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Dealing with financial difficulties can be a distressing time for anybody. We want to act as quickly as possible to spot the signs that a customer may be struggling and offer support.

That’s why we’re harnessing the potential of AI and investing in Serene, an early-stage AI platform dedicated to tackling financial vulnerability.

Through real-time customer insights driven by AI and behavioural science, Serene’s technology detects early signs of financial distress and predicts risks to help us deliver personalised, timely support at scale. 

Platforms like Serene show the potential of tools like AI to improve outcomes for customers.

The minority investment, driven by our Innovation and Partnerships group at NatWest, forms part of our strategy to make investments in early-stage companies to drive innovation for our customers and colleagues. 

Serene joined the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator programme in 2023 and was spotted at the bank’s recent Fintech Showcase event where it pitched its concept to industry experts, investors and business owners.

 

David Grunwald, Director of Innovation and Partnerships at NatWest Group said: “As people continue to adapt to an ever changing world, it’s important for us to be a trusted partner who can anticipate, understand and respond to customers’ changing needs – technology is helping us to do this faster and more effectively. Platforms like Serene show the potential of tools like AI to improve outcomes for customers, in this case, by quickly identifying vulnerabilities to play a positive role across the financial system.

“We saw great potential in Serene when it joined in our Accelerator programme. As the biggest bank for start-ups in the UK1, investing in fintechs that share our strategic vision is an important part of our commitment to helping businesses grow and thrive.” 

 

Savannah Price, Founder & CEO at Serene said:  “Financial vulnerability is something we will all face at some point - it’s a universal challenge that demands a smarter, more proactive approach."

“With NatWest’s support, we’re expanding our platform to help businesses deliver tailored solutions at scale. Their expertise in supporting scale-ups and understanding diverse customer needs will help to accelerate our growth and enable us to make an even greater impact for the organisations we work with.

“This investment highlights Serene’s role in redefining how vulnerability is managed and underscores the growing movement towards a more customer-centric approach to financial services—one where every customer feels seen, understood, and empowered.”

1. Biggest bank for start-ups - Based on the % of 586 businesses, less than 2 years old, that name a NatWest Group brand as their main bank (20%). Source: MarketVue Business Banking from Savanta, YE Q1 2024. Data weighted by region and turnover to be representative of businesses in Great Britain.

The material published on this page is for information purposes only and should not be regarded as providing any specific advice, or used by consumers to make financial decision. Terms and conditions apply to any products or services mentioned.

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