Finastra and Marketnode Partner to Automate Credit Agreement Onboarding Using AI Integration with Loan IQ Platform for Faster Lending Operations

SINGAPORE — April 7, 2026

Executive Summary

Finastra has announced a strategic partnership with Marketnode to digitize and automate the credit agreement onboarding process for corporate lenders. The collaboration integrates Marketnode’s LLM/AI-powered intelligent document automation with Finastra’s Loan IQ platform, specifically through the Loan IQ Nexus Build module, enabling financial institutions to transition from manual workflows to a fully automated onboarding process.

The combined solution is designed to reduce manual intervention, enhance data accuracy, and accelerate the setup of credit agreements. By enabling automated extraction and mapping of data from complex credit documentation directly into loan servicing systems, the partnership introduces a more efficient and scalable operational model. The initiative reflects both companies’ focus on advancing digital transformation within lending operations while addressing long-standing inefficiencies in credit processing workflows.

Announcement Overview

Finastra and Marketnode have entered into a partnership aimed at transforming how corporate lenders manage credit agreement onboarding, a process that has historically relied on manual data entry, fragmented workflows, and resource-intensive operations. The collaboration combines Finastra’s Loan IQ syndicated and bilateral loan servicing infrastructure with Marketnode’s advanced AI-driven document processing capabilities, creating a unified and automated workflow for onboarding credit agreements.

Through this integration, financial institutions are able to digitize previously manual processes by leveraging intelligent automation tools capable of interpreting complex financial documentation. The solution enables seamless extraction of both structured and unstructured data from credit agreements and integrates it directly into loan servicing systems. This significantly reduces the need for manual intervention while improving operational consistency.

The partnership is positioned to support financial institutions in enhancing efficiency across lending operations, enabling faster deal setup and improved data handling. By addressing operational bottlenecks in onboarding workflows, the collaboration introduces a standardized and scalable approach to credit processing within the corporate lending environment.

Key Announcement Details

Transaction Overview and Partnership Formation

• Announcement Type: Strategic partnership for AI-driven automation of credit agreement onboarding
• Announcing Organization: Finastra
• Partner Organization: Marketnode
• Announcement Date: April 7, 2026
• Announcement Location: Singapore
• Nature of Collaboration: Integration of Marketnode’s intelligent document automation with Finastra’s Loan IQ platform
• Stated Purpose: Digitize and automate credit agreement onboarding for corporate lenders
• Operational Intent: Enable financial institutions to transition from manual onboarding processes to integrated automated workflows

Branding and Announcement Presentation Elements

• Announcement Visual Reference: Finastra X Marketnode
• Brand Positioning: Joint presentation of collaboration between Finastra and Marketnode
• Content Attribution Label: “News provided by Finastra”
• Distribution Feature: “Share this article” functionality included in release
• Release Format: Business press release style communication

Problem Statement and Operational Challenges Identified

• Core Issue: Credit agreement onboarding historically reliant on manual processes
• Manual Workflow Dependency: Extensive manual data entry required
• Process Fragmentation: Multiple disconnected systems and workflows
• Operational Risk Exposure: Increased risk due to human intervention and inconsistencies
• Inefficiency Source: Labor-intensive onboarding procedures
• Data Integrity Challenge: Potential inaccuracies from manual input and reconciliation

Solution Overview and Functional Integration

• Integrated Solution: Combination of Marketnode’s document automation with Loan IQ platform
• Workflow Type: Fully integrated, automated onboarding workflow
• Digitization Capability: Transformation of onboarding into digital process
• System Interaction: Seamless interaction between automation engine and loan servicing platform
• Automation Scope: End-to-end onboarding of credit agreements
• Experience Outcome: Seamless digital experience replacing manual workflows

Core Technology Stack and Capabilities

• Automation Technology: Marketnode Smartflow
• Underlying Technologies:
  • Large Language Models (LLM)
  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Machine Learning (ML)
• Data Processing Capability: Interpretation of structured and unstructured data
• Document Complexity Handling: Processing of complex credit documentation
• Extraction Capability: Automated extraction of relevant financial and legal data
• Learning Capability: ML-driven improvement in processing accuracy over time

