless, there are some similarities. Review the following.   Collect merchant information. This step includes collecting basic information such as legal name, business address, business registration, and documentation.   Verify merchant information. Financial institutions then move on to the verification process, including checking creditworthiness, legal... --- ### Understanding the Benefits of a Loan Origination System for Financial Institutions - Published: 2023-04-24 - Modified: 2025-01-05 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/understanding-the-benefits-of-a-loan-origination-system-for-financial-institutions/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance, loan origination system Unlock the advantages of Loan Origination Systems for financial institutions. Discover streamlined processes and enhanced efficiency. If traditional financial institutions want to compete with trendy, app-based challenger banks to offer small and medium business customers a seamless loan experience, they need to make their processes frictionless, friendly, and fast; according to McKinsey, over one-fifth of SMEs that switched banks were looking for better rates, better online service, and products and services that their previous provider did not offer.   The trends are clear and consistent: a growing number of people are no longer interested in visiting a brick-and-mortar bank. In fact, 71% of millennials would rather go to the dentist than physically talk to their traditional banks. In just over a decade, the number of mobile banking users rose from 30% to 76% in the UK alone.    And when it comes to one of the main reasons businesses used to visit a bank – taking out a loan –  the volume is rising: when small and medium businesses need a loan, it’s often a “must-have” rather than a nice-to-have; according to this study, of the companies that did secure finance in 2022, four in ten (42%) plan to use credit to manage cash flow, considerably more than the numbers planning to use funds for equipment updates (21%), expansion (19%), or recruitment (4%). This means this financing is becoming more common, with competition looking to grab as much business as they can: In short, the customers are there, and need your services – or someone’s – in order to run their business.   The problem is... --- ### Embedded Finance Presents Ambitious Brands with a Huge Growth Opportunity - Published: 2023-04-06 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/embedded-finance-growth-opportunity/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Customer Acquisition, Embedded finance, open banking Technology in combination with the expanding open banking movement is paving the way for growth and opportunities throughout the global economy. Innovative technology in combination with the expanding Open Banking movement is paving the way for new growth and value opportunities throughout the global economy. A key opportunity arising from this development is embedded finance, a concept that has garnered significant attention lately. Simply put, embedded finance allows non-financial companies to integrate financial services into their business model via APIs.    A recent report released by Lightyear Capital estimates that embedded finance will grow to £164 billion in revenue by 2025, which constitutes a ten-fold rise from £16 billion last year. Wider industry analysis goes a step further, suggesting that embedded finance could be worth $7 trillion by 2030, double the aggregate value of today’s top 30 banks worldwide.    The auto sector has wholeheartedly adopted embedded finance, with ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft exemplifying this trend. These apps have evolved over time and now offer embedded financial services to enable customers to pay right from the app after the driver drops them off.   The nature of buying or leasing vehicles is also changing. Traditionally, when purchasing or leasing a car, dealers would consult financial institutions to assess affordability and credit risk. However, this practice is evolving. Tesla's direct sales approach serves as a prime example of embedded finance revolutionizing the sector. While some automotive websites and apps already allow customers to handle lease payments directly, bypassing the dealership, Tesla takes it a step further by offering car insurance as well.   Democratised financial services, as simple as ‘point... --- ### The Importance of Embedded Finance Solutions for Business Success - Published: 2023-03-30 - Modified: 2025-01-05 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/the-importance-of-embedded-finance-solutions-for-business-success/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Embedded finance In our fast-paced digital world, businesses must adapt to stay relevant, and embedded finance solutions are quickly becoming crucial for achieving success. In our fast-paced digital world, businesses must adapt to stay relevant, and embedded finance solutions are quickly becoming crucial for achieving business success.    Put simply, embedded finance allows businesses that are not financial institutions to include financial services or products within their digital offerings. With faster and more accessible customer transactions, streamlined back-end processes, and increased revenue potential, it’s no surprise that embedded finance has been branded “the next-generation opportunity. ”  From embedded lending and payments to insurance opportunities, the solutions offered by embedded finance can revolutionise your business operations. Read on to discover why embedded finance solutions are crucial for your business's success.        Embedded Finance Solutions on the Rise  Let’s explore some of the embedded finance trends that are shaping solutions in the space right now.    Embedded payments are possibly the most obvious embedded finance solution available to customers. They allow immediate payments removing friction meaning customers don’t need to break the journey to pay for a product.    But beyond that, companies with embedded finance solutions can now hone in on customers' instant gratification preferences. Real-time payments mean that users can get paid instantly, which works great if the platform serves sellers, for example. It’s also a slick way to power the gig economy, a growing trend.    The Buy Now, Pay Later craze was an early precursor to embedded finance solutions. Although it is still making waves with retailers incorporating external BNPL providers, it has paved the way for embedded lending as a... --- ### Embedded Banking: Disrupting Traditional Banking Models with Seamless Integration - Published: 2023-03-27 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/embedded-banking-disrupting-traditional-banking-models-with-seamless-integration/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: embedded banking The new embedded banking allows non-financial companies to seamlessly integrate banking services into their platforms. Learn more about here. There’s a new kid on the e-commerce and digital banking block: embedded banking. As we’ll discuss below, embedded banking allows non-financial companies to seamlessly integrate banking services into their platforms. This user-centric approach breeds loyalty and customer satisfaction and it’s quickly becoming a hit with forward-thinking companies.   The current trends look promising. A recent McKinsey report revealed that up to 33% of global card spending now happens online. In the US, the figure sits at 50%. This explosive growth in online payments has largely been attributed to the digitalisation of businesses and the advent of the e-commerce industry. But digital natives coming of age have played a significant role too, as they are particularly open to managing their finances and payments online.   The combination of all these factors is creating an environment where embedded finance is becoming increasingly popular and important. It’s important to draw a distinction here.   Embedded finance refers specifically to the integration of financial services into non-financial products and services. Embedded banking also deals with integrations. However, typically, embedded banking deals with the integration of banking services such as built-in bank accounts and even bank cards, for example. In effect, the non-financial company connects to the bank via an API to “become” a bank. Embedded banking can be seen as a significant subset of embedded finance. The reason is simple: many embedded finance solutions are traditionally offered by banks.   For consumers, embedded banking offers greater convenience as they are no longer required to... --- ### Discount Bank and ezbob set up fintech co Greenlend - Published: 2023-03-06 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/greenlend-jv-discountbank/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, digital transformation, Embedded finance, Fintech Discount Bank and ezbob's Greenlend JV will offer flexible and immediate solutions in the consumer credit sector as well as credit for small businesses. Israel Discount Bank announced a collaboration with e-lending company ezbob to set up a new fintech company Greenlend to provide digital credit. The new company will offer flexible and immediate solutions in the consumer credit sector as well as credit for small businesses. Discount Bank will own 70% of the new company and ezbob 30%. According to Discount Bank, the move is another part of implementing the company's strategy of promoting innovation and establishing ventures that will operate as independent companies and compete with the entire banking system. In recent years, the non-bank credit market has seen significant growth, among other things due to the revolution in open banking. The process of establishing Greenlend was led on behalf of Discount by EVP head of Strategy, Finance and Subsidiaries Barak Nardi, and head of business development and innovation Shani Federman Terem. For Ezbob the move was led by CEO Tomer Guriel and CTO Yaron Shoshani. To read the complete news on Globes . --- ### Open Banking in the US – The State of Play - Published: 2021-12-02 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/open-banking-in-the-us/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Credit Decisioning What is the state of play of open banking in the US? Read to find out more. Open Banking is the practice of providing third-party service providers with open access to banking, transaction, and other financial data from banks and non-bank financial institutions through the use of APIs. Ultimately, the aim is to boost the quality of financial services on offer to consumers and small businesses alike. It’s making headlines as it rapidly gains traction around the world. Open Banking’s origins lie in Europe, where the EU’s PSD2 came into effect in 2018, laying the legal foundations for requiring financial services organisations to give their customers control over their own data. The result has been an explosion of fintech challenger banks, SME lending solutions, and payments services which rely on open connections between their new offerings and their customers’ primary bank accounts. The UK has become something of a poster child for Open Banking, with efforts driven through a government-backed scheme led by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Around four million of the UK’s consumers and businesses now actively use Open Banking-enabled products and services. But it’s not without its problems, and some industry figures have recently questioned its success. Starling’s Anne Boden told MPs at a Treasury Committee hearing that Open Banking has failed to lift off as hoped. “Open Banking is a lesson of us trying to make something work, when halfway through the project we realised it wasn’t going to work,” she said. Is Open Banking rockin’ in the free world? In the US, there’s currently no legislation underpinning the growth of Open... --- ### The Future of Credit Decisioning - Big Data Initiatives - Published: 2021-11-18 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/big-data-initiatives/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Credit Decisioning What is the future of credit decisioning using big data initiatives? Get the facts in our report. The use of machine learning for credit decisioning is being driven by a desire to make smarter decisions that lead to greater expansion - and greater profits. According to our research, 90% of financial institutions believe successful big data initiatives dictate the winners of the future. Yet only 37% are actually using big data initiatives in their operations. In the post-pandemic world, lending executives need to understand the credit decisioning concepts that drive their business and its profitability. Our new executive briefing entitled: Is Your Credit Decisioning Right for a Changed World provides vital information that will help you better understand new tools and technologies that will enable you to make better decisions and will lead to better performance. The report is written for non-technical decision-makers providing insights on the following:  How to evaluate the use of machine learning and whether these models are using enough data to make good risk decisions. The 7 key questions you should be asking those data scientists you hired, who can make or break your business performance. The 10 tools that are essential to ensure that scorecards are built, maintained and tracked properly. This informative report is written by Murray Bailey, who literally wrote the book (actually two books) on modern credit decisioning. --- ### The Future of Credit Decisioning - Published: 2021-11-09 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/the-future-of-credit-decisioning/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Credit Decisioning What is the future of credit decisioning? Get the facts in our report. The use of machine learning for credit decisioning is being driven by a desire to make smarter decisions that lead to greater expansion - and greater profits. According to our research, 72% of credit management professionals believe that data analytics can be improved at their current companies, while almost half identified AI and machine learning as the technology that will enable them to do this. In the post-pandemic world, lending executives need to understand the credit decisioning concepts that drive their business and its profitability. Our new executive briefing entitled: Is Your Credit Decisioning Right for a Changed World provides vital information that will help you better understand new tools and technologies that will enable you to make better decisions and will lead to better performance. The report is written for non-technical decision-makers providing insights on the following:  How to evaluate the use of machine learning and whether these models are using enough data to make good risk decisions. The 7 key questions you should be asking those data scientists you hired, who can make or break your business performance. The 10 tools that are essential to ensure that scorecards are built, maintained and tracked properly. This informative report is written by Murray Bailey, who literally wrote the book (actually two books) on modern credit decisioning. Click here to download the report. --- ### Winning the Post-pandemic Customer Acquisition Marathon - Published: 2021-09-06 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/winning-the-post-pandemic-customer-acquisition-marathon/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Customer Acquisition Marketing departments work hard in our busy digital world to sell their company’s product, but it’s fair to say they’re often hamstrung by high abandonment rates because the onboarding user journey is simply too arduous. New customer acquisition is much like running a marathon. What counts is getting to the finishing line and a signed agreement. Marketing departments work hard in our busy digital world to sell their company’s product, but it’s fair to say they’re often hamstrung by high abandonment rates because the onboarding user journey is simply too arduous. Whilst this was a problem pre-pandemic, it’s been supercharged by the consequences of COVID-19. Even the most reluctant consumers have been forced to become digitally savvy due to repeated lockdowns, and they now expect the same convenience and ease they experience with the GAFA companies across the board. A 2020 study by Signicat, conducted at the height of the pandemic, found that European financial institutions are losing almost two-thirds of applicants during the onboarding stage. Breaking this down further, 26% of respondents classed the onboarding process as "difficult", whilst over a quarter (28%) said it’s longer than expected. The Digital Banking Report 2020 also revealed that abandonment rates increase significantly as the time to complete an application increases. If the process takes over ten minutes for opening an account online, or five minutes for a mobile process, the abandonment rate is as high as 40%. More recently, research by Thomson Reuters revealed that an eye-opening 89% of customers go through an onboarding process that creates friction and frustration. As a result, 13% choose to switch to a competitor. Technology and data prove valuable teammates Thankfully, there’s now customer acquisition technology available that can help... --- ### Boosting Profitability by Minimising Customer Friction - Published: 2021-07-30 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/boosting-profitability-by-minimising-customer-friction/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: open banking 30% of banking customers said they face high friction when applying for a loan or mortgage, whilst 28% cited the issue when opening a bank account. Competition in the financial services space has reached boiling point, heaping pressure on the world’s banks and financial institutions. And it’s hardly a secret that customers faced with friction are frustrated and considering their options. The World FinTech Report 2021, published by