Affiniti and Column Partner to Fuel SMB Growth with New Financing Agreement
NEW YORK, March 9, 2026 – Affiniti, an AI-powered financial operations platform for modest and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), has entered into a financing agreement with Column N.A., a nationally chartered bank focused on fintech product development. The partnership aims to accelerate growth for Affiniti’s expanding SMB customer base and support the rollout of new product lines.
Expanding Financial Access for Underserved SMBs
The agreement will provide committed balance sheet funding from Column, allowing Affiniti to focus on product development and strategic partner acquisition. Affiniti differentiates itself by offering an integrated platform encompassing banking, bill pay, cards, expense management, and AI-powered automation – a unified system designed specifically for SMBs often overlooked by traditional financial institutions.
Card Product Expansion and Beyond
Initially, the financing will support the continued expansion of Affiniti’s card product. However, the partnership is strategically positioned to facilitate the launch of new offerings, including banking and bill pay services. This expansion aligns with a broader industry trend as SMBs seek to modernize their financial infrastructure.
Column’s Role in Fintech Innovation
Column N.A. Is uniquely positioned to support Affiniti’s growth as one of the few nationally chartered banks specifically designed to help companies build and scale financial technology products. Column provides direct access to payment rails and lending programs through its API platform, offering a technical foundation that complements Affiniti’s technology-driven approach.
“Affiniti is building an all-in-one financial platform for backbone SMBs, where banking, payments, and spend management come together with AI-powered automation that helps businesses operate more efficiently every day,” said Aaron Bai, CEO and Co-Founder of Affiniti. “Partnering with Column strengthens our ability to scale our card offering and accelerate our mission of delivering modern financial infrastructure to underserved industries.”
SMBs Increasingly Reject Cash and Checks
The partnership arrives as SMBs increasingly move away from traditional payment methods. A recent report by PYMNTS Intelligence indicates that 45% of SMBs are “highly interested” in reducing their reliance on cash, though cost and fees remain barriers to adoption. “Ready for Change: Why Nearly Half of SMBs Want to Ditch Cash and Checks” highlights that cash usage skews younger, with Generation Z business owners making 52% of their payments in cash, whereas check usage is more prevalent among older generations and established businesses.
Looking Ahead
The collaboration between Affiniti and Column represents a significant step towards providing modern financial solutions to SMBs. By combining innovative technology with dedicated banking infrastructure, the partnership aims to empower businesses with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.