Loan IQ Platform and Integration Framework

• Primary Platform: Loan IQ by Finastra
• Integration Module: Loan IQ Nexus Build
• Integration Method: API-based connectivity
• System Functionality: Automated mapping of extracted data into Loan IQ
• Operational Output: Rapid setup of loan deals within the system
• Infrastructure Role: Provides syndicated and bilateral loan servicing capabilities

Data Flow and Automation Mechanics

• Input Source: Credit agreement documentation
• Processing Layer: AI-driven Smartflow engine
• Data Transformation: Conversion of extracted data into structured format
• System Mapping: Direct integration into Loan IQ fields and workflows
• Automation Outcome: Elimination of manual data entry and validation steps
• Workflow Continuity: Real-time progression from document ingestion to deal setup

Performance Metrics and Quantified Improvements

• Processing Duration (Traditional): Approximately 2 hours
• Processing Duration (Automated): Approximately 10 minutes
• Time Efficiency Gain: Significant acceleration in onboarding timelines
• Operational Efficiency: Reduction in manual workload and labor requirements
• Accuracy Enhancement: Improved data precision through automated extraction
• Error Reduction: Lower risk of human error in data handling
• Compliance Benefit: More consistent and reliable data processing

Business and Operational Impact

• Primary Benefit: Reduction in manual processes
• Data Accuracy Outcome: Improved consistency and reliability of data
• Revenue Impact: Faster onboarding enabling quicker revenue recognition
• Scalability Outcome: Enhanced ability to scale lending operations
• Operational Uniformity: Greater consistency across onboarding workflows
• Customer Reach Potential: Expanded ability to serve broader customer base
• Strategic Benefit: Strengthened operational capabilities for financial institutions

Lending Lifecycle Coverage and Functional Scope

• Lifecycle Stages Covered:
  • Origination
  • Onboarding
  • Distribution
• Operational Scope: End-to-end lifecycle management
• Workflow Integration: Unified process across multiple lending stages
• Digital Lifecycle Management: Fully automated lifecycle execution
• System Capability: Support for complex credit operations at scale

Cloud Deployment and Infrastructure Specifications

• Deployment Models Supported: On-premise and private cloud
• Current Hosting Environment: Microsoft Azure
• Infrastructure Features:
  • Always-on availability
  • Real-time workflow integration
  • Scalable AI and ML processing
• Data Exchange Mechanism: Secure encrypted communication between Marketnode and Loan IQ
• Infrastructure Efficiency: Reduced infrastructure overhead for financial institutions
• Cloud Alignment: Supports broader industry cloud transformation strategies

Security, Reliability, and System Integrity

• Data Security: Encrypted data exchange between systems
• System Reliability: Continuous availability through cloud infrastructure
• Operational Integrity: Consistent data handling and workflow execution
• Risk Reduction: Minimization of operational risks associated with manual processes
• Compliance Support: Improved adherence to operational standards

Leadership Statements and Executive Commentary

Finastra Leadership

• Executive Name: Andrew Bateman
• Role: EVP of Lending at Finastra
• Key Statement Elements:
  • Emphasis on automation and intelligent data processing
  • Focus on modernizing lending operations
  • Extension of Loan IQ capabilities
  • Reduction of manual processes
  • Improvement in data accuracy
  • Acceleration of onboarding timelines
• Stated Outcomes: Faster revenue recognition and enhanced scalability

Marketnode Leadership

• Executive Name: Rehan Ahmed
• Role: CEO at Marketnode
• Key Statement Elements:
  • Recognition of shift in credit operations
  • Integration of AI-powered automation within Loan IQ infrastructure
  • Enablement of nimble and resilient operations
  • Support for end-to-end lifecycle management
• Stated Outcomes: Enhanced ability to navigate complex credit landscape

Marketnode Infrastructure and Ecosystem Details

• Infrastructure Type: Digital Market Infrastructure (DMI)
• Core Functional Pillars:
  • Data services
  • Transaction management
  • Digital transfer agency
  • Tokenisation with distribution support
• Asset Classes Supported: Credit, funds, structured products
• Technology Foundation: Blockchain-enabled infrastructure
• Operational Objective: Enhance performance, accelerate time to market, enable new opportunities

Marketnode Ownership and Strategic Backing

• Backers Identified:
  • Euroclear
  • HSBC
  • SGX Group
  • Temasek
• Market Positioning: Trusted and neutral infrastructure operator in Asia-Pacific
• Ecosystem Role: Provider of modular infrastructure solutions for financial institutions

