Why Companies Borrow Less from Banks

Part I

eyesonsuriname

Amsterdam, 24 Oct. 2025– Around the world, money is moving faster than ever — and the old rules of borrowing are being rewritten. 

Fintech, a contraction of ‘financial’ and ‘technology’, refers to the use of technology to deliver financial services that are smarter, faster and more user-friendly. 

This includes payment apps, online banking, investment platforms and lending. Fintech companies innovate traditional financial services using technology, which can lead to faster processes, lower costs and more personalized services.

For decades, companies turned to banks as their main source of credit. But today, technology is changing that story. More and more businesses are borrowing directly from investors through FinTech platforms. Why? Because the digital economy rewards speed, transparency, and connection — not paperwork.

The fall of the traditional gatekeepers

After the 2008 financial crisis, banks became cautious, even conservative. 

Regulations tightened, risk departments expanded, and credit approvals slowed to a crawl. That left a gap — one that FinTech companies were quick to fill. 

Small businesses, freelancers, and startups, once ignored by traditional finance, found new opportunities through technology.

Why FinTech feels different

FinTech platforms make borrowing feel more like joining a network than begging for a loan. 

Applications take minutes, not weeks. 

Algorithms replace committees. Data replaces paperwork. 

And the process is personal — not through a banker, but through a platform that understands the rhythm of your business.

Data as the new collateral

In this new financial world, data is power. 

Artificial intelligence, blockchain, and open banking allow lenders to see a fuller picture of risk. 

A company’s cash flow, client history, and digital reputation now matter as much as its balance sheet. 

That opens doors for entrepreneurs who were once invisible to the banking system.

Global trends, local opportunities

From Nairobi and Singapore to New York, FinTech is reshaping credit. 

But for smaller economies like Suriname, it’s more than mere innovation — it’s inclusion. 

Digital lending can give farmers, small exporters, and creative startups access to the same global capital that once only large corporations could reach. 

It’s a quiet revolution: technology putting financial power back into human hands.

A new way of thinking about money

FinTech isn’t just about apps or faster payments. 

It’s about reimagining what money can do — how it moves, who controls it, and who benefits. 

In this new world, finance is no longer about walls and vaults, but about bridges — connecting people, projects, and potential across borders.

PART I

eyesonsuriname