London, UK - Satago, the cash management platform that provides automated credit control, risk management and invoice finance to SMEs and accountants, today announces that it has partnered with Lloyds Bank to transform access to short-term finance for its business customers across the UK.
The agreement builds on the existing partnership, extending the use of Satago’s technology to help Lloyds Bank customers get access to cash against invoices due. It will power a single unified solution for customers of all sizes and facility requirements that dramatically improves the client’s user experience while minimising risk exposure and cost to serve.
To reflect the strengthening of the partnership, Lloyds Banking Group has also invested £5m in the UK fintech in exchange for a 20% equity stake, which demonstrates its ongoing commitment to reinventing existing invoice financing practices and delivering the best possible outcomes for its SME customers.
Recent research has revealed that five out of ten (54%) firms that have seen a change in customer payment time since the start of the pandemic have experienced slower payments**, with debtors most commonly citing overdue payments from their own customers and cashflow pressures as their reasons for paying late.
Satago pioneered the use of intelligent technology to simplify SME finance, digitising invoice factoring for businesses of all sizes. Its platform provides SMEs with cashflow management tools which not only free up time and create efficiencies, but also allow them to unlock value from their accounting assets, which can be invested in growing their businesses and pivoting in response to market challenges.
Gwynne Master, Managing Director, Working Capital, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Our partnership with Satago goes beyond a supplier-buyer relationship. The equity stake we have taken in the business underscores our commitment to deliver best-in-class, future-focused solutions for UK businesses by partnering with a market leading provider with proven capability.”
“Our new platform enhances both the choices and the speed at which finance solutions will be offered to small and medium sized businesses. We are leveraging the advanced technology of Satago’s platform to digitally match businesses needs and solutions for either Single- or Whole-Book Invoice Factoring to produce tailored customer-centric outcomes, quickly.
“Most important, the solution gives more businesses better control of their cashflow. We can now make it easier for customers to identify their invoices that can be financed, reduce payment times, and simplify end-to end processes. Businesses are now able to focus on running their day-to-day business and grow, rather than chase payments.”
Quick and easy access to funding is critical to the ability of every business to innovate and sustain their operations. Historically, SMEs have struggled to struggled to maintain cashflow while tied into long-term lending agreements, leaving them vulnerable to rapid changes in the market and reliant on challenging debt to remain operational.
Satago’s invoice financing platform leverages open banking APIs to give SMEs flexibility and speed they need from lending and bring the transparency of personal finance to their business banking. Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking customers will benefit from real-time insights into which companies pay their invoices on time, and a suite of tools including automated invoices, reminders, payment requests and integrated credit reporting to help them track their finances and outstanding payments.
Sinead McHale, Chief Executive Officer of Satago, comments: “The last two years have been hugely difficult for businesses everywhere to navigate. Across the country we’ve seen countless examples of SMEs that have had to innovate and pivot quickly to maintain their critical role in the economy, all while chasing late payments and challenging debts.
“That’s why we are extremely excited to partner with Lloyds Banking Group to bring invoice financing into the 21st century. It’s a market that has changed very little in decades, so we’re delighted that Lloyds shares our vision to make it available to all UK businesses regardless of size or sector. Lloyds’ investment our company is testament to the ability of our intelligent technology, and our innovative use of data, to put SMEs across the UK back in control of their own finances and bounce back stronger.”
