1. What specific trends or data led you to identify the “quiet credit crisis” among Americans?

We saw that over 45 million Americans are considered credit invisible or underbanked. That’s such a high number, and it highlights how traditional systems fail to serve a large segment of the population. On top of that, younger consumers, immigrants, and gig economy workers often lack the credit history that lenders rely on. These blind spots created what we call a “quiet credit crisis”: millions of people locked out of financial opportunities not because of poor decisions, but because of outdated models.

2. Why did you prioritize a fully digital card experience, and how does this benefit your core user base? 

Many of the people we serve expect convenience and accessibility from their financial tool, and a fully digital experience is the best way to provide that. With the Juzt Credit Card, users can apply in minutes and get an instant decision. Upon  approval, they can use their card through Apple Pay or Google Pay. There’s no waiting, no paperwork, and no hidden barriers.

3. Can you explain how alternative data and Taktile’s risk decision engine play a role in the approval process? 

The Taktile risk decision engine is the core platform behind our underwriting process. It serves as the environment where we’ve implemented most of our integrations with external data sources, as well as our underwriting logic. The platform enables seamless connectivity to a wide range of data providers, including alternative data sources, allowing us to assess potential customers from a 360-degree perspective and give them the best possible chance of approval.

4. What types of spending behaviors or milestones does the platform encourage to help users grow their credit scores? 

We encourage users to start with small, manageable purchases they can pay off each month. The Juzt dashboard helps users monitor spending and track payments to build good financial habits. By consistently paying on time and keeping utilization low, users can gradually grow their credit scores, which we report to a major bureau to ensure their positive behavior is reflected.

5. With instant digital approval and activation, how are you managing user onboarding and risk simultaneously? 

Instant digital decision and activation are among the core value propositions we aim to deliver to the market. Our goal is to offer a seamless and enjoyable customer experience, with a focus on fast onboarding and minimal time to money. This mission goes hand in hand with our disciplined risk management approach, which relies exclusively on real-time data from external sources for customer evaluation. Thanks to our robust technological infrastructure and proven experience in operationalizing machine learning solutions, we’re able to achieve both speed and precision – approving customers quickly without compromising on risk.

6. What role do you see fintech’s playing in reshaping the credit ecosystem amid rising borrowing costs and tighter standards?  

Fintechs have a vital role to play in reshaping credit access, especially as borrowing costs rise and traditional lenders tighten standards. By using technology to assess risk more accurately and reach underserved populations, fintechs can offer more inclusive financial products to the people who need it most.