Assessing the Potential of Fintech Lending Platforms as Viable Alternatives for the Funding of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria

This study examines the potential of FinTech money lending platforms, as viable alternatives for funding SMEs in Nigeria. The motivation for the study arises from the increasing role of FinTech platforms, when it comes to providing financial services to SMEs and the need to enhance their effectiveness and contributions. The study objectives focus on evaluating the accessibility of funds, user interface, transparency, risk management, regulatory compliance, and reputation of the FinTech lending platforms, in terms of their trustworthiness. Data was collected through focused group discussions with 20 SME owners who have used the lending platforms to access business funds, and content analysis was employed to collect relevant information from secondary data sources. Data collected was analyzed using a theme-based qualitative descriptive analysis approach. Amongst others, findings of the study highlight the importance of trustworthiness in determining SME’s perception of FinTech platforms, as practices like transparent disclosures and customer friendly policies were found to foster trust. Amongst others, this study recommends more collaboration between FinTech platforms and the government, as well as other traditional lending institutions, in order to enhance the effectiveness of their services and build trust amongst SME users.