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Curated industry news and original merchant playbooks.
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Wells Fargo-supported Fund Aims to Refinance MCAs
A new $19 million fund backed by Wells Fargo aims to help small businesses escape high-interest Merchant Cash Advances through refinancing.
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Stripe, FedEx team on SMB lending
FedEx and Stripe are leveraging logistics and payment data to provide streamlined, data-driven working capital for small businesses.
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automotive
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Ally CEO: ‘Strategy is about choices’
Ally Bank streamlines its focus on automotive lending and core retail banking to ensure stability amidst shifting interest rates.
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Valu and Alshaya Group team on flexible payments for retail brands in Egypt
Valu partners with Alshaya Group to launch flexible installment plans across major global retail brands in Egypt.
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Avant is building a bank from scratch as the OCC approves most charter applicants
Consumer lender Avant applies for a national bank charter, signaling a push for lower capital costs and expanded credit products for its 4.8 million users.
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YouLend and Verifone team up on merchant financing
Verifone and YouLend partner to embed flexible merchant financing directly into payment systems for convenience and fuel retailers.
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Biz2Credit makes senior hires
Biz2Credit adds new leadership to drive capital market growth and expand financing partnerships for small businesses.
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U.S. Bank is building its small business relationship around the way owners run their businesses
U.S. Bank integrates banking and POS software to provide merchants with streamlined financing and real-time cash flow management.
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Fifth Third Debuts Innovation Banking for Startups and Growth Companies
Fifth Third Bank launches a dedicated Innovation Banking division to provide specialized credit and embedded finance tools for high-growth startups.
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Stripe swallows Parafin
Stripe acquires Parafin to integrate seamless, data-driven business financing directly into its payment processing platform.
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Idea Financial Closed on Their Inaugural $100M Asset-Backed Securitization
Small business lender Idea Financial secures $100M in new funding, signaling increased loan availability and stability for growing merchants.
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OCC approves first CEBA credit card bank in 20 years
The OCC's approval of Mission Lane’s bank charter signals a new era of regulated, tech-driven financing options for subprime and credit-invisible consumers.
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Nubank’s Ethan Eismann: ‘You have to love your customers fanatically for them to love you fanatically’
Latin American fintech giant Nubank enters the U.S. market, bringing its high-engagement, no-fee credit products to American consumers.
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Valley Bank to buy digital SME banking platform Bluevine
Valley Bank acquires Bluevine for $340M, signaling a major move to blend traditional banking stability with high-speed digital lending for SMEs.
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U.S. Bank Launches Cards to Meet Small Business Rewards Demand
U.S. Bank targets small business owners with a new flat-rate 2% cash-back card designed to simplify rewards on daily operational spending.
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Valley will gain low-cost deposits from deal for Bluevine
Valley National Bank acquires Bluevine’s banking unit to secure low-cost deposits and expand its small-business lending tech.
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Valley Bank Courts Small Businesses With Bluevine Acquisition
Valley Bank acquires Bluevine for $340M, signaling a push for faster, AI-driven digital lending and banking tools for small business owners.
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FDIC clamps down on ‘significantly undercapitalized’ Old Glory Bank
Federal regulators have restricted Old Glory Bank from lending due to dangerously low capital levels, signaling potential instability for its merchant partners.
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Valley National Bank to acquire fintech Bluevine for $340M
Valley National Bank’s acquisition of Bluevine signals a major shift toward merging traditional bank stability with fast, tech-driven small business lending.
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Mission Lane gets green light for OCC charter
Mission Lane receives conditional approval for the first new OCC credit card bank charter in 20 years, signaling shifts for subprime consumer lending.
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Sainsbury's begins roll out of loans and saving products via NatWest Boxed
Sainsbury’s partners with NatWest to launch embedded personal loans and savings, signaling a shift toward retailer-branded financial ecosystems.
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Why BMO has regained confidence in its US strategy
BMO signals a pivot back to U.S. growth and stability after overcoming integration hurdles from its recent West Coast expansion.
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Amazon Adds Walmart Orders, Opening a Wider View of Sellers
Amazon expands merchant lending criteria to include sales from external marketplaces like Walmart, offering a holistic view of seller creditworthiness.
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Revolut Wins Central Bank Approval to Acquire Argentine Bank
Global fintech Revolut gains Argentine banking license, signaling a major expansion into consumer credit and lending services.
