EXCLUSIVE- SME banking app, Seed, is gearing up to roll out a tool that supports Apple iPhone X’s new Face ID feature, Bank Innovation learned.
This makes sense, since the San Francisco-based digital bank’s mobile app is currently only available on iOS.
“The product that supports Apple’s face authentication will be coming out soon,” Brian Merritt, Seed CEO and co-founder said.
Exactly how soon? Merritt wouldn’t say.
Launched in July 2014, Seed is a mobile-first digital bank for small businesses. The company has customers in 40 of the 50 U.S. states.
“Our goal is to make it easier for entrepreneurs to start, run and grow their business,” said Merritt.
The company caters to small businesses, particularly those started by millennials and young entrepreneurs. A typical customer could range from a one-person business (like a graphic designer or videographer) to one as big as a 100 people, with six figure balances, Merritt said.
The company offers the banking basics such as DDA account, business credit cards, and bill pay services via ACH, among other things.
“One feature that we’ve gotten great feedback about is the monthly cash flow report we send to our customers,” he said. “The next step would be to expand in business services like credit and lending as well as accounting and reporting tools.”
Seed has already created and piloted an expense management and accounts management tool, but only internally. These tools won’t be launched to the public till next year, Merritt said.
The credit and lending features are also in the pipeline and will likely be unveiled in 2018, he said.
Seed doesn’t have a banking charter, but instead works with Bancorp Bank on deposits. Their business credit card is powered by Visa Business Debit Card. Seed’s business model is unique in that it is a multi-bank model, meaning they do not have to work exclusively with one bank.
“If other banks or nonbanking lenders want to partner with us, they can,” he said. “We would want to be like a Whole Foods in the small business banking space where we can offer a selection of the best products and services.”
Currently Seed is in talks with a number of Top 25 Banks on commercial deals, the specifics of which Merritt declined to disclose.
“We are also leveraging our technology and skill to help other banks in other markets that we are not competing in,” he said.
One can apply for a Seed account through their website. The application process only takes a few minutes. The app, which only available on iOS 9.0 or higher, costs $9 per month, with a $25 fee for each outgoing domestic wire.