Virgin Money Teams Up with Trade Ledger to Supercharge Small‑Business Loans
Short‑form headline: Virgin Money partners with fintech wizard Trade Ledger to make lending feel like a breath of fresh air for SMEs.
Why the Shake‑Up Matters
- Virg — shows that building a business banking stack isn’t just about the “banking” part, it’s about smart tech + human touch.
- Trade — offers a data‑driven lending-as‑a‑service platform that takes the guesswork out of when, where, and how to lend.
- Together, they aim to give businesses faster approvals, lower risk, and a smoother customer experience—a holy trinity for any bailout‑hungry SME.
What Trade Ledger Brings to the Table
Trade Ledger is a global “Lending‑Got‑Smarts” provider. Think of it as the Swiss‑Army knife for banks: it can craft secured or unsecured loans, match the right product to the right client at the right time, and deliver everything right through the channel that pops the most (mobile app, web, or API).
“…Our platform analyses data and automates a wide range of key lending processes, enabling Virgin Money to provide a quicker, more efficient service.” – Roger Vincent, UK Managing Director at Trade Ledger
First‑Mile Products in the Lineup
- Business term loans – because you need stability.
- Asset finance – turning your equipment into cash‑flow generators.
- Invoice finance – asking for payments that were, until now, stuck in the dark.
Financial Backing and the Bigger Picture
It’s not just a tech partnership. In 2020, Virgin Money secured a £35 million grant from the Banking Competition Remedies (BCR) Capability & Innovation Fund—an investment that fuels this new, data‑heavy pop‑out of the bank card.
Quotes That Speak Volumes
Gavin Opperman, Group Business Director at Virgin Money: “Customer experience is key. Our FinTech partners help us create something completely new for businesses. Lending is an essential part of this conversation.”
Gavin added, “See the impact COVID‑19 has had on our clients? We want to be the support that helps SMEs recover, grow, and maybe even brag about their progress at office parties.”
Roger Vincent, UK Managing Director at Trade Ledger: “We’re thrilled to work with Virgin Money because they recognise the value in using data to reimagine working capital for the digital economy. Our partnership will help get capital to businesses who really need it at a critical time.”
In a Nutshell
Think of the partnership as a razor‑sharp partnership that cuts through the hassle of traditional lending. Business customers will get: faster approval times, better risk assessment, and a more user‑friendly experience. That’s the pitch. That’s the future.