CapGemini and EFMA, references key areas of bank friction, two of which are central to the drive for profitability for both banks and fintechs alike. In answering the report’s ‘Voice of the Customer’ survey, 30% of banking customers said they face high friction when applying for a loan or mortgage, whilst 28% cited the issue when opening a bank account. Smoothing out a cumbersome process The application and onboarding process is littered with friction points, with research from Oliver Wyman, for example, highlighting that it can take 90-120 days to overcome obstacles and onboard banking customers. In a world increasingly shaped by the likes of Amazon and Apple, today’s consumer and business customers won’t tolerate such lengthy processes any more. Banks and other financial institutions are shooting themselves in the foot in the race for profitability. Any other business creating this much friction for a third of its customers would rightly be pilloried. But banks continue to do so, despite the fact that, thanks to Open Banking and other data sources, there’s now a plethora of data being collected from customers with their consent. There’s really no reason why friction should be a reality. For either credit applications or account opening, yes, there will always be regulatory requirements... --- ### We’ve re-engineered our platform in response to the changing digital banking landscape - Published: 2021-06-21 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/weve-re-engineered-our-platform-in-response-to-the-changing-digital-banking-landscape/ - Categories: Blog Post As the financial services ecosystem continues to shift around us, we’re proud to have launched Ezbob Express, our new high-speed, data-driven customer acquisition platform. As the financial services ecosystem continues to shift around us, we’re proud to have launched Ezbob Express, our new high-speed, data-driven customer acquisition platform. It’s a modular SaaS platform that delivers more customers to companies, in a more profitable way. The advanced cloud-based modular design offers unmatched deployment speed and flexibility – which is exactly what today’s financial institutions need to stay at the forefront of their customers’ thinking. It has also enabled us to move beyond lending and account opening solutions to offer our clients support on a wider array of financial services products, such as overdrafts, credit cards and asset finance. Meeting the need for speed The simple reason behind this re-engineering of Ezbob’s platform is that our technology is now required by all parts of the financial services industry. Whilst the industry has been exploring digital transformation for more than a decade, it’s fair to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has effectively exposed both leaders and laggards when it comes to providing an outstanding digital user experience. Repeated lockdowns have seen consumer expectations rise further. When it comes to their money, people now demand the same instant service and excellent user journey from their financial services providers that Amazon and the other big techs provide. And in an age of embedded finance, if financial institutions can’t meet these demands, it’s these big techs, who are now rolling out financial products, that their customers will turn to.    This widespread consumer demand for instant decisions means there’s never... --- ### ezbob Wins Awards in Credit and Innovation - Published: 2021-05-14 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-wins-awards-in-credit-and-innovation/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: awards, credit, innovation Ezbob have won two awards in credit and innovation! ezbob have won two awards in credit and innovation! Tomer Guriel, CEO at ezbob has made it into the Credit Strategy Credit 500 Index (register to view) for his influence in the world of credit. Way before the current crop of well-known challenger banks were around, Tomer was innovating with alternative financing for business. Today, he continues to innovate by enhancing the ezbob Express platform making it flexible and affordable for financial institutions of all sizes as well as embedded finance providers. Shortly after Tomer’s award was announced, ezbob won an innovation award as part of Global Finance Magazine’s, The Innovators 2021. These awards are recognition for the results ezbob are driving for clients such as Metro Bank and Intesa Sanpaolo. Metro Bank were able to automate up to 94% of business loan applications during the pandemic thanks to ezbob’s data-driven, high-speed customer acquisition platform. You can download the Metro Bank case study here. --- ### What do US customers really want from their banking providers? - Published: 2021-05-10 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/what-do-us-customers-really-want-from-their-banking-providers/ - Categories: Blog Post Having seen what’s available in adjacent industries, US consumers and small businesses are demanding a higher level of customer service... This article first appeared on Finextra. Having seen what’s available in adjacent industries, US consumers and small businesses are demanding a higher level of customer service, a better user experience (UX), and the necessary saving seen what’s available in adjacent industries, US consumers and small businesses are demanding a higher level of customer service, a better user experience (UX), and the necessary security measures to keep them safe as the world recovers. By adopting the latest digital solutions, banks and other financial institutions can make sure that they meet these pressing needs. Between big banks, credit unions, and online challenger banks, US consumers and small businesses have more banking options to choose from than ever before. So how do they decide which bank they’ll actually use? They want financial institutions that will meet their growing appetite for digital services, with the COVID-19 pandemic pushing even the most reluctant Americans online to manage their financial lives. Ramping up digital sales capabilities According to in-depth research by Celent, the digital sales capabilities of US financial institutions has grown rapidly since 2016. It’s typically more developed in the consumer/personal account space, but business services are catching up fast. By January 2019, as seen in the chart below, most US financial institutions offered online account opening capability, with cards and non-mortgage lending following close behind. Source: Celent survey of North American financial institutions, January 2019, n=160. Q: Is your institution selling and originating new products digitally? Across 2020 and into this year, the demand... --- ### US financial institutions embrace digital transformation in the wake of COVID-19 - Published: 2021-04-29 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/us-financial-institutions-embrace-digital-transformation-in-the-wake-of-covid-19/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: covid19, digital transformation, usa As the dust settles, a strong digital appetite is emerging amongst US financial institutions who are increasing focus and spend on digital capabilities... As the dust settles, a strong digital appetite is emerging amongst US financial institutions who are increasing focus and spend on digital capabilities, customer onboarding, and product origination. The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped how banks interact with their customers. This is particularly true in the US, which has more financial institutions that any other country and a total market size in the range of the European Union (EU). Many of these financial institutions have been busy over the last year taking part in comprehensive government-backed lending programs, which have fuelled new relationships with small businesses and consumers. The most prominent is the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a $953 billion business loan program established by the US government in 2020 to help businesses, self-employed workers, sole proprietors, and non-profit organisations to continue paying their employees. In just four months last year, more than five million US businesses received a PPP loan. The pandemic has fuelled financial innovation, changing the art of the possible. One eye-opening statistic from a recent Celent report is that 5,400 financial institutions – one-third of lenders in the US – are supporting almost three million borrowers with a lending product that simply did not exist a few months ago. Another staggering fact is that 14 years’ worth of loans were processed in just 14 days at one point last year. These figures highlight the profound impact that COVID-19 has had on demand for borrowing as people battle the economic effect of repeated lockdowns. Financial institutions have had... --- ### Matching the Challenger Banks in Digital SME Lending - Published: 2021-03-22 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/matching-the-challenger-banks-in-digital-sme-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: digital lender, Funding, SMEs The UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have traditionally turned to the big high street lenders for all of their financing needs. (This post first appeared on Finextra) The UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have traditionally turned to the big high street lenders for all of their financing needs. The much-publicised advent of the challenger banks is reshaping this dynamic, and it’s crucial for the incumbents to invest in their digital services in order to stay competitive and retain market share. SME lending in the UK is typically dominated by five prominent banking groups: NatWest Group, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Santander, and HSBC. These brands are household names, familiar to small businesses throughout the nation. However, new research from Marqeta has revealed that 84% of the UK’s SMEs have become frustrated with their current lending experience, with 90% demanding more digital services to help them navigate the complexities of the COVID-19 environment. The high street banks are under pressure for their treatment of SME customers during the pandemic with multiple loan applications declined, despite firms being eligible for funding. The UK banking and finance industry has been overwhelmed by applications and has only supported around 27% of British businesses through the government-backed coronavirus lending schemes, almost a year since the schemes were introduced. Small business owners are losing confidence in the UK’s biggest banks and are increasingly considering switching their business across to the raft of digital challengers. This is a trend that started before the pandemic. A 2019 study by the British Business Bank, for example, found that amongst those who had contacted finance providers other than the ‘Big Five’,... --- ### Pioneering Innovative Partnerships - Published: 2021-03-21 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/how-to-accelerate-digital-lending-with-data-automation/ - Categories: Videos - Tags: digital lender, Lending Pioneering Innovative Partnerships | ezbob and Israel Discount Bank webinar Pioneering Innovative Partnerships: Unveiling the game-changing Fintech hybrid model at the point of need. Don't get left behind in today's fast-paced business environment. In our recent webinar, we shared learnings from the experience of creating Greenlend, elaborating on the concept of a hybrid relationship in more detail. Watch the webinar and get ready to embrace the exciting opportunity that hybrid ventures offer. https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=sl8ypBYN8ZQ --- ### Watch On-Demand Ezbob at Fintech Talents Lending 3.0 - Published: 2021-03-16 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/watch-on-demand-ezbob-at-fintech-talents-lending-3-0/ - Categories: Blog Post In February, Ezbob were speakers at FinTech Talent’s Lending 3.0, the conference completely dedicated to exploring the next generation of digital lending. In February, Ezbob were speakers at FinTech Talent’s Lending 3. 0, the conference completely dedicated to exploring the next generation of digital lending. Missed out? Don’t worry, we have all the Ezbob sessions available on-demand below. Panel Discussion: “Decisions Powered by Data” which will explore how Open Banking/Finance is enabling personalized services, dealing with risk and combating fraud. Yaron Shoshani, CTO @ Ezbob Andy Piggott, Head of Lending @Metro Bank Tom Renwick, Business Banking Propositions Manager, Atom Bank Moderator: Liz Lumley, Director of VC Innovations Virtual round table: 50 Shades of Digital Lending, a peer-to-peer discussion led by Marc Philippo, VP Sales @ Ezbob, will cover the varying degrees of digital transformation and how to achieve continuous improvement. Digital Lending Clinic: 5 Tips for Improving Digital Lending, led by Julita Lange, Director of Sales @ Ezbob, will present her findings on the common flaws in digital lending programs and show how to make easy improvements that will deliver more business. A silver lining for lending - FTT Chat. In this chat, Tomer Guriel (CEO @ Ezbob) discusses the new relationships being formed by banks and SMEs, creating an Amazon or Netflix experience for customers and whether the global pandemic has been ‘good’ for the lending sector. --- ### Navigating the dominance of Tier 1 banks in UK SME lending - Published: 2021-03-08 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/navigating-the-dominance-of-tier-1-banks-in-uk-sme-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, SMEs, Technology Industry research highlights that SME lending in the UK is dominated by five Tier 1 banks that small companies know very well. Industry research highlights that SME lending in the UK is dominated by five Tier 1 banks that small companies know very well and therefore offer a comfort factor. How can smaller financial institutions break into the circle and help provide the finance that SMEs need as they lead the economic response to COVID-19? SME lending in the UK market is currently dominated by five prominent banking groups: NatWest Group, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Santander, and HSBC. Recent findings from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) reveal that these five groups account for approximately 80% of the value of SME loans in the UK. Small business owners have grown up with these big banking names and trust these brands to support their financial needs. A study by the British Business Bank (BBB) has found that only 40% of SMEs contact more than one bank when thinking about financing. When they seek loans, the majority consider only their current account provider. This points to the importance of an existing relationship. And this begs the question of what the myriad other financial institutions can do to gain market share in SME lending, especially amidst high demand: according to HM Treasury, UK firms have taken out more than £70 billion in loans since the pandemic began. Interestingly, the BBB study also noted that amongst those who have contacted finance providers other than the Big Five, one in five contacted a challenger bank. These challenger banks are setting new standards for excellence in customer experience,... --- ### Fintech Talents Lending - Published: 2021-03-08 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/fintech-futures-virtual-arena-ezbob-profile/ - Categories: Videos - Tags: Fintech ezbob Roundtable at Fintech Talents Lending 3. 0 | 24 Feb 2021 Virtual round table: 50 Shades of Digital Lending, a peer-to-peer discussion led by Marc Philippo, VP Sales @ ezbob, covers the varying degrees of digital transformation and how to achieve continuous improvement. https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=zl1MAp6W3Pg --- ### A silver lining for lending - Published: 2021-03-03 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ftt-clinic-on-demand/ - Categories: Videos - Tags: digital lender, Lending A silver lining for lending - FTT Chat with Tomer Guriel In this chat, Tomer Guriel Co-Founder and CEO @ ezbob discusses the new relationships being formed by banks and SMEs, creating an Amazon or Netflix experience for customers, and whether the global pandemic has been ‘good’ for the lending sector. https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=HnmruulT4sU --- ### EzBob Panel at Fintech Talents Lending - Published: 2021-02-24 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ftt-roundtable-on-demand/ - Categories: Videos - Tags: digital lender, Lending ezbob Panel at Fintech Talents Lending 3 0 Decisions powered by Data Panel Discussion: “Decisions Powered by Data” explored how Open Banking/Finance is enabling personalized services, dealing with risk, and combating fraud. - Yaron Shoshani, CTO @ Ezbob - Andy Piggott, Head of Lending @Metro Bank - Tom Renwick, Business Banking Propositions Manager, Atom Bank - Moderator: Liz Lumley, Director of VC Innovations https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=zc2PxE859Bk --- ### Data automation - ezbob and Finextra Webinar - Published: 2021-02-24 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ftt-panel-on-demand/ - Categories: Videos - Tags: data How to accelerate digital lending with data automation - ezbob and Finextra Webinar | 25 Feb 2021 This webinar focuses on how business lending is changing due to digital transformation and accelerated by Covid-19. Many years of digital transformation has taken place in the space of just a few months as banks looked at paper-intensive processes such as loan applications and made them digital from end to end. This not only improves the client experience, but slashes many costs associated with lending. Small businesses are likely to play a key role in the post-Covid economy of 2021 and beyond. The size of this market is so large that there is plenty of opportunity for all size banks. Lending to small businesses has always been seen as expensive due to the array of manual processes required in onboarding, relationship management and so on. Digital transformation streamlines, expedites and reduces the cost of these processes, making this form of lending far more viable for financial institutions, particularly smaller players. Digital processes alongside open banking platforms and AI-driven tools will therefore enable banks to help small businesses navigate the lockdowns and other Covid-related restrictions, as well as the economic recovery thereafter. This proved invaluable throughout 2020 in enabling institutions to funnel government grants, loans and other funding to companies quickly and efficiently, preventing delays that could have proved fatal. This will remain vital into 2021 as the lockdowns and other restrictions on business activity show little sign of abating. The webinar covers: The... --- ### Ezbob digital lending events in Feb - Finextra and FTT Lending 3.0 - Published: 2021-02-12 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-events-in-feb-finextra-and-ftt-lending-3-0/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: events, webinar Want to see Ezbob live in action? This month you have two opportunities: Fintech Talents (FTT) Lending 3.0 and a Finextra Webinar. Want to see Ezbob live in action? This month you have two opportunities: 1. Fintech Talents (FTT) Lending 3. 