Podcast 139: Classic lending isn’t dying. It’s evolving. With Svitlanka Sergiichuk.

Successful fintechs excel at delivering platforms that simplify regular financial operations. However, just because it looks simple to the end user, doesn’t mean it’s simple in the background. That’s where the magic happens. Svitlanka Sergiichuk, CEO and co-founder of Novafin Solutions, joins our host, Igor, to hold a mirror against the backstage work it takes to put together formidable lending, BNPL, and embedded finance systems. 

Lending Isn’t Going Anywhere. It’s Just Changing Shape.

Term loans and credit cards might not sound exciting, but they’re still the backbone of how businesses and consumers operate. Most ambitious projects don’t happen because someone had spare cash lying around. They happen because financing makes them possible.

What’s really changing isn’t the existence of lending, but how it’s packaged and delivered. People like to say “classic lending is dead,” but in reality, it’s just being rebuilt with better tech, better user experience, and more flexibility. The fundamentals are still there, but the expectations around speed, access, and usability are much higher.

Traditional Banks’ Leftovers are Fintech’s Treasure

Banks expect paperwork, history, and structures that many small businesses simply don’t have or don’t know how to produce. That’s where flexible credit models like revolving credit lines come in. Instead of giving a business a lump sum and locking them into rigid repayments, credit lines let them draw money when they actually need it and only pay interest on what they use. It feels less like a loan and more like a safety net.

This kind of flexibility changes behavior. Even if a business never uses the full credit line, just knowing it’s there makes founders more confident about taking on bigger projects or accepting higher-risk opportunities. It reduces anxiety and unlocks growth, especially for smaller teams that operate close to the edge.