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Latest leadership shuffle shows Wells Fargo is in new phase
Wells Fargo's leadership shakeup signals a shift toward growth and stability, moving the major consumer lender past its era of regulatory crisis.
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Wells Fargo names COO Scott Powell as next risk chief
Wells Fargo taps COO Scott Powell as new risk chief, a move that could influence the bank's future lending appetite and credit approval standards.
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Decta and Sapi partner to bring payment-linked financing to UK SMEs
DECTA Capital launches a payment-linked financing solution for UK merchants, offering flexible repayments tied directly to daily sales volume.
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NMI Expands Business Capital Lending Program for Small Merchants
NMI scales its embedded lending program, giving merchants faster access to working capital through their existing payment infrastructure.
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Amazon adds Affirm payments option in the UK
Amazon UK partners with Affirm to offer transparent monthly installment plans for purchases over £100.
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Fintech Avant applies for OCC charter
Consumer lender Avant seeks a national bank charter to lower funding costs and expand its credit offerings for mid-prime borrowers.
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Santander refers vulnerable customers to Sibstar
Santander partners with Sibstar to launch a debit card designed to help customers with cognitive impairments manage their spending safely.
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Ally bets on loyalty perks to boost consumer bank strategy
Ally Bank launches a new loyalty program to deepen consumer relationships, potentially boosting its ecosystem for retail and auto financing.
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Nubank intends to paint the U.S. banking system purple
Latin American fintech giant Nubank enters the U.S. market, bringing high-tech, no-fee credit cards and banking to a new audience.
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Avant Seeks National Bank Charter to Serve Customers Directly
Fintech lender Avant applies for a national bank charter, aiming to lower costs and streamline its consumer credit offerings.
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Online lending platform files de novo bank charter request
Fintech lender Avant applies for a national bank charter, signaling a push for more stable and cost-effective consumer financing options.
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Nubank appoints Circle's Sarah Wilson chief legal officer
Latin American digital banking giant Nubank hires former Circle executive Sarah Wilson to lead its global legal and compliance efforts.
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home-improvement
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The Weekly Closeout: Bed Bath & Beyond parent plots a credit union and Express goes back to the ‘90s
Bed Bath & Beyond's parent company plans to launch a credit union to offer direct financing and financial services to homeowners.
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Riverty opens bank in Luxembourg
Riverty secures a full banking license in Luxembourg to scale its BNPL and consumer finance products across Europe.
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NYC Touts its Revenue-Based Loan Program
New York City’s Future Fund offers flexible revenue-based loans starting at $25,000 to help small businesses manage seasonal cash flow.
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After securing Colombian banking licence, Revolut applies for another in Switzerland
Revolut secures a banking license in Colombia and eyes Switzerland, signaling a major push into regulated global consumer lending.
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automotive
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Huntington tempers outlook due to higher rates, lower yields
Huntington Bank scales back auto lending projections as high interest rates and stiff competition squeeze profit margins.
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Brazil’s Nubank launches in the US
Latin American fintech giant Nubank enters the U.S. market, signaling new competition in the digital banking and consumer credit space.
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Chase Lets Cardholders Invest Reward Points With JPMorgan
Chase adds a new investment feature to its Ultimate Rewards program, allowing cardholders to flip reward points into brokerage accounts.
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Monzo launches auto-invest cashback card
Monzo’s new metal credit card automatically turns merchant transactions into investment contributions, signaling a shift in consumer reward expectations.
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automotive
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Under new CEO, Truist is exiting near-prime auto lending
Truist Bank exits the near-prime auto loan market, forcing dealers to find new financing partners for credit-challenged car buyers.
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Amex accelerates its encroachment on business banking
American Express expands small business services with new high-yield accounts and AI payroll tools to compete with fintech rivals.
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automotive
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Truist to exit near-prime auto lending, sell $5.5B in loans
Truist exits near-prime auto lending and sells off $5.5B in loans, forcing dealerships to find new financing partners for mid-range credit customers.
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Klarna props up new Apple phones
Klarna moves into high-ticket electronics leasing, offering U.S. consumers new ways to finance $2,000 Apple devices outside of traditional carrier contracts.
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YouLend and Dojo partnership reaches $2bn funding milestone
A major $2 billion funding milestone highlights the growing shift toward getting business capital directly through your payment provider.