0 on 24 February - register here 2. Finextra Webinar on 25 February at 15:00 GMT - register here More on FTT Lending 3. 0 If you’re involved with digital lending and wondering where the industry is going, then you don’t want to miss FinTech Talent’s Lending 3. 0, the conference completely dedicated to exploring the next generation of digital lending. You’ll hear from the industry’s leading voices about trends, best practices and more – over 1,000 people have registered already. And best of all, the virtual conference is completely FREE! Conference Date: 24th February Ezbob is a sponsor of the conference and will be speaking at several times throughout. Panel Discussion: “Decisions Powered by Data” which will explore how Open Banking/Finance is enabling personalized services, dealing with risk and combating fraud. Yaron Shoshani, CTO @ Ezbob Andy Piggott, Head of Lending @Metro Bank Tom Renwick, Business Banking Propositions Manager, Atom Bank Moderator: Liz Lumly, Director of VC Innovations Virtual round table: 50 Shades of Digital Lending, a peer-to-peer discussion led by Marc Philippo, VP Sales @ Ezbob, will cover the varying degrees of digital transformation and how to achieve continuous improvement. Digital Lending Clinic: 5 Tips for Improving Digital Lending, led by Julita Lang, Director of Sales @ Ezbob, will present her findings on the common flaws in digital lending programs and show how to make easy improvements that will... --- ### Conquer the New World of Risk > Download the White Paper on How can banks conquer the new world of risk? - Published: 2021-02-08 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/?p=833 - Categories: White Papers - Tags: Banking Download the White Paper on Conquering Risk Key takeaways: 30X the man-hours needed for manual processing versus Ezbob’s Smart Onboarding Increased profitability and ability to generate lending portfolios in an automated or semi-automated manner >4,000 variables collected from multiple sources to determine risk How can banks conquer the new world of risk? Traditional methods using credit bureaux alone aren’t enough to get a full and, crucially, current picture of a small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) financial health.  Lenders need to draw on multiple data sources simultaneously, including the data that is available in the Open Banking environment to better assess credit risk of both new and existing customers. Learn more in this discussion with John Christiansen, Chief Risk Officer at ezbob by downloading the white paper. Fill in the form to download the white paper today --- ### Smarter onboarding in lending > Download the White Paper: Bringing Smarter Onboarding to the Lending Sector - Published: 2021-02-08 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/?p=829 - Categories: White Papers - Tags: Lending Bringing Smarter Onboarding to the Lending Sector Key takeaways: Banks and non-financial institutions are increasingly turning to agile fintechs in abide to boost their product range and service offering. One key benefit of adopting smart onboarding technology is that it allows banks to onboard customers more efficiently, driving down the associated time and costs. New technology also harnessing the latest developments in biometrics and artificial intelligence to further bolster lending speed and efficiency. Fill in the form to download the white paper today --- ### Building SME Relationships Post-Pandemic - Published: 2021-02-02 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/banking-in-transition-podcast/ - Categories: Podcasts Banking in Transition Episode 1: Building SME Relationships post-pandemic Tomer Guriel, co-founder and CEO of ezbob, talks to The Banker’s Kimberley Long about how SME lending may change in the future, and how digital transformation will progress this. --- ### ‘Banks should deliver the same experience as Amazon and Netflix’, says Ezbob CEO - Published: 2021-01-24 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/banks-should-deliver-the-same-experience-as-amazon-and-netflix-says-ezbob-ceo/ - Categories: Blog Post After a year that was hugely disrupted by Covid-19 and the entire economy and its workforce moved online, City A.M. sat down with Tomer Guriel. This article originally appeared on CityAM. To download the article, click here. After a year that was hugely disrupted by Covid-19 and the entire economy and its workforce moved online, City A. M. sat down with Tomer Guriel, CEO of Mayfair-based Ezbob, which provides digital lending software to some of the biggest banks and financial institutions in the City. A vaccine is being rolled out, so the City may slowly leave this dark pandemic behind. What will this year hold for UK businesses as they build towards recovery? The much-publicised government lending programmes have enabled banks to establish new relationships with many SMEs. The challenge now is how to deepen these relationships to drive profitability. Open Banking will continue to be further embraced by financial institutions and their customers. So what will SME lending look like post-Covid? There are two elements to consider when answering your question: lending programmes and the SMEs themselves. The past year has highlighted which SMEs are resilient, and which are not. Those that have shifted their business online, whether they’re a restaurant, a retailer or from another sector, have benefited from a significant spike in online consumption as consumer behaviours change amidst the pandemic, and many have actually become more profitable. Online is a more cost-effective way of managing your business. So what are the consequences? Such businesses are in a strong position to borrow, whether the scheme is backed by the government or not. The UK Chancellor has extended the government’s lending programmes until... --- ### 4 drivers fueling digital lending - Published: 2021-01-18 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/4-drivers-fuelling-digital-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, covid19, digital lender, Technology In the last few years, new digital lending models have emerged around the world and this trend has been hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last few years, new digital lending models have emerged around the world and this trend has been hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The movement has been spearheaded by fintechs but traditional lenders are following suit as they seek to challenge the challenger banks and remain competitive. Several drivers have come together to turbo charge this space. In a recent report, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) identified four marketplace changes that are driving the rapid move towards digital lending. Changing consumer behaviours Technological advancements Regulatory changes The fintech game changers Breaking down the 4 drivers  Firstly, and most significantly, consumer behaviours have changed. People are spending more time online, with the pandemic pushing even the most reluctant users towards digital channels. Consumers now expect the same level of service and UX from financial services that they receive from the big techs and digitally-native service providers like Netflix. They want convenience. This appetite is highlighted in new research by the Bank Administration Institute, which showed that a quarter of consumers consider convenience to be the most important factor when opening a new bank account; more important than both better rates (14%) or lower fees (10%). Secondly, there have been widespread technological changes, from the increased use of, and reliance on, smartphones through to the ability for lenders to now conduct entire KYC processes online, without ever meeting the person face-to-face. Thirdly, and complementary to technological advancements, changes in regulations and compliance around digital engagement (think the likes of GDPR and PSD2)... --- ### Esme Loans 300% Growth > Download the Esme Loans Case Study: How Esme Loans Tapped Advanced Technology to Fuel Its 300% Growth - Published: 2021-01-08 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/?p=836 - Categories: Case Studies Download the Esme Loans Case Study Founded in 2016 with the backing of NatWest, Esme Loans, a digital lending platform for the UK’s SMEs, was conceived by a NatWest innovation cell in response to the rise in alternative lending  fuelled by new and innovative technologies. The case study covers how Esme Loans: Grew 300% for two consecutive years across 2018 and 2019 Achieved rapid growth lending >£149m using a digital, end-to-end SME lending solution Customers benefited from speed and convenience earning a 4. 5 Trustpilot rating and Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 75 Offers instant lending decisions for loans of up to £250,000 Download the case study to find out more. --- ### Innovation in the Digital Post-Covid World - Intesa Sanpaolo > Download the Esme Loans Case Study: How Esme Loans Tapped Advanced Technology to Fuel Its 300% Growth - Published: 2021-01-08 - Modified: 2025-02-10 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/?p=1644 - Categories: Case Studies Download the Intesa Sanpaolo Case Study Intesa Sanpaolo is the leading Italian bank Smart Lending for SME lending projects with ezbob. To stay ahead of the competition with innovative technology, and strive to capture emerging market trends ahead of time, while resolving internal issues such as processing time, and how to support different business units. The case study covers how Intesa Sanpolo: Conducting better risk management and informed credit decisions. Reduces complexity and boosts the timeframe to 15 minutes. Drive down costs. Improving customer service, enhancing speed and the user journey. Quicker and more efficient immediate loan processing, on top of human service. Download the case study to find out more. --- ### Helping British Business to Bounce Back - Metro Bank Case Study > Download the Esme Loans Case Study: How Esme Loans Tapped Advanced Technology to Fuel Its 300% Growth - Published: 2021-01-08 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/?p=1646 - Categories: Case Studies How ezbob helped Metro Bank one of the UK’s highly regarded challenger banks implement their SME lending platform To embark on a digital, automated Platform for quicker approval times and a highly efficient solution to best fit the high-level demand and expectations of SMEs. The case study covers the result of the ezbob and Metro Bank collaboration: 6 weeks Time to Market 86% increase in approval rate 94% fully-automated approvals 90% of users completed the application in less than 5 minutes Instant checks for potential fraud with Credit IndustryFraudAvoidance System and location/device checks. Download the case study to find out more. --- ### Ezbob Win Best Technology Partner at Lending Awards 2020 - Published: 2020-11-20 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-win-best-technology-partner-at-lending-awards-2020/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: awards, Lending This week, Ezbob won the Best Technology Partner award at the Lending Awards 2020. This week, Ezbob won the Best Technology Partner award at the Lending Awards 2020. As the only awards programme covering the mortgage, commercial and alternative lending industries, the Lending Awards recognised outstanding achievement across all three verticals, in a year that all lenders have been working under exceptional pressure. The awards followed a new-look Lending Summit, held over two days as an interactive digital broadcast, which brought together presenters from lenders including Lloyds Banking Group, Skipton Building Society, HSBC, Hitachi Capital, Cambridge Building Society, Beverly Building Society, Roma Finance, Haydock Finance and others. The independent judging panel for the awards comprised directors and executives working in roles such as head of credit risk, chief credit officer, director of SME banking and head of venture debt across lenders including HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Oakbrook Finance, Virgin Money and Paragon Bank. --- ### How Banks Can Accelerate Customer Acquisition by Simplifying the Application Process - Published: 2020-11-11 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/how-banks-can-accelerate-customer-acquisition-by-simplifying-the-application-process/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: digital transformation, smart onboarding, SMEs Today people are expecting the same ease-of-use and convenience that tech leaders such as Amazon and Google provide them in their everyday lives. Today people are expecting the same ease-of-use and convenience that tech leaders such as Amazon and Google provide them in their everyday lives.  How they interact with financial services providers is no different.  Yet the abundant evidence is that most banks have a long way to go before they can claim to be meeting these increasingly demanding customer expectations.    Finder. com’s 2020 banking adoption report predicted that within five years, 44% of UK adults will have a digital-only bank account. This isn’t at all surprising when you consider the exponential growth rates enjoyed by the newer digital banks, such as Monzo, Revolut, and Starling.   Challenger banks are setting new standards for excellence in customer experience, speed, and lower operating costs that all other financial institutions must match in order to stay competitive.  One of the big advantages that they offer is a much smoother online journey involving less form filling and time spent waiting for decisions on important matters such as loans and lines of credit.    To illustrate, research by user experience (UX) consultants ‘Built for Mars’ revealed that it takes five times as many clicks to open a bank account with First Direct than it does with Revolut. The challengers also require much less data gathering – for example, HSBC still requires that a new customer provides their last three addresses, whilst Metro Bank just needs a current address, and then lets its advanced data analysis do the heavy lifting.   The evidence also suggests that SMEs (small and medium size enterprises) are also seeking convenience when it comes to business banking. A recent study by the British Business Bank highlighted that ‘ease of application’ is the third most important factor (behind ‘existing relationship’ and ‘interest rates offered’) when it... --- ### COVID-19 has Spiked Unmet Demand for SME Lending – How the UK Government’s BCR Programme is Helping - Published: 2020-11-05 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/covid-19-has-spiked-unmet-demand-for-sme-lending-how-the-uk-governments-bcr-programme-is-helping/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: covid19, Lending, SMEs Across the UK 360,000 SMEs loans have been rejected and the loans approved, were 30% below pre-COVID averages – BCR can help. Across the UK 360,000 SMEs loans have been rejected and the loans approved, were 30% below pre-COVID averages – BCR can help. COVID-19 is reshaping the world as we know it, and this includes the lending sector. The UK’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) - the backbone of the country’s economy which account for around half of turnover in the private sector - need access to funds fast as they seek to secure their cashflow and stay afloat amidst the pandemic. There is significant demand in the SME market for borrowing, a fact evidenced by the popularity of the government-supported funding programmes maintained by the British Business Bank since May 2020. Whilst over £50 billion of funding had been provided by September 2020, the government programmes - including the much-publicised Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), and the Future Fund – simply aren’t meeting the expansive needs of many businesses. The lenders accredited for these programmes by the British Business Bank had rejected 22% of applicants as of 20 September, according to publicly-available data, amounting to over 360,000 businesses. Lending to SMEs under government programmes – number of facilities approved (Sep 2020) And those that are being helped aren’t being helped enough. Ezbob’s own research shows that the mean loan amount across all government programmes as of 20 September was £43,671, whereas the mean for other, non-British Business Bank supported lenders that Ezbob works with is... --- ### Pioneering ‘lending-as-a-service’ in the UK - Published: 2020-10-08 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/pioneering-lending-as-a-service-in-the-uk/ - Categories: Podcasts Yaron Shoshani - CTO of ezbob on pioneering the ‘lending-as-a-service’ in the UK Yaron Shoshani is the CTO of ezbob which is a UK based software provider for banks and other financial institutions and a pioneer in the rapidly growing ‘lending-as-a-service’ (LaaS) sector. --- ### Interview: Digital transformation in small business lending - Published: 2020-09-23 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/interview-digital-transformation-in-small-business-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: digital transformation, lending-as-a-service, SMEs Axis Corporate have produced a podcast interview on Digital Transformation in Small Business Lending. Axis Corporate have produced a podcast interview on Digital Transformation in Small Business Lending. In this episode, they talk to Yaron Shoshani, Chief Technology Officer at ezbob. Yaron shares his view on why the banking industry is going fully digital in small business lending, how business onboarding will change post COVID-19, and what Ezbob are working on at the moment. Tune in and listen below: --- ### Digital transformation in small business lending - Published: 2020-09-23 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/interview-digital-transformation-in-small-business-lending-2/ - Categories: Podcasts - Tags: digital transformation, lending-as-a-service, SMEs Interview: Digital transformation in small business lending Axis Corporate have produced a podcast interview on Digital Transformation in Small Business Lending. In this episode, they talk to Yaron Shoshani, Chief Technology Officer at ezbob. Yaron shares his view on why the banking industry is going fully digital in small business lending, how business onboarding will change post COVID-19, and what Ezbob are working on at the moment. Tune in and listen below: --- ### ezbob awarded £2.5m BCR’s Pool E funding - Published: 2020-08-18 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-awarded-2-5m-bcrs-pool-e-funding/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: digital transformation, Fintech, SMEs ezbob has today announced that it has been awarded £2.5m as part of the BCR’s (Banking Competition Remedies) £100m Pool E which it applied for in July. ezbob, an established technology provider that powers the digital SME lending for Tier 1 financial institutions has today announced that it has been awarded £2. 