New Data From i2c: For SMBs, Credit is Widely Accessible, Shifting the Focus to Flexibility and Premium Features

With 83% of SMBs Confident They’ll Be Approved for a New Business Credit Card, Issuers Must Compete on Flexibility and Features to Meet the Increasing Demand for Adaptable Business Credit

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--i2c Inc., a global financial technology innovator, today released a new study titled “SMB Growth Monitor Report: Small Businesses, Big Credit Needs,” produced in collaboration with PYMNTS Intelligence. The report comprises responses from 514 small to mid-size businesses (SMBs), revealing that most SMBs are confident in their ability to secure a new credit card. This optimism signals an urgent shift. Success for issuers now depends on delivering flexible, feature-rich products tailored to enhance the strategic operations of small businesses.

The research highlights that credit for SMBs is a critical tool for shaping daily operations and long-term growth. However, firms of different sizes use credit differently: larger SMBs with annual revenues exceeding $1 million use business credit cards for 39% of their credit transactions. In contrast, smaller firms with yearly revenues under $150,000 use business cards for only 30% of their credit transactions.

“To meet the needs of their SMB customers, card issuers need to deliver an agile and adaptive financial tool kit,” said Seth Perlman, Global Head of Product at i2c Inc. “Small and midsize businesses are clearly indicating a readiness to pay for tools like dynamic credit limits and virtual cards to help them streamline operations, manage cash flow, and achieve their growth goals. Issuers that want to build loyal SMB customers will need to develop products that enable flexibility and control, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Key findings from the report include:

• Confidence in approval is high: 83% of SMBs believe they would get approved for a new business credit card, with nearly all high-revenue SMBs expressing the same confidence.
• Different cards serve different purposes: SMBs predominantly use business credit to cover planned expenses (e.g., 53% of business card use is mostly or completely planned) but often turn to personal cards to cover unexpected or emergency expenses. Only 12% of business credit card use is mostly or completely spontaneous, compared to 21% for personal credit cards.
• SMBs prioritize flexible options: Flexible spending solutions are at the top of the credit card wish list, including installments, dynamic limits, virtual cards, and spending controls. The average SMB is willing to pay an annual fee of $126 for flexible spending solutions like installments or dynamic limits.
• SMBs look for top-quality features in cards: After flexible spending solutions, premium business rewards on everyday spending are the next most sought-after feature, with firms willing to spend an average of $112.24 annually.

“For small to mid-size businesses, credit is far more than a financial convenience; it shapes how they operate and grow,” said Karen Webster, CEO, PYMNTS. “With confidence high and fear of denial less prominent, issuers now compete on value and adaptability, not just access.”

i2c is uniquely positioned to help clients capitalize on this shift in confidence within the business credit market. Its single global platform provides the speed and flexibility necessary to configure the feature-rich, versatile products SMBs are demanding. By empowering issuers to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and offer dynamic capabilities such as virtual cards, customizable spending limits, and installment options, i2c clients can transform their offerings into strategic tools that drive SMB growth and loyalty. This focus on adaptability and control can fuel deeper banking relationships, increase customer engagement, and provide issuers with a clear competitive edge.

For a deeper dive into these insights and more: Access the full report available for complimentary download here.

Additionally, i2c is set to host a roundtable, moderated by PYMNTS’ Chief Content Officer, John Gaffney, titled “The SMB Fast Lane: Big Credit Needs, Bigger Growth,” on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 2:00 pm EST. Speakers include:

• Seth Perlman, Global Head of Product, i2c
• Melissa Moss, VP Treasury Solutions, Renasant Bank
• Jeni Brantner, VP Payments, Royal Credit Union

Register to reserve your spot and join the conversation.

About i2c Inc.
An award-winning global financial technology innovator powering credit, debit, prepaid, core banking, and money movement solutions, i2c unifies banking and payments in an all-in-one platform, transforming product personalization with a customer-centric architecture and accelerating speed-to-market with composable building-block solutions. Financial institutions and fintechs globally trust i2c to help them quickly and efficiently configure and scale differentiated financial offerings in an evolving, competitive market. Powered by innovation and driven by trust for more than 25 years, i2c blends modern ingenuity with expert reliability to supercharge exceptional banking and payments experiences for millions of users and billions of transactions worldwide.

For more information, visit i2cinc.com and follow us on LinkedIn at @i2cinc.