27 October 2023

Fintech: Closing the Gap between Big Banks

By Ronald Smith

Imagine this: You and I are exploring the fascinating world of fintech, where technology meets finance. It’s an exciting place where we can witness the transformation happening in the banking industry. We’ll delve into how fintech is bridging the gap between big banks, making financial services more accessible and convenient for everyone.

The rise of fintech has been truly remarkable. With the help of innovative technology, fintech companies are redefining the way we handle our finances. They offer a wide range of digital solutions that simplify our financial lives, making tasks like banking, investing, and managing money easier and more user-friendly.

Now, why is this important? Well, traditional big banks can sometimes be intimidating and overwhelming. They have complex systems and processes that can make it difficult for the average person to navigate. But with the emergence of fintech, these barriers are gradually disappearing. Fintech companies are revolutionizing the financial landscape by providing simpler, more accessible options for individuals like you and me.

Let’s explore some of the ways fintech is transforming the banking industry. First, they offer user-friendly mobile apps that allow us to carry out banking transactions on our smartphones. Gone are the days of standing in long lines at the bank or dealing with complicated paperwork. Now, we can transfer money, pay bills, and even apply for loans right from the palm of our hand.

Second, fintech companies are disrupting the lending space. They provide alternative lending options to individuals and small businesses that may have been overlooked or rejected by traditional banks. By leveraging innovative algorithms and data analysis, fintech firms assess creditworthiness in a more inclusive and fair manner, providing access to capital for those who need it most.

Additionally, fintech is revolutionizing investments. Through digital investment platforms, individuals can now easily invest in stocks, bonds, and other assets. They no longer need to rely on expensive financial advisors or go through complex investment processes. Fintech companies have made investing more accessible and affordable, empowering individuals to take control of their financial future.

So, as we can see, fintech is a game-changer in the banking industry. It’s closing the gap between big banks and everyday people like us. With its user-friendly technology and innovative solutions, fintech is making finance easier to understand and more accessible to all. Whether it’s through mobile banking apps, alternative lending options, or digital investment platforms, fintech is empowering us to take charge of our financial lives.

In conclusion, the rise of fintech is revolutionizing the way we interact with banks. It’s simplifying financial processes and making them more user-friendly for everyone. So let’s embrace the world of fintech and experience the convenience and accessibility it brings.

Fintech: Closing the Gap between Big Banks

I don’t get it. Big banks have always been scared of taking risks. And you know what’s even worse? They think small and medium-sized businesses are extra risky, so they don’t want to give them any money or help. It’s like they’re playing favorites or something.

In 2015, the Federal Reserve did a survey about how banks give out loans. And guess what? The smaller banks were way more likely to say yes to a small business loan than the big banks. And get this, the small businesses that actually did get help from big banks weren’t even happy about it. They gave the banks a sad 51 percent satisfaction rating.

I’ve got some exciting news for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Guess what? You don’t have to rely solely on banks for your financial needs anymore. There’s a new player in town called fintech, and it’s shaking things up!

What’s the Buzz About Fintech?

Competition is a Good Thing!

Wow, some of the things I’ve seen happening are mind-blowing! These fintech companies, which used to be small businesses themselves, are now taking over the space left behind by big banks. It’s like they’re filling a void in the market.

Take Kabbage, for example. They’ve given out over $1.6 billion in loans to small and medium-sized businesses. And Lendio, they managed to secure $20 million in funding last October. That’s huge! And let’s not forget Trustly, a company from Sweden. They’re processing transactions worth more than €3.5 billion every year. Insane!

You can see why investors are jumping on board. The potential for growth is endless. Now, you might be wondering, who are these companies serving? Well, according to Johan Nord, Trustly’s Chief Commercial Officer, it’s regular small and medium-sized enterprises. These are businesses that have a hunger for growth and crave a payment system that’s cheap, easy to use, and gets the job done. Makes sense, right?

Trustly’s technology is pretty amazing. It helps small and medium-sized businesses expand across Europe without any extra costs. It’s like turning them into pan-European companies! And the best part is, it’s all managed through one agreement for all markets. This saves them a lot of time and money on administrative stuff. Trustly takes care of the entire payment process, which means merchants can give instant and painless refunds. But that’s not all. Trustly also lets businesses delay payments until certain conditions are met and split payments between different providers in the value chain.

When it comes to fintech companies, they usually don’t compete directly with big banks for things like business credit or residential mortgages. However, some fintech companies have entered those markets too. And let’s not forget about the fintech companies that serve under-served or newer markets like eCommerce.

