Financing by Dutch fintechs more than doubled over three years

Fintech lending platforms are digital services that facilitate loan issuance outside the traditional banking system, typically through automated, predominantly online processes. Notable examples in the Dutch market include Mogelijk, Collin Crowdfund, New10, and Bridgefund. These platforms primarily offer loans to SMEs, including real estate financing, and also provide consumer credit.

DNB has been reporting data on fintech lending since 2021. Since the initial publication, the volume of outstanding loans has grown significantly – from €1.8 billion in 2021 to €4.4 billion by the end of 2024 – an increase of approximately 2.5 times.

Fintechs gain ground in SME financing

Fintech companies are assuming an increasingly significant role in the financing of SMEs in the Netherlands, driven by their speed, accessibility, and operational flexibility. This development is largely attributable to the use of automated application and credit assessment procedures, more lenient requirements regarding financial history, and the availability of alternative credit structures – such as repayment schemes based on business turnover.

By the end of 2024, the total outstanding volume of SME loans issued by fintech platforms had reached €3.2 billion, marking an increase of €0.7 billion (+27%) compared to the previous year. In contrast, SME lending by the three major Dutch banks – ING, Rabobank, and ABN AMRO – declined by a similar amount (€0.7 billion, or -0.6%) to approximately €110 billion.

Although fintechs still represent a relatively modest share of the SME financing market, their presence is growing. Their market share rose from 2.2% to 2.8% in 2024. In the segment of smaller loans – those under €25,000 – their share already exceeds 8%. Compared to other non-bank lenders with less advanced digital infrastructure, fintech platforms now account for nearly one-quarter of all SME loans.

Intermediary platforms dominate fintech lending

The majority of outstanding fintech loans – amounting to €3.7 billion – were issued through platforms operating solely as intermediaries. These include crowdfunding platforms and investment platforms that collaborate with third parties to connect borrowers directly with lenders. Importantly, this concerns loan-based financing rather than donations, which are also common in crowdfunding models. Nearly half of the capital used for these loans originates from private households.

The remaining €0.7 billion in fintech loans were issued by platforms that lend from their own balance sheets or via dedicated financing arrangements, such as credit lines provided by banks or investors. In these cases, the platform itself acts as the lender and assumes the associated credit risk, in contrast to the intermediary model typical of crowdfunding.

More information

Table 5.14: Lending by Dutch banks to the Dutch SME sector

Table 16.1: Size of non-bank financial intermediation

Dashboard: Non-bank financial intermediation (NBFI)