5m as part of the BCR’s (Banking Competition Remedies) £20m Pool E grant which it applied for in July. Tomer Guriel, Founder and CEO at ezbob, said: “We are excited to have been awarded the BCR Pool E funds which will allow us to democratize our technology making it more widely available to smaller financial institutions. The problem faced by these institutions is their inability to access advanced technology due to the significant investment required. Through the BCR funds, we will reduce the investment barrier allowing smaller financial institutions to benefit from our smart onboarding technology. Post Covid-19 the digitisation of lending is now essential to service the needs of SMEs. There is no better company able to provide it than ezbob with its experience and track record. ” ezbob’s technological solution enables financial institutions to become digital champions in weeks. Using our cloud-based technology, financial institutions can onboard a SME applicant via a 100% digital process eliminating the need for paperwork. ezbob’s pioneering technology includes API connectivity to over 40 data services including KYC, AML, Fraud, Open Banking and Credit Bureaus. This reduces the time it takes an applicant to complete a loan application to minutes. --- ### ezbob technology delivers £1b+ to UK SMEs during June and July - Published: 2020-08-12 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-technology-delivers-1b-to-uk-smes-during-june-and-july/ - Categories: Blog Post The impact of the Coronavirus has had a profound effect on small businesses with emergency funding being at its most critical. The impact of the Coronavirus has had a profound effect on small businesses with emergency funding being at its most critical. It has shone a glaring spotlight on the finance sector to do its part in keeping thousands of small businesses afloat. It has also provided an opportunity for financial technology firms to demonstrate their ability to quickly innovate, build and deliver solutions fast as the crisis unfolded. At ezbob we feel privileged to have been placed on the front line supporting financial institutions facing a deluge of applications as a result of the Government’s coronavirus small business lending programme. The stakes could not be higher. These are not cold numbers on a spreadsheet.   Each delayed application impacts the livelihoods of people who for years would have worked hard to build something of value, only to see it all being laid to waste.   Pressure from the regulator to deliver on the Government’s promise has added further focus. The task entrusted to ezbob by our customers has been enormous. Working 24x7, ezbob has delivered end to end digital lending solutions to support CBILS and BBLS in weeks rather than months.  Today, ezbob’s technology has delivered more than £1Bn in loans and helped tens of thousands of small businesses to access emergency funding. The result has been high praise across both social media and the press. There are few occasions when the work we do on a daily basis can have such a major impact on people’s lives. At ezbob... --- ### Lending Post Covid-19: New Data Sources and Technologies - Published: 2020-07-27 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/lending-post-covid-19-new-data-sources-and-technologies/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: big data, covid19, credit, digital lender, digital transformation, SMEs Coronavirus is changing the world, and this includes people’s financial behaviour. Lenders need to understand this new operating environment Coronavirus is changing the world, and this includes people’s financial behaviour. Lenders need to understand this new operating environment, and to do this they must tap into the new data sources and technologies that are on offer. The Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the finances of both UK consumers and companies, with millions struggling to pay their bills on time due to the associated economic lockdown. This has dramatically altered the lending landscape, with a spike in borrowing as businesses turn to lenders to help them mitigate the effects of Covid-19. According to UK Finance, government schemes have seen massive demand: as at 21st July 2020, over 1. 14 million government-backed loans have been distributed since the start of the crisis, including £12. 2 billion worth of CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) loans. SME lending is at a tipping point. Lenders are struggling to cope with demand and the approval rate for CBILS loans remains only around 50%. Some commentators say that these emergency lending schemes rely too heavily on old, cumbersome legacy technology and processes. It’s impossible for lenders to continue business as usual whilst relying on traditional credit bureau data and processes. Now, more than ever, they need to embrace new data sources and technologies in order to analyse and understand borrower needs in this rapidly changing environment. Using the wide scope of transaction data available thanks to Open Banking, for example, can help lenders to continue issuing loans in these unusual times and they’re better able... --- ### Things to Consider – Digitising your SME Lending Customer Journey - Published: 2020-07-13 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/things-to-consider-digitising-your-sme-lending-customer-journey/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: cfo, digital lender, digital transformation, Fintech, SMEs We interview Tomer Guriel (CEO and Founder, ezbob) and Yaron Shoshani (CTO, ezbob) on key questions around digitising SME lending. We interview Tomer Guriel (CEO and Founder, ezbob) and Yaron Shoshani (CTO, ezbob) on key questions around digitising SME lending. Guriel is the founder of ezbob and Shoshoni has been with the business since its inception when ezbob was a direct lender to small businesses in the UK from 2011 to 2016. Having built a digital lender from the ground up processing over £1 billion applications issuing funds same day, we were intrigued to draw out their experience and provide a helpful article for institutions embarking on a similar journey. Tomer Guriel, ezbob CEO and Founder  Yaron Shoshani, ezbob CTO What criteria should lenders consider from a technology standpoint? The scope of what the lender wants to do itself and what it chooses to outsource will determine the type of technology that is necessary. Very basic technology can be used to lend manually to businesses but, for example, to incorporate third-party data on a real-time basis for automated lending decisions requires integrations into third-party data services. The type of technology required therefore depends completely on the requirements of the lender itself. It’s easier and less costly in the long-run to start with technologies in place that can allow you to scale-up. To migrate from manual processes to digital whilst you are already lending is a lot more challenging and ultimately, costly. It’s better to be prepared for scaling-up early on and use the initial low volumes for testing and optimisation purposes. For example, with lending technologies that can allow automated... --- ### ezbob Submits Bid for Part of BCR’s £100m Pool E - Published: 2020-07-07 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-submits-bid-for-part-of-bcrs-100m-pool-e/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, Fintech ezbob, an established technology provider that powers the digital SME lending arm of several UK banks has today announced that it has submitted... ezbob, an established technology provider that powers the digital SME lending arm of several UK banks has today announced that it has submitted its proposal for part of the BCR’s (Banking Competition Remedies) £100m Pool E. Tomer Guriel, Founder and CEO at ezbob, said: "We are delighted to submit a bid for the BCR Pool E funds which will allow us to provide our technology not only to banks but also to smaller financial institutions – who can benefit from our risk engine and expertise in lending – thereby providing SMEs more funding opportunities. I’m happy that the BCR has allocated 20% of the total BCR funds to Pool E recognizing the importance of technology as part of the much-needed digital transformation now even more necessary post COVID-19. " Since 2017, ezbob’s technology has been deployed at several UK high street banks and has processed in excess of £5 billion in SME loan applications, with over £1 billion of funds deployed to over 30,000 SMEs. "Our company’s DNA matches the BCR initiative which is to enable the digital transformation in banking in order to make sure SMEs can access capital in a fast and efficient manner. During COVID-19, ezbob played a pivotal role supporting tens of thousands of businesses in their need to access critical capital. We want to ensure that more financial institutions have ezbob’s technology so that more SMEs can apply for business funding (online). " Guriel added. ezbob’s technological solution enables financial institutions to become digital champions... --- ### Contagion boosts the case for creditR - Published: 2020-07-01 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/contagion-boosts-the-case-for-creditr/ - Categories: Blog Post The world’s economy has taken a major hit. With millions more businesses and individuals needing to access finance to mitigate the recessionary effects... The world’s economy has taken a major hit. With millions more businesses and individuals needing to access finance to mitigate the recessionary effects of Covid-19, lenders need to adapt to the new world by adopting new model methodologies that better estimate credit risk. Whilst the public health crisis created by Covid-19 appears to be easing in the UK, the worry is that the economic crisis is only just starting. Figures from HMRC highlight that the number of people on company payrolls dropped by 612,000 in May compared with March, and it’s anticipated that unemployment could more than double from the current rate of ~4% - with some economists saying it could hit 10% by the end of 2020. Businesses are borrowing more to stay afloat amidst the pandemic. As at 31st May 2020, financial institutions in the United Kingdom are owed more than £198 billion by small and medium enterprises. The sad reality is that some smaller businesses are destined to fail without access to fair and affordable credit. And as highlighted in the hypothetical below - as larger businesses fall into insolvency, many smaller businesses, whose sales are concentrated within that large business, will become insolvent as well through no fault of their own. The unprecedented economic circumstances have significantly altered the lending landscape as it relates to the estimation of probability of default and it is becoming increasingly impossible for lenders to continue ‘business as usual’ while still relying on the legacy technology and traditional credit decision making.... --- ### ezbob selected for Financial NewTech Watchlist 2020 - Published: 2020-06-19 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-selected-for-financial-newtech-watchlist-2020/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: awards, Fintech, Technology Efma and Capgemini have selected ezbob for the Financial NewTech Watchlist 2020. Efma and Capgemini have selected ezbob for the Financial NewTech Watchlist 2020. The Financial NewTech 2020 Watchlist was unveiled on May 28 during the Financial NewTech Challenge 2020 online ceremony. Hosted on the FinTechVisor portal, this challenge aimed to recognize the most innovative financial NewTechs and identify the most inspiring collaborative projects between NewTechs and financial institutions. ezbob was selected by a panel of experts from Capgemini and Efma. The Watchlist consists of 100 Financial NewTechs (startups or scaleups providing a B2B solution for financial institutions) across the globe that we believe will help reshape the financial services landscape in 2020. Check out the full list here --- ### The crucial role of fintechs in the battle against COVID-19 - Published: 2020-05-05 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/the-crucial-role-of-fintechs-in-the-battle-against-covid-19/ - Categories: Blog Post The UK’s fintechs are stepping up amidst the COVID-19 crisis, rapidly creating new solutions to ease the financial pressure for customers. The UK’s fintechs are stepping up amidst the COVID-19 crisis, rapidly creating new solutions to ease the financial pressure for customers. This will only further strengthen the new dynamic of collaboration between banks and fintechs. Banks are now comfortable collaborating, rather than competing, with fintechs. One of the main attractions is a fintech’s agility and adaptability. Agile fintechs are better suited to pivoting quickly to focus on new solutions, including solutions that can help to mitigate the devastating economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been announced, for example, that alternative lenders Funding Circle and ThinCats have received the green light from the British Business Bank to take part in the government’s coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS). It was this week announced that 52,807 CBILS loans have been applied for, with almost 28,000 still to be approved. Meanwhile Santander, a bank that has always had a strong relationship with fintechs, recently acquired a 50. 1% stake in Ebury, a payments platform geared to providing SMEs with trade finance services that fuel international expansion. This move will help to bolster the bank’s embattled SME clients. There are numerous other good examples of fintechs working on the financial frontline during the pandemic. One of the most significant contributions is the Covid Credit calculator, a new platform brought to life in just 48 hours in a collaboration between Fronted, 11:FS and Credit Kudos. Covid Credit helps self-employed workers to prove a loss of income needed to claim new government benefits. The creators... --- ### ezbob announced as finalists in Financial NewTech Challenge 2020 - Published: 2020-04-22 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-announced-as-finalists-in-financial-newtech-challenge-2020/ - Categories: Blog Post ezbob are Finalists for the Financial NewTech Challenge 2020. ezbob are Finalists for the Financial NewTech Challenge 2020. Out of the 70 nominees, 7 winners will be unveiled during the online Ceremony on 28 May. The challenge is powered by FinTechVisor, a global platform that enables FinTechs, InsurTechs, RegTechs and Financial NewTechs to showcase their solutions as well as empowering an interactive matchmaking tool to foster new partnerships for them with financial institutions.   It offers an opportunity for Financial NewTechs and financial institutions to showcase their collaborative business solutions to a selective panel of experts and industry influencers. For more details about the event, please visit FinTechVisor. --- ### How the UK’s ‘Big Five’ banks are handling CBILS applications - Published: 2020-04-22 - Modified: 2024-05-05 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/how-the-uks-big-five-banks-are-handling-cbils-applications/ - Categories: Blog Post The UK’s SME community continues to be hit hard by the effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown. The UK’s SME community continues to be hit hard by the effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 lockdown. As social distancing measures are further extended into May 2020, we take a look at how five of the biggest banks are handling the spike in CBILS applications. The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) was created to help UK businesses with a turnover of up to £45 million access government-backed finance amidst the pandemic. It’s no secret that it’s got off to a sluggish start. The scheme was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak four weeks ago and has been beset by a number of teething problems. Things are beginning to pick up, but slowly. UK Finance announced in mid-April that 28,461 applications had been received, with 6,016 approved – so a current approval rate of 21%. These approvals have only resulted in around £1. 