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Nubank launches in the U.S. through a sponsor bank
Brazilian fintech giant Nubank enters the U.S. market through Lead Bank, signaling new competition in consumer credit and digital lending.
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Fifth Third is trying to make a bigger bank feel simpler
Fifth Third Bank modernizes its digital infrastructure to simplify consumer lending and improve the point-of-sale experience.
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Upstart: Lending’s oldest truism is not true for us
Upstart’s AI-driven Q2 results suggest a new era where high approval rates and lender profitability can coexist, stabilizing credit access for shoppers.
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Zip explores an EWA play
BNPL provider Zip considers adding Earned Wage Access to its U.S. toolkit, aiming to smooth out consumer spending cycles for merchants.
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Funding Circle CEO Lisa Jacobs to step down
Funding Circle CEO Lisa Jacobs announces her departure by 2027 following the lending platform's return to profitability.
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Splitit joins the Jack Henry Fintech Integration Network
Splitit integrates with Jack Henry to help community banks offer white-label installment payments directly to their customers.
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Chime to buy longtime partner Stride Bank for $590 million
Chime’s $590 million acquisition of Stride Bank turns the fintech giant into a direct lender, paving the way for expanded consumer credit products.
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Huntington's new president looks like its CEO-in-waiting
Huntington Bank signals leadership continuity by promoting consumer banking chief Brant Standridge to President.
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EverBank, WaFd say merger would address each firm's issues
EverBank and WaFd’s merger aims to stabilize funding costs, potentially leading to more consistent consumer lending terms for retail partners.
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Huntington elevates Standridge to president
Huntington Bank promotes Brant Standridge to President, centralizing business and consumer units to accelerate its digital-first retail strategy.
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DNA Payments links up with iwoca
DNA Payments integrates iwoca Flexi Loans, giving merchants direct access to business funding up to £1 million through their payment app.
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home-improvement
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Gatehouse Bank launches refinance products for UK residents with no product or application fees
Gatehouse Bank slashes upfront costs by launching fee-free Shariah-compliant home refinance products for UK residents.
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Revolut wins US charter with limits on four products
Fintech giant Revolut gains a conditional U.S. banking charter, signaling a new era of competition in consumer lending and digital payments.
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Shopline Taps Splitit for Card-Linked Installment Payments
Shopline merchants can now offer seamless, credit card-linked installments through a new partnership with Splitit.
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Fifth Third issues consolidated debt card
Fifth Third's new Truly Simple card offers 0% intro APR and no late fees, helping consumers consolidate debt and increase their shopping budget.
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Citizens targets gap between consumer, commercial banking
Citizens Bank expands its business banking reach, targeting mid-sized merchants with personalized service and better digital tools.
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Affirm and Shopify launch installments payments in Australia
Affirm and Shopify expand their partnership to Australia, bringing seamless BNPL options to local merchants through Shop Pay Installments.
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Affirm and Shopify Take Shop Pay Installments to Australia
Affirm and Shopify expand their exclusive BNPL partnership to Australia, simplifying installment payments for international retailers.
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Channel Elevates Krogen to Head of Sales
Channel promotes Cory Krogen to Head of Sales, signaling a strategic focus on partner retention and equipment finance growth.
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automotive
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Nissan pulls ILC application
Nissan abandons its bid for a specialized bank charter, signaling a retreat from direct competition with traditional financial institutions.
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home-improvement
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Luminate Bank acquires First State Mortgage, 26 originators
Luminate Bank continues its 2025 expansion by acquiring First State Mortgage, signaling a major push in residential lending volume.
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Virginia lender to acquire Forbright’s DC-area branches
Forbright Bank sells its D.C. branch network to focus on expanding its national digital lending and consumer finance platforms.
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Tandem Bank strengthens C-suite
Tandem Bank reshuffles its leadership team to accelerate growth in the sustainable consumer lending market.
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home-improvement
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How Figure turned a lending business into a financial network
Figure hits $1 billion in weekly loan apps, signaling a major shift toward faster, tech-driven home equity financing for your customers.
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Nexo wins approval to launch crypto-backed credit in Australia
Nexo gains regulatory approval in Australia, signaling a shift toward mainstream, crypto-backed consumer credit lines.
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Airwallex partners Affirm for US BNPL roll out
Airwallex integrates Affirm to give global merchants an easy way to offer BNPL to U.S. consumers at checkout.
