Merged Lender Serves 60,000 Small Businesses in 17 Countries
Small business owners on Liberis partner platforms keep their current integrations while the combined group develops new products.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Financial Services
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Qred and Liberis have completed a merger, with Emil Sunvisson becoming Group CEO of the combined business and Rob Fairfield becoming Deputy CEO. The combined group serves more than 60,000 small businesses across 17 countries, and both brands will continue operating for now, so existing partner integrations and customer relationships are unchanged.
Why it matters
The deal pairs Qred's regulated banking capability with Liberis's embedded finance distribution, a combination aimed at small businesses that traditional lenders have been pulling back from. Lending decisions by traditional lenders rely on backward-looking credit scores and paperwork that can take weeks, which the group positions as the gap it is targeting.
The combined group reports 60,000+ small business customers across 17 countries and access to roughly 11.5 million addressable merchants, with Liberis distributing through more than 30 partners. In a December 2025 Liberis survey of 1,700+ funded merchants in the UK and US, 76% had been rejected by a traditional lender at least once, and the company's own survey found that the outcome for the businesses surveyed is not independently verified.
The players
Qred
A small business lender with regulated banking capability and direct relationships with its customers.
Liberis
An embedded finance provider that distributes small business financing through more than 30 partners.
Emil Sunvisson
Founder and CEO of Qred, now Group CEO of the combined business.
Rob Fairfield
Former CEO of Liberis, now Deputy CEO of the combined business.
The details
Qred contributes regulated banking capability and direct relationships with small businesses, while Liberis contributes embedded finance technology and a partner-led distribution network. The model combines Qred's deposit-funded banking with Liberis's distribution through platforms such as Deliveroo, Vagaro and Nexi, so financing can be offered inside the software and services small businesses already use. Existing partner integrations, products and customer relationships continue unchanged while the brands remain separate.
Timeline
December 2025: Liberis published its Impact Report survey of funded merchants.
November 2, 2026: The Qred and Liberis merger completion was reported.
Market Landscape
The merger follows the pattern of embedded finance, in which lenders reach small businesses through the software and platforms those businesses already use rather than through standalone bank relationships. It also responds to a documented retreat by traditional bank lending from the smallest firms, which the Liberis survey data is cited to illustrate.
Small business owners using Liberis partner platforms should expect their existing integrations and products to continue during the transition, and should review any financing terms with a qualified accountant or financial adviser before relying on them. Operators comparing financing sources should note that the merged group's offerings are still being developed and that product and brand details will be shared later.
The takeaway
Operators who depend on embedded financing through a partner platform should confirm how any change in ownership or brand affects their integration and terms. Track future product announcements from the combined group, since details on development and longer-term brand plans have not yet been finalised.
Further reading
For context on how lenders are reaching small businesses through partner platforms, explore Financial Services coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Finextra Research.
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