1 billion of emergency loans. When you consider that the government pledged £330 billion of support, it really hits home how far there is to go. The below table provides a snapshot of how the Big Five UK banks are handling CBILS. Bank How to Apply New/Existing Customers News on Approvals RBS Online or telephone https://www. business. rbs. co. uk/business/support-centre/service-status/coronavirus/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme. html Both Taxpayer-backed RBS has so far approved 2,500 loans Lloyds Online form https://www. lloydsbank. com/business/coronavirus/cbils. html Existing only Customers have cited lengthy delays before being declined Barclays Call-back request form in first instance https://www. barclays. co. uk/business-banking/borrow/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan/  Both Customers have complained about not receiving call-backs Santander Contact... --- ### CFO Interview: The Secret to Working with the Big Banks - Published: 2020-04-20 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/cfo-interview-the-secret-to-working-with-the-big-banks/ - Categories: Blog Post Ben is CFO at ezbob, heading up financial servicing and strategy for one of the leading startups in the lending-as-a-service (LaaS) sector. This article first appeared on Soldo. com. Ben is the Chief Financial Officer at ezbob, heading up financial servicing and strategy for one of the leading startups in the lending-as-a-service (LaaS) sector. ezbob helps banks and financial institutions optimise and automate their lending processes. We discuss automation in the time of lockdown, how to work with big financial clients and the role of the startup CFO in 2020. Q: Ben, could you give us a little more information about what ezbob does and where the idea for the company came from? A: ezbob is a technology business. We provide ‘lending as a service’ software to banks and financial institutions that need to digitally transform the business, mainly SME and consumer lending. We used to be a direct lender in the past to SMEs in the UK, then three years ago, we pivoted to a software provider. We have big-name clients like Royal Bank of Scotland through Esme Loans, Metro Bank, American Express and Clydesdale Yorkshire Banking Group, with more big projects coming soon. With so many small businesses now being forced to shut due to the government-sanctioned lockdown is an opportunity for us to help businesses that desperately need working capital. Our solution is offering banks and financial institutions the chance to make lending in an automatic, remote process so the economy needn’t stop in these strange times. Q: Many startups and fintechs are now moving outdated and more traditional face-to-face processes to digital platforms, be that on mobile, tablet... --- ### ezbob launches CBILS Smart Onboarding engine - Published: 2020-04-20 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-launches-cbils-eligibility-and-credit-assessment-engine/ - Categories: Blog Post ezbob CBILS solution allows financial institutions to deploy smart assessment filtering ensuring SMEs eligible for funding can receive funds quickly ezbob, a leader in the Lending-as-a-Service (LaaS) sector, has today announced that it has launched a CBILS eligibility and credit assessment engine to help get funds to SMEs urgently. According to the BBC “just 1. 4% of enquiries are thought to have made through the scheme”. The solution has been specifically developed to help financial institutions focus on those applications most likely to be approved. It offers a fully digital solution covering affordability and credit decisioning – AML/KYC and fraud assessment can be provided optionally. For financial institutions requiring deeper integration to core platforms, ezbob can provide Single Sign-on (SSO) and data collection from internal systems. Lockdowns and social distancing mean banks are seeing a reduction in branch footfall which is causing a spike in demand across other channels. In April, “Britain's biggest business lender (NatWest) told the BBC that it is receiving nearly 10 times as many calls as usual from firms wanting to take out emergency loans. ”. Many bank staff are now working remotely, and for some banks where digital transformation is still a work in progress, manual processing is required. This is exacerbated by higher loan volumes which in turn reduce the ability to respond to customer demand in a timely manner. This means that SMEs struggling with huge reductions in revenue are not receiving the help promised by the Government. The ezbob CBILS solution requires no need for integration into existing bank infrastructure. It is a fully hosted and managed ecosystem with pre-configured 3rd party... --- ### Five ways lending technology can help banks navigate COVID-19 - Published: 2020-04-15 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/five-ways-lending-technology-can-help-banks-navigate-covid-19/ - Categories: Blog Post The global economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with SMEs and entrepreneurs struggling to access the funds needed The global economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with SMEs and entrepreneurs struggling to access the funds needed to maintain their cashflow. The CBILS initiative has been set up in the UK to help small businesses but it has been beset with problems and has created a spike of new applications that are overwhelming lenders. It’s time for banks and other lenders to look to the benefits of the latest in lending technology. Against a backdrop of huge economic uncertainty, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) has been introduced. Delivered by the British Business Bank via multiple accredited lenders, the scheme has been created to help UK businesses with a turnover of up to £45 million access government-backed finance. However, it has suffered from severe teething problems. A report by City AM last week highlighted that just 2,022 loans have been made to the UK’s SMEs through the initiative. Given there have been around 300,000 applications so far, this means that only 0. 65% of enquiries have resulted in coronavirus business loans. The banks are clearly struggling to process this avalanche of applications. The right partner is needed The nascent Lending-as-a-Service (LaaS) sector is on hand to help. By replacing legacy software with natively digital LaaS platforms, loan approvals are completed inside a working day rather than weeks, with funds disbursed the same day. Here are five ways lending technology can help banks navigate COVID-19: Smarter onboarding. Smarter, automated onboarding application assessment is the key to... --- ### Are banks prepared for the battle with big tech? - Published: 2020-03-23 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/are-banks-prepared-for-the-battle-with-big-tech/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, big data, big tech Until recently, it was the fintechs keeping the banks up at night. But as the incumbent-fintech dynamic moves from disruption to collaboration... Until recently, it was the fintechs keeping the banks up at night. But as the incumbent-fintech dynamic moves from disruption to collaboration, the threat of big tech is growing. Fresh research from Barclays highlights the fact that fintechs and banks are now more interested in collaboration than competition. The driver for this enhanced level of cooperation is raised customer expectations, with consumers that have become completely accustomed to a seamless personalised experience in all other aspects of their digital lives. They fully expect the same in financial services. A single entity – whether a fast-moving fintech or banking behemoth – will struggle to provide this and so new collaborative models built upon banking-as-a-platform foundations are emerging, offering multiple services. As the conflict with fintech dies down, a new battle with big tech begins. Apple has made many headlines with the launch of its new credit card, while Facebook attempted to launch a digital currency, Libra. There are examples of collaboration. Amazon, for instance, is in talks with Goldman Sachs to offer small business loans to its US customers and is also dipping its toes into current accounts in partnership with JP Morgan. But what happens when the big tech companies go all in and become banks themselves, taking deposits, making loans and approving mortgages? The GAFAs (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon) have perfected digital engagement across multiple verticals and touchpoints; they know how to deliver exceptional customer value and experiences. And it’s not just the GAFAs that threaten the traditional banks... --- ### How can UK lenders utilise the £330bn of government Covid-19 lending support? - Published: 2020-03-19 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/how-can-uk-lenders-utilise-the-330bn-of-government-covid-19-lending-support/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: covid19, Funding, SMEs We are in unchartered waters and given the day-to-day dynamism of the global economy and political responses, it’s an increasingly worrying time UK SMEs. We are in unchartered waters and given the day-to-day dynamism of the global economy and political responses, it’s an increasingly worrying time for the ~5. 8 million small and medium sized businesses in the United Kingdom. To ensure UK SMEs can continue to support their ~16. 6 million employees, the UK government has announced measure to support lending to this vital part of the economy – responsible for half of all turnover from the private sector. Funding Situation Given the expected economic impact of the outbreak of coronavirus in the UK there have been several funding options that have been put in place that banks could take advantage of to help support SMEs. The most significant one for the UK is probably the TFSME (Term Funding Scheme with additional incentives for SMEs) by the Bank of England: this is making available both to banks and non-bank lenders money that can be loaned to small businesses and households over a term of up to four years at an interest rate only a little greater than the Bank of England base rate. At the same time as the publication of TFSME there was an announcement – 11 March 2020 – of the reduction in the Bank of England base rate from 75 basis points to 25 basis points. Over and above TFSME, which is specific to lenders who can offer collateral, the British Business Bank is providing support to lenders in the form of loan guarantees via a number of banks and... --- ### Bank of England takes steps to boost SME lending during Covid-19 crisis - Published: 2020-03-11 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/bank-of-england-takes-step-to-boost-sme-lending-during-covid-19-crisis/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: credit, SMEs With the Budget today and the expected impact of Covid-19 on the UK population, the Bank of England have taken two major steps... With the Budget today and the expected impact of Covid-19 on the UK population, the Bank of England have taken two major steps to provide breathing space for lenders and to encourage lenders to make more funding available to SMEs to assist them where there are cash flow issues that may arise. Base Rate The Bank of England have this morning cut the base rate by 50 basis points (bps) to 0. 25% a historic low last seen in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit referendum and before that during the financial crisis of more than a decade ago. One of the purposes of having a rate this low is to encourage commercial banks that retaining funds or placing them with the Bank of England is – whilst safe – an activity that might not generate sufficient returns to shareholders that would support their market capitalisation. If a commercial bank wants to generate returns and increase shareholder value, the best way to do this is to lend. Term Funding Scheme (TFSME) Alongside the low base rate, there is a new term funding scheme offered by the Bank of England which enables lending by commercial banks to the following groups: Private Non-Financial (Limited) Companies with debit turnover of --- ### Metro bank and ezbob partner to deliver next-generation small business loans platform - Published: 2020-03-09 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/metro-bank-and-ezbob-partner-to-deliver-next-generation-small-business-loans-platform/ - Categories: Blog Post Metro Bank has today announced a new partnership with award-winning Lending-as-a-Service (LaaS) provider ezbob to offer Metro Bank’s business customers fast, secure and competitive access to finance. Joining forces to deliver a seamless, end-to-end small business lending process In a major boost for their growth prospects, SMEs will be able to secure vital funding in a matter of minutes and can receive funds on the same day Metro Bank has today announced a new partnership with award-winning Lending-as-a-Service (LaaS) provider ezbob to offer Metro Bank’s business customers fast, secure and competitive access to finance. The new service will help Metro Bank in delivering a seamless, end-to-end small business lending process enabling SMEs to apply for business finance online. Customers will be taken from application through ID&V, documentation, offer and acceptance in a matter of minutes; ultimately enabling funding to be released on the same day. It is set to launch for Metro Bank customers in mid-2020. With its streamlined, fully-managed digital lending proposition for financial institutions, ezbob is the market-leading LaaS provider in the UK today. Its game-changing platform, which harnesses the latest AI advancements and data from the open banking environment, has been built from the ground up by experts in financial technology and commercial lending. The new partnership comes as Metro Bank sets about injecting much needed competition into the small business banking market – deploying the funding it was awarded from the Capability & Innovation Fund alongside the Bank’s own investment. In 2019, Metro Bank also announced partnerships with Funding Options, Conance and DueDil as part of the Bank’s commitment to collaborating with UK SMEs and fintechs by embedding them into the products and... --- ### AI and ML in lending: moving beyond a buzzword - Published: 2020-02-27 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ai-and-ml-in-lending-moving-beyond-a-buzzword/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: AI, credit, Lending, ML There’s been a lot of discussion on the conference circuit about how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can drive financial services... There’s been a lot of discussion on the conference circuit about how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can drive financial services forward as we enter a new decade. It’s time for banks and financial institutions to optimise the signal-to-noise (another AI technology) and find practical applications for the latest AI / ML technology, which can unlock a range of benefits for lenders. Whilst alternative lenders like Lending Club use AI / ML on a daily basis to inform loan decisions, traditional financial institutions have stayed away and watched curiously from the side-lines, driven by supranational regulatory requirements that the executives of a bank or other lender understand the underlying factors at play in any automated lending decision. Banks have continued to rely on analogue factors like credit policies and debt-to-income ratios for underwriting, even though they know they must embrace the digital age and that, in many applications of the latter, this has no impact on prediction of default. They must take a leap of faith. A new study by IHS Markit suggests the business value of AI / ML to the banking sector will reach $300 billion by 2030, whilst Gartner believes that income from AI / ML will triple over the next few years. The big advantages of using AI / ML systems are clear: Routine processes become automated The speed of service increases Costs for decisioning decrease Accuracy of data processing increases   And you get better credit insights Jackson Mueller from the Center for... --- ### ezbob hires first CCO to deliver first class customer service - Published: 2020-02-03 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-hires-its-first-chief-customer-officer-cco-in-push-to-deliver-first-class-customer-service/ - Categories: Blog Post Uri Melzer has joined ezbob as Chief Customer Officer (CCO) as the company dedicates itself to delivering first-class customer service. Uri Melzer has joined ezbob as Chief Customer Officer (CCO) as the company dedicates itself to delivering first-class customer service of the highest standard of quality and reliability. New CCO brings over 35 years of cross-operational experience to ezbob to enhance the standard of service provision to global Tier 1 banks. Melzer is a respected fintech veteran, with over 35 years of experience. His expertise extends to shaping customer success through the development and implementation of large-scale information systems, and associated customer services and operational support management. He is adept at working with both customers and partners in global organisations. Prior to joining ezbob, Melzer held senior management positions at Modelity as Head of Customer Success, Fundtech (now Finastra) as EVP for Global Customers & Services, Amdocs as VP in the APAC Division, and Surecomp as SVP for product development and customer care. He holds a BA in Economics and Computer Science from Bar-Ilan University and an MBA from Tel-Aviv University. Tomer Guriel, Founder & CEO, ezbob, said: “I am happy to welcome Uri Melzer as ezbob’s new Chief Customer Officer. Uri’s extensive customer success experience will