When it comes to financial services, competition from fintech not only increases the availability of services, but it can also lead to lower prices and the creation of new services that are specially designed for specific markets. Fintech is all about innovation, finding new ways to deliver financial solutions. Along with these benefits, fintech also offers speed, security, and convenience.

What Makes Fintech Special

When we apply technology to the challenges faced by the financial industry, we often use new and secure methods like encryption and algorithms to analyze risks and opportunities. This helps us come up with better solutions.

The benefits of fintech vary depending on the specific financial service, but some advantages are more common than others. Technology can reduce barriers and costs, opening up new possibilities for different service models, including personal solutions.

I’m here to tell you about something super cool called peer-to-peer lending platforms. They’re like magical gateways that help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) all around the world access the funds they need. It’s pretty awesome because these platforms, like Funding Circle and Prosper Marketplace in the US, have made it possible for thousands of SMBs to get business loans directly from people like you and me.

Now, let me explain why this is such a big deal. See, before these platforms came along, SMBs faced a big barrier when trying to get loans. It was like this gigantic obstacle standing in their way. But now, with peer-to-peer lending, that barrier has been lowered. Hurray!

So, how does it work? Well, let’s say you have some extra money and you want to help a small business grow. With peer-to-peer lending, you can lend your money directly to that business, cutting out all the middlemen. And guess what? This means that SMBs can often get better interest rates on their loans because of the competition among lenders.

Isn’t it amazing how these lending platforms have empowered SMBs all over the world? It’s like a revolution in the world of business financing. And the best part is, you can be a part of it too! So, if you want to make a difference and support small businesses, peer-to-peer lending is a fantastic way to do it.

When it comes to payments, fintech is all about making things easy for online businesses and international trade. It helps them sell their products across borders without worrying about slow transactions or exchanging currencies. With fintech, even small and medium-sized businesses can expand rapidly by reaching customers beyond their local market. If a company can accept payments and deliver goods or services remotely, it can replicate its success in many similar markets around the world.

How Getting the Right Business Services Can Help You Make More Money

As a small or medium-sized business owner, I understand how challenging it can be to manage costs while maintaining the quality of my products and services. It often feels like there are limited opportunities to save money without making sacrifices.

However, I’ve discovered that there are ways to find savings in the business services market by exploring competition and embracing emerging technologies. For example, fintech has not only increased competition with big banks but also introduced more efficient processes. A fantastic example of this is Trustly, which connects customers and merchants directly through their banks, eliminating unnecessary steps in the payment process.

I want to talk to you about this awesome new way to pay for stuff online. It’s called Trustly, and it’s a Payment Initiation Service Provider (PISP) made specifically for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) like yours and mine. Trustly is all about making things easier and more efficient.

So here’s the deal: Trustly lets consumers pay for things online directly from their bank accounts, without needing to use a credit or debit card. Cool, right? Not only does this save you money by avoiding those annoying card fees, but it also keeps your customers’ payment details super safe, because Trustly doesn’t store any of that sensitive information.

But the best part is that Trustly is completely free for consumers! Yeah, you heard me right. Your customers won’t have to pay any extra fees to use Trustly. It’s a win-win! And for SMEs like us, Trustly takes away the risk and fraud issues that sometimes come with other payment methods. That’s a huge weight off our shoulders!

Now, let’s get into some of the nitty-gritty. Trustly’s user interface can easily be integrated into your website, so your customers can use it to pay you directly from their local bank. No fancy gadgets required – they can do it on any device! All they need are their regular login details for their own bank. It’s simple, convenient, and secure.

By using Trustly, you can say goodbye to unnecessary fees, middlemen, and fraud worries. It’s a game-changer for SMEs like ours, and it’s about time we take advantage of this innovative payment solution. Are you ready to join the Trustly family? Let’s make our lives easier and our businesses more successful together!

Big banks aren’t lending as much money to small businesses anymore.

  • When it comes to FinTech versus traditional banking, it’s not a matter of one side winning and the other losing.

  • Fintech is taking over, and as a result, big banks are becoming more like dumb pipes.

  • Here are the top 10 FinTech solutions for small businesses.

  • – As an SME, if you’re looking for a new and improved way to handle payments, Payment Initiation Service Providers (PISPs) like Trustly can offer you some great advantages. Trustly’s service allows your customers to make online payments directly from their bank accounts, completely bypassing the need for credit or debit cards. It’s not only convenient, but it also provides bank-level security for transactions within Europe. The best part? It’s absolutely free for your customers, and it doesn’t store any of their personal information, keeping it safe from potential threats. And for SMEs like yours, it can help eliminate risks and issues related to fraud. Plus, integrating Trustly’s user-friendly interface into your website allows your customers to pay from their local banks using their usual login information, no matter what device they’re using.