Reward Finance Group Partners with LendingMetrics to Accelerate Underwriting with Auto-Assisted Tech

Reward Finance Group has partnered with LendingMetrics to integrate auto-assisted underwriting technology into its operations. For fintech professionals, this move highlights the ongoing shift toward hybrid credit models where automated decisioning engines augment human expertise to accelerate lending cycles while maintaining rigorous risk mitigation standards in the increasingly competitive alternative finance sector.

What was announced

Reward Finance Group is adopting LendingMetrics’ technology to streamline its underwriting process through the implementation of an auto-assisted underwriting platform. This system is designed to increase the speed and accuracy of credit decisions, allowing the lender to execute sophisticated and individual decisions in real-time. A key feature of the new platform is the ability for the lender to modify internal policies, algorithms, and risk appetite instantly, providing a level of agility often missing from legacy banking systems.

The integration is intended to underpin Reward’s focus on customer service by reducing the manual administrative burden on underwriting teams. By automating routine aspects of the credit assessment, the firm aims to allow its staff to focus on understanding complex client businesses and providing tailored financial solutions. The technology provides a combination of increased efficiency and improved risk mitigation, ensuring that the lender can scale its operations without compromising the quality of its loan book. This investment in automated decisioning is positioned as an essential component for the lender to maintain high service levels while managing the complexities of individual borrower profiles.

"Partnering with LendingMetrics will be a key component in the transformation of our underwriting process. By providing us with increased efficiency, accuracy and risk mitigation, our teams can spend more time doing what they do best: understanding our clients and their businesses to provide the most appropriate financial solutions."

Sharon Ellis, Strategy and Programme Director of Reward Finance

The companies involved

LendingMetrics is a UK-based fintech specialist focused on credit risk software and data solutions. The company provides decisioning tools and platforms that help lenders automate their processes and leverage real-time data for more accurate risk profiling. It has established itself as a significant player in the credit technology market, providing the infrastructure necessary for lenders to move away from purely manual underwriting. The firm has recently seen growth supported by external investment, allowing it to expand its technical leadership and product capabilities.

Reward Finance Group is an alternative finance provider that focuses on delivering funding solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Operating in a market where speed and flexibility are primary differentiators, Reward often handles complex lending scenarios that require a more bespoke approach than traditional high-street banks can offer. The firm emphasizes a relationship-led model, which it is now seeking to enhance through the adoption of sophisticated fintech tools. By bridging the gap between high-speed automated decisioning and traditional relationship-based finance, the company maintains its position within the UK’s diverse alternative lending landscape.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has followed the growth and leadership expansion at LendingMetrics as the demand for automated credit technology has intensified. In late 2024, we reported that LDC Backs Fast-growing Fintech LendingMetrics, a development that signaled strong private equity confidence in the company’s credit risk software. More recently, the firm has continued to strengthen its senior expertise to support its expanding client base. We covered this in our report on how LendingMetrics Appoints Jamie Land as Head of Presales to Drive Credit Risk Innovation, highlighting the company’s focus on technical leadership to drive its next phase of market penetration.

What this means

The partnership between Reward Finance Group and LendingMetrics reflects a broader industry trend where "alternative" lenders are becoming increasingly tech-centric to survive. As the SME lending market becomes more crowded, the pressure to deliver credit decisions in hours rather than days is intensifying. This announcement suggests that even relationship-led lenders can no longer rely solely on manual processes if they wish to remain competitive against digital-native challengers. The open question for the sector is whether the widespread adoption of automated decisioning will eventually commoditize the "bespoke" value proposition of alternative lenders, or if hybrid models will successfully set a new standard for high-touch, high-speed commercial finance.