ensure that our global customers continue to be provided with a first-class service and the highest standard of quality and reliability. ” Uri Melzer, CCO, ezbob, added: “I’m very excited to be joining a market leader in the burgeoning LaaS technology market. ezbob enjoyed record growth and won several industry awards last year. We’re very well-placed to be the LaaS provider of choice... --- ### How banks can retain their customers in the digital age - Published: 2020-01-30 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/how-banks-can-retain-their-customers-in-the-digital-age/ - Categories: Blog Post In today’s digital-first world, your customers expect more. The advent of Open Banking means that it’s easier than ever for them to look elsewhere In today’s digital-first world, your customers expect more. The advent of Open Banking means that it’s easier than ever for them to look elsewhere if they aren’t satisfied. Make sure they don’t by kicking the tyres on your technology. It’s no longer enough to simply offer a quality product or competitive rates. In the age of Open Banking, fintechs and the FANGs – such as Apple – are moving into the banking space have a number of advantages, whether that’s more agility, seemingly limitless funding, or higher brand awareness. In tandem with a more competitive banking environment, customer expectations have been significantly raised. Consumers live their lives at the touch of a smartphone button, with the ability to book a gym session, buy a car, or order a Chinese banquet in seconds. They now expect the same convenience and frictionless customer journey when it comes to their financial interactions. The data sharing driven by Open Banking allows your customers to browse and apply for financial products at any provider with ease. And if your customer buys a financial product from elsewhere, then your carefully cultivated relationship is at risk. A report by Webloyalty, titled ‘The Unfaithful Consumer’, found that 56% of people surveyed would switch their bank, while only 22% would change their regular restaurant, and only 20% would switch their favourite coffee shop. So what does it take for a bank to keep its customers? In a nutshell, they’re looking for big tech level infrastructure and the user experience... --- ### ezbob appoints new CFO as it seeks to double client base - Published: 2020-01-20 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-appoints-new-cfo-as-it-seeks-to-double-client-base/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: cfo, new hire, new recruitment ezbob has announced that Ben Feldman has been appointed as CFO as the company seeks to double its client base in 2020. Ben Feldman has joined ezbob as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). ezbob, a leader in the ‘Lending as a service’ (LaaS) sector, has today announced that Ben Feldman has been appointed as CFO as the company seeks to double its client base in 2020. Feldman has worked at the intersection of finance and technology for nearly 20 years. He has a wealth of experience with both private and public companies, such as Endymed, U-TX, and Walla! Communications. Prior to joining ezbob, he was CFO at iDigital, which owns all Apple Premium Reseller stores in Israel as well as operating import and distribution of all Apple’ products in Israel. Feldman is a CPA and holds a MBA from Tel Aviv University. Tomer Guriel, Founder & CEO, ezbob, said: “Ben is a very experienced CFO bringing a wealth of financial expertise in private and public entities across many industries. We’re proud to have him as part of our management team. ” Ben Feldman, CFO, ezbob, added: “I’m proud to join ezbob, which is widely seen as a market leader in the lending space. The company is very ambitious and looking to completely transform the lending experience for both financial institutions and their customers across the world. ” --- ### Opening up banking data in lending in 2020 - Published: 2020-01-16 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/opening-up-banking-data-in-lending-in-2020/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, data, open banking This month marks the two year anniversary of open banking. How has the much-lauded legislation impacted the financial services industry? This month marks the two year anniversary of open banking. How has the much-lauded legislation impacted the financial services industry and how can it benefit lenders? Open banking was first launched in the UK in January 2018. It received much attention from the financial community and media, with many heralding it as a game-changing driver for fintech disruption. A reminder of what it actually is. By allowing regulated companies to securely analyse their bank data, open banking offers people and small businesses the chance to receive personalised, tailored support and products that increases access to capital and allows them to better manage their money. The associated regulation (PSD2) requires UK-regulated banks to share their customers’ financial data – with their permission of course - with third party providers through the use of APIs. This makes it much easier for fintechs and other third party providers to develop new products and services, and for customers to access financial services. It creates a more competitive market. As open banking celebrates its second anniversary, it’s fair to say that it’s yet to fully live up to the high expectations placed upon it. But this will change rapidly. According to predictions by PWC, 64% of adults will use open banking technology in some way by 2022. The industry is warming up to open banking. Last year, Imran Gulamhuseinwala, implementation trustee of the Open Banking Implementation Entity (OBIE), told Finextra that: “Two years ago, open banking was regarded by many as a typical compliance exercise... --- ### The impact of 'Golden Files' in lending - Published: 2020-01-09 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/the-impact-of-golden-files-in-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post This year, you can expect to hear a lot more noise about ‘Golden Files’ and the benefits they can introduce. This year, you can expect to hear a lot more noise about ‘Golden Files’ and the benefits they can introduce. But what are they, and how can they boost speed, efficiency and customer experience in the lending industry? There’s a shiny new buzz word in town – ‘Golden File’ (aka Golden Profile). It’s one worth paying attention to. A Golden File is essentially a customer profile that has been enriched by the third party data services now available in the Open Banking environment, and it enables lenders to better refine their services. Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) have become an integral part of our networked world. They can provide today’s financial institutions, fintechs and big tech companies with a wealth of new business opportunities as brick and mortar branches are replaced by digital platforms where customers serve themselves, and in doing so share vast amounts of data. Everything happens faster, functions more efficiently, and is immediately available. Companies must be able to fully understand their customers in order to accompany them as they navigate through their journey. However the digitalisation of the customer means that it’s now harder than ever to create a true 360° view of them because their footprint is stretched across a greater number of websites, social media accounts and other digital platforms. A lender keen to follow this vastly-widened footprint faces a number of challenges. They first have to collect all the data, then store it appropriately before finally making it available for... --- ### Accelerate Digital Lending with Data & Automation > Download the case study: How to Accelerate Digital Lending with Data & Automation. - Published: 2020-01-08 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/?p=847 - Categories: Case Studies Download the case study: How to Accelerate Digital Lending with Data & Automation Key takeaways: 72% webinar attendees expect the demand for SME borrowing to be stronger than pre-pandemic levels. Issuing an SME loan the traditional way costs around £3,500; the latest lending technology can cut up to 80% of this cost 38% of webinar attendees said that Open Banking data has improved their institution’s lending risk and affordability analysis How to Accelerate Digital Lending with Data & Automation The smart use of data, automation and analytics can accelerate digital lending in the post-COVID environment, according to panelists at a recent webinar hosted by ezbob and moderated by Finextra Research. Download the case study today --- ### ezbob and Esme Loans, pick up the 2019 Banking Technology award for ‘Best Fintech Partnership’ - Published: 2019-12-17 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-esme-loans-award-best-fintech-partnership/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: awards, digital transformation, lending-as-a-service ezbob and Esme Loans win two Banking Industry Awards in 2019: announced as winners of the ‘Best Fintech Partnership’ award ezbob and Esme Loans win two Banking Industry Awards in 2019: announced as winners of the ‘Best Fintech Partnership’ award in both FinTech Futures’ Banking Technology Awards and earlier this year The Banker's highly-regarded Tech Projects Awards for their transformation of the SME lending experience. Tomer Guriel, CEO, ezbob, said, “I want to thank Richard Kerton and his team at Esme Loans for believing in our technology back in 2016. Our partnership with Esme was a turning point. Up until then, we were a balance sheet lender with big ambitions to license out our technology to banks. We believed that by deploying our platform, banks would instantly become digital lenders and by doing so they would be able to fund more businesses and at better rates then ezbob could on its own – so it was a huge boost when Richard, CEO of Esme Loans, chose ezbob as the core platform when they decided to launch a digital SME lending platform. ” Esme Loans recently announced that they have surpassed £100 million in lending to SMEs, with an ambition to soon be lending £1 billion a year to small businesses. Esme Loans offers SMEs speed and simplicity without them having to pay the premium rate that many alternative lenders charge. Veronika Lovett, Chief Commercial Officer, Esme Loans said, “Since launch, we have gone from strength to strength, helping thousands of SME’s businesses; however, it’s not enough to disrupt an industry and then sit back. We’re operating in an increasingly rapidly... --- ### Building the case for biometrics in lending - Published: 2019-12-12 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/building-the-case-for-biometrics-in-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: security, Technology The term may still sound rather futuristic, but biometrics – the study of distinctive and measurable characteristics to label an individual The term may still sound rather futuristic, but biometrics – the study of distinctive and measurable characteristics to label an individual – is already reshaping our world. These characteristics, known as biometric identifiers, range from fingerprints and veins through to iris, retina and voice. It just has to be something unique to the individual. For the past few years, biometric authentication has perhaps been most widely associated with mobile phones. Android launched the first fingerprint touch sensor in 2014. Its application in mobile devices is now extending beyond simply opening the device to safeguarding the applications within them. But mobile is certainly not the sole use case and we are seeing biometrics swiftly taking hold in the financial services world. In March 2019, the UK’s first biometric payment card trials were successfully conducted by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and NatWest. RBS began its trial with customers in Scotland, with a card provided by Gemalto that uses Fingerprints’ T-shape sensor module and software platform for payments. The major driver, according to RBS, is the opportunity to ‘scrap the payment cap’ by verifying transactions above £30 using fingerprint instead of PIN code. Fast, simple and secure. It should be mentioned, however, that the UK is pretty late to the party. According to a Text Road Publication Report from way back in 2012, 52% of the banks which had started adopting biometric technologies were located in Asia. For nearly a decade, Asian banks have been busy leveraging biometrics for purposes such as... --- ### Banks are fighting back against big tech - Published: 2019-10-24 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/banks-are-fighting-back-against-big-tech/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, Fintech, LaaS As the likes of Apple, Facebook and Google – the ‘big tech’ companies – set their sights on financial services, the world’s banks are increasingly... As the likes of Apple, Facebook and Google – the ‘big tech’ companies – set their sights on financial services, the world’s banks are increasingly turning to fintech entrants to help keep them competitive. Until recently, the major threat to traditional banking models appeared to be from the host of challenger banks and fintechs operating in the financial services space. But as the fintech-incumbent model moves towards collaboration rather than disruption, another source of disruption and threat is emerging. Big tech. Earlier this year the IMF warned of a significant disruption to the financial landscape by the big tech firms, who can draw on their enormous customer bases, employee population and wealth reserves to offer smarter financial products and services based on Big Data and artificial intelligence. Apple recently made headlines with the launch of their new credit card, while Facebook, not to be left behind, announced their ambitious though controversial digital currency, Libra. The banks and other incumbent financial institutions know that they need to change, and change fast. They need to become ‘digital transformers’ in order to compete with the ‘digital natives’ – a sentiment well expressed by Currencycloud’s Mike Laven at a recent industry event that we attended. This was also a particularly loud and clear message at this year’s Sibos event, where Ezbob exhibited along with around 200 banks, fintechs and consultants. Sibos 2019, held at London’s ExCeL at the end of September, welcomed around 11,500 delegates who were keen to make sense of the new... --- ### What is ‘smart onboarding’ and how does it help banks? - Published: 2019-10-14 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/what-is-smart-onboarding-and-how-does-it-help-banks/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: LaaS, smart onboarding Today’s banks and financial institutions offer a plethora of different and independent financial products to their increasingly demanding customers. Today’s banks and financial institutions offer a plethora of different and independent financial products to their increasingly demanding customers. It can therefore be very difficult to efficiently manage and operate the respective separate onboarding processes that each product requires, such as authentication and verification checks. Individual onboarding for each product is not only expensive but also severely hampered by a lack of data sharing. It’s been estimated that KYC checks cost banks on average $60m annually, with 25% of applications carried out in the UK abandoned due to KYC friction. These statistics are concerning for those working in financial services. And the costs will only soar further with the introduction of the Fifth Money Laundering Directive (AMLD5) because organisations will have to ensure that their systems comply with this updated regulation. A smarter solution Banks and financial institutions are now turning to fintechs to help them solve business-critical problems. Fintech-incumbent partnerships are becoming more and more prevalent. A report by Business Insider found that 84% of commercial banks in the UK have considered a fintech partnership in 2019. One area of fintech that is booming is Lending-as-a-Service (LaaS). There is a wide range of LaaS vendors, but the better ones are considered ‘end-to-end’, due to the full range of support services they provide to clients. This includes onboarding, risk management, automated decisioning, and servicing with personalised customer communications. They are also harnessing the latest developments in biometrics and artificial intelligence, specifically machine learning, to further bolster lending speed and decision... --- ### ezbob picks up prestigious industry award for smarter onboarding in SME lending - Published: 2019-08-01 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-picks-up-prestigious-industry-award-for-smarter-onboarding-in-sme-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: awards ezbob, a leader in the ‘Lending as a service’ (LaaS) sector, has won ‘Best Fintech Partnership’ in The Banker’s Tech Projects Awards 2019. ezbob, a leader in the ‘Lending as a service’ (LaaS) sector, has won ‘Best Fintech Partnership’ in The Banker’s Tech Projects Awards 2019 for its Smart Onboarding Engine, which is enabling financial institutions to enhance their lending experience. The Tech Projects Awards recognise innovation in financial technology and are judged by an external panel of industry experts. The Fintech Partnership category looks at fintechs who are collaborating with banks and other financial institutions to solve specific pain points. The Smart Onboarding Engine allows ezbob clients to build, configure and manage onboarding experiences – using APIs to fully control the customer journey – for all their brands and products (current accounts, lending, wealth) adopting the latest trends in user interface design. It also features smart, real-time monitoring analytics that uncover customer journey optimisation opportunities to lower customer acquisition costs. ezbob clients can now easily integrate their digital offering with multiple partners such as affiliates, brokers and introducers to expand their market reach. The onboarding technology is built to support user onboarding from both desktop and mobile devices, while remaining compliant with regulations such as GDPR. User experience is further enhanced with the use of SSO (single sign on) allowing users to move between the various products and brands, securely, without having to specify their credentials each time. And with connections to a wealth of powerful local and global data services, the ability to instantly provide decisions to customers has never been simpler. It is a solution fit for today’s lending landscape.... --- ### Providing the perfect remedy - Published: 2019-05-23 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/providing-the-perfect-remedy/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, bcr, lending-as-a-service BCR, or Banking Competition Remedies Limited, was established post-financial crisis to implement the Alternative Remedies Package of measures. After years of headlines highlighting the lack of options for credit-hungry SMEs, small business lending is now going from strength to strength. The flow of finance to small businesses is strong, despite continued uncertainty about Brexit and the wider economic environment. The British Business Bank found that gross bank lending to smaller businesses averaged £14. 