Intelligent Lending is a growing group of FinTechs including consumer brands CredAbility, Ocean and TotallyMoney. Its mission is to help people and businesses take control of their finances through technology and data. Headquartered in Greater Manchester, the group has offices in London, Cyprus and Italy.

Powered by Open Banking, experts and AI, binq’ s mission is to help SME owners start, manage and grow their businesses. Its AI business assistant, Ali, delivers real-time recommendations, personalised performance analysis, alerts and support 24 / 7. And when you need to speak to a human, the team of experts are just a tap away.

Proprietary Smart Search technology continuously analyses business Open Banking data and scans the market so owners always know their best options. It uses this information and reviews public records to autofill forms, making applications quick and easy.

Smart Search is currently live across four key areas, with more being added soon:

• Funding: With an estimated £ 65 billion SME funding shortfall and 60 % of owners not looking beyond their own banks for borrowing, binq partners with specialist lenders to match businesses with better funding.

• Utilities: No energy price cap for SMEs has meant costs have soared by 75 % since 2021, binq scans the market to find cheaper options so businesses can cut costs and benefit from better support.

• Insurance: Eighty percent of SMEs are under-insured and two in five have none at all. binq finds personalised options for businesses at fair prices, protecting them against costly surprises.

• Banking: A third of owners use personal accounts for business matters and less than 1 % of SMEs have switched banks in the last 10 years. With a panel of specialist providers, businesses can unlock their potential, receive improved rates and experience enhanced service.

The launch of binq marks a busy 2025 for Intelligent Lending, following the acquisition of personal finance app, TotallyMoney, and its move to a head office in MediaCity, Salford Quays.

Jamie Stewart, Founder and CEO of binq, said:“ The UK’ s 5.5 million SMEs are a significant contributor to both the economy and society, making up 99 % of all businesses, employing 16.6 million people and turning over £ 2.8 trillion annually.

“ However, in recent years, they’ ve faced a sharp rise in operating costs while the government has withdrawn support and hiked employment tax.

“ Running an SME is hard enough, and with binq, we want to make it easier for people to start, manage and grow their businesses. And that’ s why we’ re supporting owners to find funding, switch suppliers and stay on top of the numbers – while giving them something powerful: time back.

“ Our AI assistant, Ali doesn’ t just answer questions – it knows your business, flags what matters and offers real support around the clock. And if you want to speak to a human, we’ re there when you want.” �

28 Intelligent SME. tech