Finatext's Credit Business Platform 'Crest' Adopted as Integrated Customer Base for MUFG Bank's Online Finance Services for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Finatext Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Akane Kinoshita; hereinafter referred to as "Finatext"), part of the Finatext Group which provides next-generation financial infrastructure to realize embedded finance, is pleased to announce that its credit business platform "Crest" has been adopted by Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "MUFG Bank") as the integrated customer base for its online finance services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Initially, this will enable seamless integration between MUFG Bank's online lending service for SMEs, "Biz LENDING," and business SaaS provided by external partners, supporting the realization of comprehensive lending services that meet the diverse financing needs of SMEs.

■ Background

In recent years, corporate finance has seen a diversification of funding methods beyond traditional bank loans, including corporate cards, invoice payments, and factoring. To provide optimal financial services tailored to a business's growth phase and funding requirements, it is essential to enhance user convenience through collaboration with external services while utilizing customer data across various services. MUFG Bank also recognized the need to build a system that could flexibly connect its online finance services for SMEs, centered around "Biz LENDING," with external services, and manage customer data in an integrated manner.

Finatext's "Crest" is an AI-ready credit business platform that enables efficient, centralized management of credit-related operations. Functions such as screening, lending, repayment, balance management, and customer management are pre-implemented, reducing initial system implementation costs and development time, thereby enabling rapid business launch. It also features a highly flexible and scalable architecture, making it easy to expand functions or integrate with other systems after operation begins.

"Crest's" features were highly evaluated, leading to its adoption as the integrated customer base for MUFG Bank's online finance services for SMEs. Finatext and MUFG Bank will commence the "Crest" implementation project this month, with plans to proceed with development for integration between "Biz LENDING" and external services.

■ Features of "Crest" as an Integrated Customer Base

1. ID and Data Integration Enabling Seamless Collaboration with External Services

The API-based design facilitates easy implementation of Single Sign-On (SSO) from external services and secure data integration. Users can seamlessly access lending services from their familiar business tools.

2. Integrated Database for Centralized Management of Multiple Financial Services on a Per-Customer Basis

Data spanning multiple services, including lending, payments, and billing management, is consolidated on a per-customer basis. This allows the bank to grasp customer funding needs more precisely and in real-time, enabling proposals at the optimal timing.

3. Combination of Proven Stability and Flexible Scalability

Based on operational experience within the Finatext Group's lending business (Smartplus Credit Inc.), continuous functional improvements are made. While providing a proven stable foundation, it allows for rapid addition and modification of necessary functions in response to the fast-changing corporate finance market.