4bn per quarter in 2018. This figure is likely to rise in 2019, with BCR one of the major drivers. It’s having a real impact on this economically-vital group. BCR, or Banking Competition Remedies Limited to give it it’s full title, was established post-financial crisis to implement the Alternative Remedies Package of measures, which was carefully created in collaboration between the UK Government and the European Commission to boost the prospects of underserved SMEs. And importantly, it’s completely independent from the UK Government. BCR is governed by an independent Board of Directors, chaired by Lord Cromwell. It’s mission is simple really: to widen choice in business lending. Spreading the love It’s main responsibilities include providing information to applicants of both the Capability and Innovation Fund and Incentivised Switching Scheme, and then managing and disbursing the vital funds to chosen lenders. Fund allocation is segmented into three categories: capability, innovation and current account switching incentives. Earlier this year, the Pool A winners were announced – with £280m in funding awarded to digital and challenger banks, specifically Metro, Starling and ClearBank. But what’s perhaps more interesting is the recent announcement of the Pool B winners. BCR has awarded a... --- ### Five reasons why digital transformation in lending is increasing access to credit - Published: 2019-05-03 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/five-reasons-why-digital-transformation-in-lending-is-increasing-access-to-credit/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: digital transformation, lending-as-a-service, SMEs In recent years, SMEs, particularly those at the smaller end of the market, have faced well-documented struggles to access credit. In recent years, SMEs, particularly those at the smaller end of the market, have faced well-documented struggles to access credit. Banks and financial institutions have significantly cut back on business lending due to the high costs of acquisition, delivery and servicing, and the limitations of legacy technology and processes. These pressures have been exacerbated by more stringent regulations in the post-financial crisis world. Supranational regulation such as Basel III & CRD IV have resulted in banks further reducing loans to small businesses as they seek to strengthen their capital requirements and decrease leverage. This is a major problem because both the UK and European economies do rely heavily upon SMEs. Breaking new groundThe good news is that digital transformation in lending is well underway. Partnerships with innovative, agile fintechs are playing an increasing role in lending by banks and other financial institutions. Incumbent lenders are turning to the nascent ‘lending as a service’ (LaaS) sector, which has now witnessed dozens of implementations, such as ezbob’s work with RBS, CYBG and American Express. LaaS packages cutting-edge lending software, operated in the cloud by the vendor, with expertise and often managed services included too. A recent whitepaper by LendIt revealed that the lending software market was valued at US$2. 6bn in 2017, with this figure expected to surpass US$5. 5bn by 2024. It’s an increasingly global game. LaaS solutions are currently concentrated in the UK and the US, but Europe is now opening up to the possibilities on offer. By replacing legacy... --- ### Jason O’Shaughnessy joins ezbob’s business development team to support global expansion as VP Business Development > ezbob, the award winning ‘Lending as a Service’ platform provider hires Jason O’Shaughnessy. Read more about here. - Published: 2018-12-04 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/jason-oshaughnessy-joins-ezbobs-business-development-team-to-support-global-expansion-as-vp-business-development/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Business development, new recruitment ezbob, the award winning ‘Lending as a Service’ platform hires Jason O’Shaughnessy, to drive business growth within new markets as VP Business Development ezbob, the award winning ‘Lending as a Service’ platform provider hires Jason O’Shaughnessy, to drive business growth within new markets. ezbob’s innovative, ‘Lending as a Service’ platform is already supporting some of the world’s leading brands including ESME Loans (powered by Natwest/ RBS), CYBG (recently acquired Virgin Money), and American Express. Jason is a highly experienced professional with a proven track record of success. He joins as VP Business Development with a specific remit to open up new markets for the ezbob offerings. His impressive career spans over 20 years having held both senior sales and management positions within established businesses such as Yodlee, a leading data aggregation and data analytics platform provider and innovative start-ups including Versive, a cyber machine learning early threat detection solution. Jason commented. “My passion is business development, technology innovation and creating new opportunities. SME lending is very much in vogue with both the traditional providers and the disruptive new players all vying for a segment of this highly lucrative market. And this trend is not just confined to the UK and Western Europe as we are seeing increased interest in our solutions across other geographies including Poland, Spain, South Africa, parts of Asia and Australia. The ezbob platform can be easily modified to suit local requirements which is required when penetrating new territories and plays directly to my strengths and experience. I am very excited to be part of the ezbob team and have already initiated some very interesting conversations with both potential customers... --- ### American Express announces new partnership with digital lender ezbob - Published: 2018-10-15 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/american-express-announces-new-partnership-with-digital-lender-ezbob/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: American Express, digital lender, Partnership, Small to medium sized businesses American Express has partnered with ezbob to offer small-to medium-sized UK businesses fast, secure and competitive access to finance. Global payment services, American Express has announced today a new partnership. Offering online financing innovation, AMEX has partnered with ezbob, the best in its class, to offer small-to medium-sized UK businesses fast, secure and competitive access to finance. Through this partnership, eligible American Express business clients, will receive a referral to apply for up to £300,000 in finance. ezbob offers competitive, fixed annual interest rate from 3% per year. American Express customers taking out a loan with ezbob will also benefit from a 40,000 Membership Reward points offer*. With its streamlined, fully automated lending proposition for financial institutions, fintech ezbob is one of the most advanced business lending platforms available in the UK. The platform will enable eligible American Express small to mid-sized UK based business customers to access quick, reliable and paper-free credit from ezbob. Using the online loan calculator, companies seeking fast access to finance can apply for a loan in ten minutes – and, if successful – receive funds on the same day. --- ### Ezbob hires Marc Philippo as VP Sales & Marketing to lead global expansion - Published: 2018-07-20 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-hires-marc-philippo-as-vp-sales-marketing-to-lead-global-expansion/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: LaaS, new recruitment, SMEs Business growth fuelled by recent equity investment ezbob platform is revolutionising SME and Consumer lending capabilities. Business growth fuelled by recent equity investment ezbob platform is revolutionising SME and Consumer lending capabilities. ezbob, the leading SME and Consumer lending provider hires industry veteran Marc Philippo to drive business growth. ezbob has developed an innovative, ‘Lending as a Service’ platform which is already supporting Esme Loans and Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank. Marc brings over 20 years’ experience to the firm having led highly successful sales and marketing teams within some of the world’s premier financial technology businesses. Marc has extensive sales experience across EMEA and has carved a reputation for establishing strong sales and delivery teams. Most recently he was head of Corporate, Retail Banking and Merchant Services for Northern Europe at Finastra. Prior to this he formed the global mid-tier solutions group at payments provider Dovetail. Before this, Marc was Sales Director at Temenos where he also established the global Inside Sales team. Tomer Guriel, founder and CEO of ezbob said, “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Marc to the rapidly expanding ezbob team. His sales leadership experience and in-depth knowledge of the global financial services sector are exactly what we need and will enable us to exploit the many new business opportunities that are coming our way. Marc’s joining, together with the recent equity investment, and the appointment of Lindsey McMurray to the ezbob board, means we are in the best position to make our vision of a one-stop-solution for financial institutions that offer lending capabilities to their customers a reality. " Marc continued, “I... --- ### ezbob secures equity investment from Honeycomb Investment Trust - Published: 2018-06-26 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/ezbob-secures-equity-investment-from-honeycomb-investment-trust/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: equity investment, LaaS, Lending, SMEs ezbob secures equity investment from Honeycomb Investment Trust, Lindsey McMurray, founding partner of Pollen Street Capital joins the Board. Lindsey McMurray, founding partner of Pollen Street Capital joins the Board - Investment to fuel global expansion plans Tuesday 19th June 2018, London. ezbob is pleased to announce Honeycomb’s investment in its Round C fundraising and the appointment of Lindsey McMurray to the Board of Directors. Lindsey brings many years of experience in the UK’s financial services sector and is the founding partner of Pollen Street Capital. Pollen Street Capital is the manager of P2P Global Investment PLC as well as the Honeycomb Investment Trust, making it one of Europe’s largest investment managers in the specialist lending arena. ezbob is leading the field in delivering a highly innovative ‘Lending as a Service’ platform, which is already in use at Esme Loans and Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank. The investment will accelerate the firm’s ability to create a ‘one-stop’ automated lending platform portfolio and achieve its ambitious expansion plans into new geographical regions. Tomer Guriel, founder and CEO of ezbob stated, “We are delighted Honeycomb has invested in the business and are very excited about the wealth of new opportunities this represents for the firm. On behalf of the team, I would like to welcome Lindsey into the ezbob family. Her involvement is a huge vote of confidence in our technology, management and future strategic plans. Our initial focus is on the SME community, many of whom struggle to acquire the financial support they need to achieve their personal and professional business development goals. My vision is to create a portfolio of innovative... --- ### As Blockchain Finds A Foothold Traditional Fintech Plants The Flag - Published: 2018-02-11 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/as-blockchain-finds-a-foothold-traditional-fintech-plants-the-flag/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Blockchain, Fintech A PWC survey of financial services sector / fintech shows that almost 77% of financial services industry plan on adopting blockchain in some way by 2020. A PWC survey of the financial services sector and fintech has showed that almost 77% of financial services industry plan on adopting blockchain in some way by 2020. Banks, especially, have indicated an interest in the technology, with nearly one third of surveyed institutions noting that they are at least in the initial stages of developing strategies to integrate blockchain into their operations. The technology does offer several solutions that can greatly aid an industry that has been historically mired in the shadows. The result is the rise of companies like the UK’s ezbob. The company, which recently earned accolades for technological innovation at the Financial Innovation Awards in London, raised another £15 million and reached a total of £103. 5 million in investments to date. ezbob’s platform focuses on Straight Through Processing (STP), an initiative that financial companies use to optimize the speed at which they process transactions, in lending. The firm has helped several banks to expedite their platforms. Moreover, it offers the largest banks the ability to compete with smaller, leaner lenders on their own terms while offering a more secure, accurate, and reliable evaluation and fraud prevention system. Others have tackled different arenas, from payment processing - companies such as PayPal and Stripe, which have eased online transactions - to wealth management, where young start-ups such as Addepar are creating better investment platforms. Despite the promise blockchain holds, the fintech industry continues to find new ways to solve existing problems on its own, providing better accessibility to more people... --- ### To Comply And Compete, Community Banks Need Fintech - Published: 2018-01-11 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/to-comply-and-compete-community-banks-need-fintech/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, Blockchain, Fintech, Lending Despite the promise blockchain holds, the fintech industry continues to find new ways to solve existing problems on its own providing better accessibility. The Federal Reserve is set for new leadership this year as FOMC member and future chair Jerome Powell waits for Janet Yellen to serve out her remaining days following a relatively smooth confirmation hearing. In that hearing and the days preceding it, Powell indicated the likelihood that the Reserve’s post-financial crisis policies would continue in a similar manner. However, a new agenda is likely to get pushed to the forefront as Powell is expected to push for some rollback in regulations. In fact, one of the issues discussed in the hearing was Powell’s support for easing regulatory requirements for regional and community banks. This is a welcome development to small banks. The financial crisis prompted lawmakers to create more stringent regulations designed to protect consumers and promote stability. The downside, however, is the increased regulatory burden for banks. Banking continues to be a very competitive industry and banks are still feeling the pressure, even if it has been nearly a decade since the height of the financial crisis. More than 800 physical U. S. bank branches closed in the first six months of 2017 alone. The result is the rise of companies like the UK’s ezbob. The company, which recently earned accolades for technological innovation at the Financial Innovation Awards in London, raised another £15 million and reached a total of £103. 