Small & Medium Business Banking

Written By Shannon Hewlko

Small and medium business owners (SMBs) run their finances across fragmented, disconnected systems — banking portals, accounting software, payroll, invoicing, and spreadsheets. Today, 36% of SMBs cite lack of integration between systems as their #1 digital-tool challenge, 27% run six or more separate systems, and 53% still rely on spreadsheets for financial management. Meanwhile, SMBs are adopting AI faster than financial institutions are evolving to support them: 58% now use generative AI (up from 23% in 2023), and 41% of QuickBooks users use AI daily, nearly triple in one year.

Benefit

This use case is about bringing banking to where SMBs already work. As business owners adopt AI tools to manage cash flow, invoicing, and bill payments, they need programmable banking to connect their financial institution into their AI applications and systems. With 36.2 million small businesses in the US generating over $5 trillion in economic activity, financial institutions that connect directly can capture deposits and deepen relationships that would otherwise go elsewhere.

Current State without Paywhere
Today this is managed by manual work, portal logins, spreadsheets, and disconnected point solutions, and only 23% of SMBs have fully automated bill payment.

Why Paywhere
Paywhere safely connects an institution's SMB clients to the AI tools they already use through a secure, bank-branded layer, replacing portal logins, swivel-chair workflows, and unsanctioned screen scraping with governed, real-time access, a human in the loop on every payment, and full institutional control.

Shannon Hewlko

Shannon’s passion for design and the creative process was sparked while working abroad with the talented and inspiring team at Heatherwick Studio - a design architectural practice in London, England. Upon returning to Canada, Shannon embraced her interest and natural talent by studying at the Alberta College of Art and Design, where she graduated with a degree in Visual Communications and a double major in Advertising and Graphic Design.

Through her evolving roles at Trigger, CP Rail, Western Sky Creative and Anstice Communications, Shannon honed her ability to create compelling stories through visual design that not only complement communications’ tactics but elevate a brand’s essence. Shannon’s fun-loving, adventurous approach to her work, coupled with her drive for consistent project execution and cultivating cohesive brands, is unique, motivating and inspiring.

On a personal note, Shannon is an aspiring triathlete and there is no doubt that she passes those long hours biking, swimming and running by dreaming up ideas and developing strategies for her many projects. When she’s not training for her next triathlon, Shannon stays in shape by picking up mad dance skills from her two-year-old niece, Tootie, at their weekly dance off in her sister’s living room.

https://www.hewlko.com
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AI Assistants: Financial Forecasting & Planning