Small businesses drive innovation, create jobs, and support local economies. For financial institutions, lending to SMBs presents a major opportunity but comes with challenges due to varied financial histories, inconsistent documentation, and diverse business models. These factors often slow approvals, raise costs, and lead to inconsistent outcomes.

Compounding these operational hurdles is the ever-evolving and stringent landscape of regulatory compliance. Lenders must navigate a labyrinth of rules designed to ensure fair lending practices, prevent financial crime, protect consumer data, and maintain market stability.