5 million in investments to date. ezbob’s platform focuses on Straight Through Processing (STP), an initiative that financial companies use to optimize the speed at which they process... --- ### Fintech Innovations in Europe Prove the Merit of Regulation - Published: 2017-12-15 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/fintech-innovations-in-europe-prove-the-merit-of-regulation/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Fintech, Lending Many of the modern notions of finance that we hold today have their origin in Europe. Many of the modern notions of finance that we hold today have their origin in Europe. The concept of banknotes was born in 17th century London, where goldsmiths could take these precious lumps of metal from clients and store them safely. In exchange, the merchant would obtain a notarized receipt indicating the identity of the smith, and the quality and the quantity of gold kept. Though the gold was an immobile asset, both the merchant and the smith could use their agreement to benefit. Methods of sending and recording transactional information, verifying their authenticity, and trading assets evolved, and the same city grew to be a financial powerhouse in the following centuries. The rest of the continent was no exception. High Fliers in Fintech Fintech companies generally make use of technology to improve financial services. The laws that once allowed the crisis to occur also prohibited this technology from finding applications in finance, but this is no longer true. The status quo is now everyone’s to share. People have seen stellar advancements in entertainment, healthcare, and transportation thanks to technological progress, and now the fintech sector is eager to show them what kind of impact it can have on finance. Consider the notion of getting a loan, and what it used to entail. Twenty years ago, a loan was something almost exclusively obtained through a bank or another institutional lender, and if you needed it, you were in for an arduous and laborious process. After you filled out a long... --- ### EU SMBs Can Benefit from Smart Financial Regulation - Published: 2017-11-27 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/eu-smbs-can-benefit-from-smart-financial-regulation/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Financial Regulations, Fintech, SMBs Ezbob is a company that has flourished since the introduction of new finance laws to European markets. ezbob is one such company that has flourished since the introduction of new finance laws to European markets. The company uses their cutting-edge data technology to find fast, efficient loans for businesses. PSD2 is crucial for companies like ezbob, which were once unable to access the same sources of financial information that big banks kept within their walls. “Working with the banks is no easy task. I can tell you that we were trying for 4 or 5 years to partner with banks and luckily enough we decided to lend money ourselves using our platform. The company wouldn’t have been able to survive if we sat around waiting for a contract with a bank,” said Tomer Guriel, ezbob’s CEO. Now, this fintech leader is able to aggregate this flood of new data to optimize their lending processes for all participants. Loans through its platform take days as opposed to weeks or months and are much more affordable, thanks to the overhead that the company saves by employing algorithms and automation instead of paper bureaucracy. Apart from streamlining the process, these new regulatory directives have also opened new funding channels to borrowers when it comes to sourcing the financing for SMBs.   The explosion of peer-to-peer (P2P) lending models like Funding Circle are helping connect investors tired of the prevailing low-interest rate environment perpetuated by central banks to capitalize on higher rates of return available from lending.   The advent of more automated underwriting processes helps evaluate creditworthiness in minutes instead... --- ### Hate Banks? Fund Your Company With Blockchain and ‘Laas’ Technology - Published: 2017-10-15 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/hate-banks-fund-your-company-with-blockchain-and-laas-technology/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, Blockchain, Lending, Technology The small revolution happening in global finance has had a welcome influence on many business processes. For several industries that are labeled together under the “finance” umbrella, the landscape is quickly changing It might not seem like the status quo is moving very quickly, but considering the molasses-like pace of progress in centuries past, the finance sector is practically sprinting. The last ten years are largely responsible for this trend, and there are several reasons why the period was so transformative. Regardless, the small revolution happening in global finance has had a welcome influence on many business processes. One of the hardest hit is how a company raises capital. (See also: Bank Stocks’ Big Surge Turns Into a Tailspin) Setting the Scene The first catalyst for today’s changed banking sector is almost exclusively the financial crisis of 2008. In a world where banks had clearly overextended themselves only to lay the cost of their mistake on the public, things had to change. Countries like the United States and those in the European Union established laws for greater transparency of information, forcing banks who had once operated in the dark, keeping track of their operations with mountains of paper files, to open the books. The Revolution Manifest One of the first areas where the revolution manifested itself was in lending. Before, a business would meet with a banker in person, hand over the veritable box of documents they had collected, and then wait weeks to hear if they’d been approved. With fintech companies given the go-ahead to digitize the slew of new information now at their fingertips,... --- ### The Rise of the Fintechpreneur, and Why It Matters - Published: 2017-10-06 - Modified: 2024-02-26 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/the-rise-of-the-fintechpreneur-and-why-it-matters/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, Fintechpreneur, Technology The financial technology field is rapidly expanding, but remains in flux and continues to be unpredictable. The financial technology field is rapidly expanding, but remains in flux and continues to be unpredictable. Fintech’s use of AI, algorithms, and modern technologies can transform traditional banking, but still faces some resistance. Some fintech companies are finding billion-dollar markets in the gaps left by outmoded banking services. Nevertheless, there are still many obstacles in the road before a complementary system is created that takes room for them both. Should Banks be Scared? Banks are slow to come around to innovation, but with a little effort they can remain more competitive than ever. Newer digital standards and transparency laws even the playing field, and the institutions quicker embrace of new technology can position themselves better for success. Not all fintech startups are out to hurt banks, and in fact, many services use legacy platforms to bring them more customers. One such example is ezbob, a new platform that has partnered with multiple leading banks, including the Royal Bank of Scotland. ezbob’s platform sorts through data from over 25 sources in real time to create a seamless, automatic lending process for banks’ customers. The platform is not the first to streamline an old process using new tech, but it seems to be positioned to lead the Lending-as-a-Service (LaaS) industry.  Tomer Guriel, ezbob’s CEO, believes that LaaS is the future as bank need not be the only lender in town. “Working with the banks is no easy task. I can tell you that we were trying for 4 or 5 years to... --- ### 5 Fintech Trends SMBs Need to Embrace or Risk Falling Behind - Published: 2017-09-12 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/5-fintech-trends-smbs-need-to-embrace-or-risk-falling-behind/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, Fintech, SMBs Though smaller businesses have a lot of disadvantages compared to large enterprises, they can gain an advantage with these five innovative fintech trends. Though smaller businesses have a lot of disadvantages compared to large enterprises, they can gain an advantage with these five innovative fintech trends.   Small and midsize businesses face unique challenges that many of their larger brethren can readily overcome. Enterprise-level companies benefit from innumerable resources and deep pockets, while small companies must constantly discover solutions that help them maintain a competitive edge with lower overheads. As such, it is unsurprising that many financial technology, or fintech, innovations are rapidly adopted by startups and other small businesses long before acquiring mainstream recognition. Even so, finding the right fintech solutions requires a blend of reading tea leaves and understanding broader technological trends. To stay competitive, small businesses must keep their ear to the ground and uncover solutions that will improve their services, optimize their processes, and keep them lean enough to generate profits. These five trends are set to change the game, and SMBs would be wise to embrace them, or run the risk of being left in the dust of more tech-forward competitors. 1. Better transaction and payment processing One of the big focuses of fintech has been in the payment processing arena. Whereas traditional credit card processors and PayPal were once the exclusive channels for companies seeking to handle digital payments, new entrants are quickly challenging their more established peers in the industry. Companies such as Stripe and Payoneerhave thrown their hats into the ring, offering lower fees, fully digital solutions and more efficient processing times. While many consumers... --- ### Why ezbob Has Focused On Technology Over Lending - Published: 2017-06-14 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/why-ezbob-has-focused-on-technology-over-lending/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Fintech, LaaS, Lending UK-based ezbob is now one of the leaders of the growing LaaS (lending as a service) market. UK-based ezbob is now one of the leaders of the growing LaaS (lending as a service) market. It wasn’t always like that, as the company, which was started in 2011, operated as an online lender and completed over 10,000 loans to SME with over £130 million of credit extended from its own balance sheet. The company signed a deal with RBS/NatWest in Q3 of 2016, ezbob’s advantage is its technology. For the bank’s customers, his/her customer experience is about to get a whole lot better. Our technology makes banks’ customer journeys enjoyable. We are seeing Net Promoters Scores of our bank customers go through the roof. --- ### Tech Is Changing The Game For Small Banks – Q&A With Tomer Guriel, CEO of Ezbob - Published: 2017-05-11 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/tech-is-changing-the-game-for-small-banks-qa-with-tomer-guriel-ceo-of-ezbob/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, Fintech, Technology UK-based fintech company Ezbob is finding success in their collaborations with traditional lenders. UK-based fintech company Ezbob is finding success in their collaborations with traditional lenders. Ezbob provides an automated lending platform for use by financial institutions. The platform provides borrowers a quick and easy interface to complete their application and the lenders powerful features such as know-your-customer (KYC), anti-fraud, analytics, reports and collections. Recently, Ezbob partnered with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to enhance the bank’s direct lending capabilities. Instead of attempting to develop such as system themselves, small banks can also opt to emulate such business moves and partner with fintech companies to offer new tech-driven products and services. --- ### Collaboration Is The Way Forward For Banks And Fintech - Published: 2017-04-07 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/collaboration-is-the-way-forward-for-banks-and-fintech/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, Fintech Banking, as we know it, is changing because of Fintech, but it would take a major event of cataclysmic proportions to do away with banking institutions. Much has been said and written about the impending doom of banking, as customers begin to flock over to fintech products and services. However, the claim that fintech will kill banking is still an overstatement. Banking, as we know it, is changing because of fintech, but it would take a major event of cataclysmic proportions to do away with banking institutions. That said, the disruption of the financial services industry is real. Until very recently, banks had an uninterrupted monopoly over banking, financial, commercial, loans and investments. Not anymore. Gone are the days when people are comfortable dealing with just a single entity for all their financial needs. People simply aren’t happy with how their banks treat them and have become increasingly receptive to new solutions. --- ### New NatWest platform offers quick and easy loans to SMEs - Published: 2017-02-16 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/new-natwest-platform-offers-quick-and-easy-loans-to-smes/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Fintech, NatWest, SMEs NatWest launches a new digital platform to speed up the lending process for SMEs. NatWest launches a new digital platform to speed up the lending process for SMEs. Borne out of an ‘Innovation Cell’, working with Fintech - ezbob Limited – Esme has been developed in response to the emergence of innovative direct and P2P lending platforms, and aims to simplify and speed up the lending process. Alison Rose, CEO Commercial and Private Banking at NatWest said: ‘We are excited to launch the trial of Esme this week offering SMEs yet more choice in how they access the funding they need to invest and grow. --- ### Online lending platform EZbob raises $28 million in Series C funding - Published: 2016-03-12 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/online-lending-platform-ezbob-raises-28-million-in-series-c-funding/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, Funding Online lending platform EZBob has raised £20m (about $28.3 million) in Series C funding in a round led by Leumi Partners and Oaktree Capital Management. Online lending platform ezbob Ltd has raised £20m (about $28. 3 million) in Series C funding in a round led by Leumi Partners and Oaktree Capital Management. According to statement, the company will use the new funds to increase its lending capacity and continue to develop its technology platform. Tomer Guriel, CEO and co-founder of ezbob, said: “Raising investment from a leading global bank in digitalisation and an active investor within tech is proof of our game-changing technology and unique approach to business lending. This latest investment will further accelerate our growth plans and enable us to continue to develop our proprietary business lending platform to address more of the UK’s business lending needs. Oaktree’s additional investment is an endorsement of the management team, the business’ scalability and the appetite for a fresh approach to business finance in the UK. ” --- ### Online lender Ezbob boosted after £30m fundraising - Published: 2015-04-28 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/online-lender-ezbob-boosted-after-30m-fundraising/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Funding Ezbob has raised money from fund manager Oaktree, in a sign that non-bank lending is becoming more mainstream. Ezbob has raised money from fund manager Oaktree, in a sign that non-bank lending is becoming more mainstream. British internet lender Ezbob, which recently bought former Wonga business-lending arm Everline, has raised £30m from fund manager Oaktree, as alternative lending becomes more mainstream. The £30m will be used to refinance existing debt and to increase its loan offerings to small businesses. This major investment follows the announcement of ezbob’s pioneering partnership with Alibaba. com, as well as their loan guarantee agreement with the European Investment Fund with a value of £40 million. --- ### EU supports over EUR 50m for businesses in the UK following EIF and Orange Money (Ezbob) agreement - Published: 2015-03-19 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/eu-supports-over-eur-50m-for-businesses-in-the-uk-following-eif-and-orange-money-ezbob-agreement/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Funding EU supports over EUR 50m for businesses in the UK following EIF and Orange Money (Ezbob) agreement. The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Orange Money Ltd (trading as Ezbob) have signed the first loan guarantee agreement in the UK under the EU programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME). This is the first agreement with an online SME lender under COSME and will allow Orange Money (Ezbob) to substantially increase their loan volumes to SMEs by supporting a new portfolio of loans worth up to GBP 40m (EUR 56m) over the next two years. Over 3,000 companies are expected to benefit from this EU support. --- ### Alibaba enlists startups to provide UK trade financing - Published: 2015-03-11 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/alibaba-enlists-startups-to-provide-uk-trade-financing/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, Partnership ezbob announced a partnership with Alibaba intended to provide short-term working capital to businesses who would have trouble securing funds from banks. SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has enlisted two UK startups to provide financing for small British businesses looking to buy from Chinese suppliers, aiming to help cash-strapped firms access the world’s largest economy. The partnerships with iwoca Ltd and ezbob announced by Alibaba on Wednesday are a first for the Chinese company in Europe, and are intended to provide short-term working capital to businesses that otherwise would have trouble securing funds from banks.     --- ### First Progress Microfinance agreement with internet lender Ezbob and the EIF - Published: 2014-02-10 - Modified: 2025-02-02 - URL: https://www.ezbob.com/first-progress-microfinance-agreement-with-internet-lender-ezbob-and-the-eif/ - Categories: Blog Post - Tags: Banking, Microfinance The European Investment Fund (EIF) and EZBOB today signed a guarantee agreement aimed at supporting over 1,000 micro-enterprises in the UK. The European Investment Fund (EIF) and EZBOB today signed a guarantee agreement aimed at supporting over 1,000 micro-enterprises in the UK. This agreement with the first internet microfinance lender under Progress Microfinance will allow EZBOB to provide enhanced access to finance to micro-entrepreneurs, in particular to young entrepreneurs in the UK, many of whom face difficulties in accessing credit from traditional banking sources. Progress Microfinance guarantees are funded by the European Commission and managed by the European Investment Fund. Commenting on the transaction, Head of the Microfinance team, Per-Erik Eriksson said: “We are pleased to be signing the first internet microfinance contract under Progress Microfinance with EZBOB in the UK. I am convinced that this innovative financing platform will help to benefit micro-enterprises and contribute to the economic growth across the country”. ---