Finastra Corporate Profile and Product Ecosystem

• Customer Base: 7,000+ customers
• Top Bank Coverage: 40 of the world’s top 50 banks
• Geographic Presence: 110+ countries
• Core Solution Areas: Lending, Payments, Universal Banking
• Key Platforms and Products:
  • Loan IQ
  • LaserPro
  • Trade Innovation
  • Essence
  • Global PAYplus
  • Payments To Go
  • Financial Messaging
• Ownership: Backed by Vista Equity Partners
• Strategic Focus: Co-innovation with customers to deliver modern financial technology

Strategic Transformation and Industry Positioning

• Transformation Focus: Digitization of lending workflows
• Industry Segment: Financial services and corporate lending
• Technology Segment: AI-driven document automation and fintech infrastructure
• Operational Shift: From manual processes to automated digital workflows
• Industry Outcome: Establishment of new standard for digital loan servicing
• Innovation Focus: Integration of AI into core lending operations

Functional Benefits for Financial Institutions

• Operational Efficiency: Reduced manual workload
• Processing Speed: Faster onboarding timelines
• Data Accuracy: Improved data quality and consistency
• Scalability: Ability to handle higher volumes of transactions
• Infrastructure Optimization: Reduced need for internal infrastructure
• Workflow Integration: Seamless end-to-end processing

Stated Outcome and Industry Impact

• Transformation Statement: Redefining corporate lending workflows
• Operational Outcome: Fully automated, cloud-ready onboarding process
• Efficiency Outcome: Dramatic acceleration of processing timelines
• Accuracy Outcome: Reduction of manual errors
• Industry Standard: Establishment of new benchmark for digital loan servicing
• Strategic Direction: Advancement of AI-driven automation in lending operations

Addressing Traditional Challenges in Credit Agreement Onboarding

The partnership directly addresses several long-standing operational challenges associated with credit agreement onboarding in corporate lending. Traditionally, this process has required extensive manual data entry, involving multiple systems and fragmented workflows that increase operational complexity. These processes often introduce data inconsistencies, delays, and operational risks, particularly when handling complex credit documentation.

By integrating Marketnode’s intelligent automation capabilities with Finastra’s Loan IQ platform, the collaboration introduces a structured approach to overcoming these challenges. The solution enables financial institutions to automate the extraction and processing of data from credit agreements, eliminating the need for repetitive manual input.

The transformation of onboarding workflows into a digitized and automated process allows lenders to standardize operations across different deal structures, including syndicated and bilateral loans. This approach reduces dependency on manual processes and enhances the overall reliability of data handling within lending systems.

Technology Integration and Workflow Transformation

Integration of Marketnode Smartflow with Loan IQ Nexus Build

The collaboration leverages Marketnode’s Smartflow technology, which utilizes LLM/OCR and AI/ML capabilities to interpret and process both structured and unstructured data within credit documentation. This technology is integrated with Finastra’s Loan IQ Nexus Build module, which provides API-based connectivity for seamless data transfer.

Through this integration:

• Extracted data is automatically mapped into Loan IQ
• Deal setup processes are initiated and completed within the system
• Workflow automation eliminates manual reconciliation steps

This integrated workflow enables financial institutions to transition from traditional document-heavy processes to a streamlined digital onboarding system.

Automation of Complex Credit Documentation

Credit agreements often contain complex legal and financial information presented in varied formats. Marketnode’s AI-driven automation is designed to interpret these documents, enabling:

• Accurate extraction of key financial data
• Interpretation of unstructured content
• Standardization of data formats for system integration

This capability allows lenders to handle diverse credit documentation efficiently while maintaining consistency across onboarding processes.

Operational Efficiency and Performance Gains

One of the most significant outcomes of the partnership is the reduction in processing time for credit agreement onboarding. The integrated solution enables financial institutions to reduce onboarding time from approximately two hours to just 10 minutes.

Key Operational Improvements

• Processing Time Reduction: From 2 hours to 10 minutes
• Manual Effort Reduction: Significant decrease in manual data entry
• Operational Overhead: Lower resource requirements for onboarding workflows
• Accuracy Enhancement: Improved data integrity through automated extraction
• Compliance Support: Enhanced consistency in data handling and documentation processing

These improvements contribute to a more efficient operational model, allowing lenders to manage higher volumes of credit agreements without proportional increases in resources.

