A new lending solution that enables merchants to access funds within just two business days – from application to money in account – will be a gamechanger for small businesses in New Zealand. Merchants will have the working capital, flexibility and control to grow and thrive with the new cashflow-based loan and performance-based repayments tailored to meet the needs of small businesses. This innovative approach streamlines the lending process, offering a fast new pathway to capital for New Zealand’s small business sector.
RDC.AI (formerly Rich Data Co), a global leading explainable Artificial Intelligence (AI) decisioning platform for business and commercial lenders, has announced its partnership with Bank of New Zealand (BNZ), one of New Zealand’s largest banks and owned by National Australia Bank, to launch this innovative cashflow-based lending solution that delivers tailored loan offers and approval in minutes.
The Merchant Flexi Loan provides New Zealand small businesses with rapid access to credit –approved in as little as three minutes and funds available within two business days – setting a new benchmark for speed in the market.
Powered by RDC.AI’s advanced decisioning platform, the Merchant Flexi Loan application analyses terminal transaction data and cashflow history patterns to deliver tailored loan decisions – no financial statements needed.
The RDC.AI platform also supports dynamic credit offers and embedded monitoring. This capability underpins BNZ’s ability to offer merchants the flexibility to choose repayments between 10-30 per cent of daily settled terminal sales, based on their business performance. This gives merchants control over their repayment schedule based on their business conditions.
The loan is built on a simple, one-off fee structure with no interest charges, providing small businesses with transparency and cost certainty.
BNZ customers are already using the loan to fund growth, manage cashflow, and invest in equipment. Feedback has been positive, with customers appreciating the simplicity, speed, and flexibility.
Ada Guan (pictured), Co-Founder and CEO of RDC.AI, said, “We’re proud to deliver an AI-driven merchant lending solution through our collaboration with BNZ, and be part of the launch of an innovative new cashflow lending structure. Limited resources and dependence on customer payments shouldn’t hinder business growth – or potentially halt operations should there be a business crisis and access to funds isn’t there. We’re helping small businesses benefit from greater flexibility, financial inclusion and fast access to the capital they need to grow and thrive.
“When RDC.AI was founded nine years ago, we had a clear mission: to transform business and commercial lending through AI and deep industry expertise. Innovative, accessible, and sustainable lending solutions remain at the core of what we do. Our explainable AI technology enables banks to enhance their lending capabilities and customer experiences.
“This partnership with BNZ marks a significant milestone in our journey – demonstrating real impact at scale through an experienced team and powerful platform. It underscores the growing momentum around AI adoption in business lending, supporting BNZ’s innovation agenda and offering additional support to New Zealand’s vibrant small business community.”
Karna Luke, Executive, Customer Products & Services at BNZ, said, “Credit and lending solutions play a crucial role in small business operations and cashflow management. RDC.AI’s advanced platform allows us to deliver innovative, swift, and responsive cashflow lending solutions that meet the evolving needs of our small business customers. We’re delighted to offer this simple and flexible solution and provide customers with another option for access to credit during critical moments in their business.”
The BNZ Merchant Flexi Loan is now available to eligible merchant customers in New Zealand, further demonstrating RDC.AI’s commitment to driving innovation in lending across the APAC and North American regions.