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Klarna Launches New Membership Tiers With Fee Cuts and Higher Cash-Back Rewards
Klarna revamps its membership tiers to eliminate fees and boost rewards, signaling a shift toward long-term consumer loyalty over one-off transactions.
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Klarna boosts membership perks and removes service fees
Klarna removes service fees and doubles down on cashback rewards to drive higher consumer spend and loyalty for partner merchants.
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Pepper Money announces plans to launch First Charge Mortgages in Scotland
Specialist lender Pepper Money expands into Scotland, providing new financing options for customers with non-traditional financial profiles.
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Creditspring expands access to responsible credit with new FCA credit broking permission
Creditspring gains FCA brokering rights to offer third-party credit, boosting approval chances for customers who don't meet their standard loan criteria.
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Zilch launches new membership tiers
Zilch expands beyond short-term BNPL with new 12-month payment plans and premium membership tiers for shoppers.
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Regions takes new steps to refresh executive leadership team
Regions Financial appoints John Jordan to lead consumer banking, signaling potential shifts in the bank's retail and lending strategies.
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automotive
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SchoolsFirst FCU Debuts Fuel Rewards as Gas Prices Climb
SchoolsFirst FCU launches enhanced credit rewards for gas and EV charging to help members navigate rising transportation costs.
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home-improvement
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Calif. bank in midst of turnaround eyes tear-down projects
California's Gateway Bank hires a specialized residential construction team to fuel growth through new home builds and major renovations.
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Enova CEO Says Better Data, Not AI Hype, Will Decide Who Gets Credit
Enova's CEO explains how better data and bank acquisitions will create more stable credit access for non-prime consumers.
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Shopify: “Capital was a larger driver this quarter”
Shopify reports $1.4 billion in merchant funding for Q2 as it shifts from cash advances to term loans for platform retailers.
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J.P. Morgan Payments Commerce Platform Embeds Klarna for Instant Merchant Access
J.P. Morgan Payments integrates Klarna directly into its platform, giving merchants instant access to BNPL options without technical overhead.
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Chime Converts More Paychecks Into More Products
Chime leverages direct deposits to fuel a 70% surge in instant loans, signaling a shift toward liquidity-based consumer credit.
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Shopify Capital Transitions From MCAs to Loans in Canada
Shopify shifts its Canadian funding model from cash advances to traditional loans following new regional regulations.
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Who loses when Upstart becomes its own lender?
Upstart pivots to become a direct lender, a move that could stabilize loan availability for merchants but changes the platform's risk profile.
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KEO Capital launches in Canada
KEO Capital expands into Canada with a $50M facility to provide digital B2B financing and supply chain solutions for small businesses.
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SoFi: We Think We Can Take Significant SMB Lending Marketshare
SoFi enters the SMB market with $3 billion in lending power, offering retailers a new digital-first alternative for working capital.
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PNC’s wealth unit targets mass-affluent clients with lending option
PNC expands securities-based lending to mass-affluent clients, giving high-end shoppers a new way to tap liquidity for major purchases.
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Apple partners Klarna for new hardware leasing programme
Apple taps Klarna to power its new U.S. hardware leasing program, signaling a major shift toward subscription-style hardware ownership.
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Apple Leasing Program to Replace iPhone Upgrade
Apple shifts from traditional device financing to a hardware leasing model, signaling a new era of subscription-based consumer tech access.
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Happen’s Digital Banking Push Helps Deposits Jump 18%
LendingClub’s deposit growth signals a more stable and well-funded source of consumer financing for retail and service-based merchants.
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Upstart Receives Conditional OCC Approval for Bank Charter
AI-lender Upstart nears final bank charter approval, signaling a shift toward more stable and integrated consumer financing options.
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One bank's pitch to potential depositors: Do well and do good
Climate First Bank launches a mission-driven high-yield account to secure the funding needed for its growing loan portfolio.
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Flex Seeks Bank Charter to Scale Flexible Rent Payments
Rent-splitting fintech Flex applies for a bank charter, signaling that flexible payment models for housing are here to stay.
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Inside Upstart's journey to get a bank charter approval
Upstart's move to secure a bank charter promises more stable funding and consistent credit access for merchants using their AI-driven lending platform.
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home-improvement
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PrimeLending cuts $10M fixed costs as margins squeeze
PrimeLending slashes $10M in costs as the mortgage market remains stagnant, signaling continued financing hurdles for homeowners.