Leadership Commentary

Andrew Bateman, EVP of Lending at Finastra, stated:

“Automation and intelligent data processing are key to modernizing lending operations. Through this collaboration, we are extending Loan IQ’s capabilities to help financial institutions reduce manual processes, improve data accuracy, and accelerate the onboarding of credit agreements. The result is a faster path to revenue recognition and greater scalability for lenders worldwide.”

Rehan Ahmed, CEO at Marketnode, commented:

“Our partnership with Finastra addresses a pivotal shift in how financial institutions approach credit operations. Integrating Marketnode’s AI-powered automation within Loan IQ’s trusted global infrastructure enables nimble, intelligent and resilient operations at scale, in a truly digital format. This reshapes how institutions manage the end-to-end lifecycle from origination to distribution, providing them with the tools to help navigate an increasingly complex credit landscape.”

Cloud Deployment and Infrastructure Capabilities

The solution developed through this partnership supports both on-premise and private cloud deployment models, offering flexibility for financial institutions based on their infrastructure requirements.

Microsoft Azure-Based Deployment

The current configuration is hosted on Microsoft Azure, providing:

• Always-on infrastructure
• Real-time workflow integration
• Scalable AI and ML processing capabilities
• Secure encrypted data exchange between systems

This cloud-based approach enables financial institutions to access advanced processing capabilities without the need for extensive in-house infrastructure investments.

Infrastructure Benefits

• Scalability: Ability to handle increasing volumes of credit agreements
• Security: Encrypted data exchange between Marketnode and Loan IQ
• Reliability: Continuous system availability through cloud infrastructure
• Integration: Seamless connectivity between automation and loan servicing platforms

The architecture aligns with broader cloud transformation strategies adopted across the financial services sector, supporting modernization initiatives within lending operations.

End-to-End Lending Lifecycle Enhancement

The integration of Marketnode’s automation capabilities with Finastra’s Loan IQ platform supports improvements across the end-to-end lifecycle of credit operations, including:

• Origination: Automated extraction and processing of credit agreement data
• Onboarding: Rapid setup of deals within loan servicing systems
• Distribution: Streamlined data handling for syndicated loan structures
• Servicing: Consistent and accurate data management throughout loan lifecycle

This comprehensive approach enables financial institutions to manage credit operations more efficiently while maintaining consistency across different stages of the lending process.

Digital Transformation in Corporate Lending

The partnership reflects a broader shift toward digital transformation within corporate lending, where financial institutions are increasingly adopting automation technologies to improve operational efficiency.

By introducing a fully automated, cloud-ready workflow, Finastra and Marketnode are enabling lenders to transition from traditional manual processes to digital systems capable of handling complex credit operations. This transformation supports:

• Improved operational efficiency
• Enhanced data accuracy
• Scalable lending operations
• Reduced reliance on manual workflows

The collaboration establishes a framework for integrating advanced technologies into lending systems, supporting ongoing modernization efforts within the financial sector.

About Finastra

Finastra is a global provider of financial services software, serving over 7,000 customers, including 40 of the world’s top 50 banks, across more than 110 countries. The company offers solutions across key areas such as Lending, Payments, and Universal Banking.

Its portfolio includes mission-critical platforms such as:

• Loan IQ
• LaserPro
• Trade Innovation
• Essence
• Global PAYplus
• Payments To Go
• Financial Messaging

Backed by Vista Equity Partners, Finastra focuses on delivering scalable and reliable technology solutions that support financial institutions in their growth and modernization initiatives.

About Marketnode

Marketnode is a digital market infrastructure operator in the Asia-Pacific region, supported by institutions including Euroclear, HSBC, SGX Group, and Temasek. The company provides a modular suite of solutions designed to support financial ecosystems through digital infrastructure.

Core Infrastructure Pillars

• Data Services
• Transaction Management
• Digital Transfer Agency
• Tokenisation with Distribution Support

Marketnode’s infrastructure is built on blockchain technology, enabling financial institutions to enhance operational performance, accelerate time to market, and access new business opportunities across asset classes such as credit, funds, and structured products.

Media Contact

For additional information, visit finastra.com.

Source Attribution

Source: Company announcement