Bailey Reutzel

Small businesses often struggle to access capital. Traditional business loan approval processes are slow, subjective and oftentimes rely on outdated models or incomplete data. Using AI to improve loan decision-making can be a game changer for both lenders and SBBs. Our panelists will discuss how AI is transforming lending through automated data collection, enhanced risk assessment, and faster loan approvals. The panel will also discuss the potential risks to using AI in lending decisions including algorithmic bias, data privacy concerns and a lack of transparency about lending decisions.

In a perfect world, small and mid-size businesses want a single platform to manage online and offline sales and payments seamlessly. Given their intense focus on the benefits of embedded finance, they also want payment systems tied directly to invoicing, accounting, and inventory. And, given tight cash flow, SMBs are keen for real-time settlement solutions that offer instant payouts. The panelists debate how small businesses are re-prioritizing digital payment options—credit and debt, mobile wallets, ACH and bank transfers, buy now, pay later, peer-to-peer payment apps, QR code-based payments, and stablecoins—to arrive at choices to meet their growing desire for low cost, easy to integrate, flexible payments across channels (online, mobile, in-store) that also deliver a frictionless customer experience.

Amid shifting tariffs and global uncertainty, small businesses are taking on more risk than ever as it relates to cross-border payments. Not only are the costs of doing business across the globe in flux, but there’s growing fraud vectors to worry about and new competition in the market with the interest and adoption of stablecoins and other tech. Hear from an expert panel on the urgent need for banks to better support their SMB customers.