#USA #Burbank #Zest AI #AI lending #Fintech Innovations

Zest AI Recognized Among Top FinTech Companies of 2025

Zest AI, a pioneering force in AI-driven lending technology, has made headlines by being included in CNBC's prestigious 2025 World's Top FinTech Companies list. This annual ranking, created in collaboration with Statista, identifies innovative fintech companies that are revolutionizing financial services globally by offering impactful technology-based solutions.

A Testament to Innovation

Mike de Vere, the CEO of Zest AI, expressed pride in this recognition, stating, "Being named one of the world's top fintech companies reflects a growing acknowledgment of how AI is strengthening our financial system." He emphasized that Zest AI's mission goes beyond technology; it's about making credit accessible to more individuals while enhancing the economic landscape of the United States.

Zest AI leverages artificial intelligence to focus on modernizing the lending ecosystem, targeting gaps in the traditional consumer credit system. By implementing AI tools that improve decision-making, Zest AI allows lenders to operate more effectively and grow their businesses.

Comprehensive Product Suite

Zest AI offers a variety of advanced tools that support the entire lending lifecycle.

• - LuLu Lending Intelligence: This platform grants lenders real-time insights into their portfolios and the market. It allows for quicker strategic decision-making backed by robust data, all through a GenAI-powered interface that highlights business opportunities and optimizes portfolio health.

• - AI-Automated Underwriting: This tool enhances decision-making in credit access, ensuring fair and accurate evaluations that enable lenders to approve more qualified borrowers while minimizing losses.

• - Zest Protect: This fraud detection tool empowers lenders to guard against application fraud through AI mechanisms that manage risk tolerances effectively without complicating customer interactions.

Zest AI's flagship solution, AI-automated underwriting, is instrumental for financial institutions looking to replace outdated credit models. It harnesses machine learning to analyze hundreds of data points—significantly more than the 15 to 20 typically considered in traditional scoring methods. This broad data assessment has allowed Zest AI to develop over 600 custom credit models, automating up to 80% of loan decisions, thereby cutting charge-off rates by 20% and responsibly expanding approval rates while maintaining consistent risk standards.

A Rigorous Selection Process

The CNBC list is curated based on thorough analysis of publicly available data and an exhaustive assessment of key performance indicators across various fintech sectors. Companies featured are recognized for their innovation, meaningful impact, and ability to enhance financial services through the integration of advanced technology. Zest AI's inclusion underscores its leadership and commitment to innovation within the enterprise fintech sector.

About Zest AI

Founded in 2009, Zest AI stands at the forefront of financial technology with the goal of modernizing lending and fortifying the financial sector. With a focus on the $17 trillion U.S. consumer credit market, Zest AI provides technologies that assist lenders in identifying creditworthy borrowers who might be overlooked by conventional credit assessment methods. Empowering financial institutions of all sizes to utilize AI, Zest AI has secured over 50 patents and developed a range of solutions from underwriting to fraud detection, all designed to facilitate smarter lending decisions that fuel growth and profitability. For more details, visit Zest AI and connect with them on LinkedIn.

In a rapidly evolving financial landscape, Zest AI’s recognition as a top fintech company further cements its role in enabling lenders to adapt, innovate, and thrive in this new era of financial services.