Finbee Verslui secures €55M in funding from Pollen Street to expand small business lending in Lithuania

Finbee Verslui has secured a €55 million credit facility from UK-based private capital firm Pollen Street, giving the Lithuanian fintech startup more capital to lend to small and medium-sized businesses as European SMEs struggle with tighter credit conditions and rising borrowing costs.

The deal increases Pollen Street’s existing senior secured credit facility from €35 million to €55 million, adding €20 million in financing capacity. The additional capital will allow the Vilnius-based lender to more than triple its maximum business loan size from €250,000 to €800,000, extend repayment terms, and offer more competitive lending rates.

The agreement builds on a partnership established in July 2024 and marks another step in Finbee Verslui‘s effort to compete for business borrowers traditionally served by banks.

The timing is significant. Across Europe, smaller businesses are finding it harder to access financing, even as larger companies report improving credit availability.

According to the European Central Bank’s July 2026 Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses reported declining access to bank loans during the second quarter of 2026. The financing gap for SMEs widened to a net 5% of firms, up from 3% in the previous quarter. A net 43% of SMEs reported higher interest rates on bank loans.

For companies that need working capital to buy inventory, hire employees, or manage day-to-day operations, those lending conditions can make growth harder.

Finbee Verslui is betting that faster lending decisions, digital applications, and greater loan flexibility can help it capture a larger share of Lithuania’s underserved business lending market.

Finbee Verslui expands lending capacity as European SMEs face tighter credit

Founded in 2017, Finbee Verslui has built its business around providing working capital loans through a digital application process. The company uses its own credit assessment models to evaluate borrowers and says it can deliver financing in hours, not days.

The larger credit facility gives Finbee Verslui room to serve businesses seeking bigger loans, including established SMEs whose financing needs exceed its previous €250,000 lending limit.

“Pollen Street’s renewed commitment is a strong endorsement of our team, our credit performance and the Lithuanian SME market. Since 2024, Pollen Street’s investment has let us fund businesses within hours, not days. Increasing it to €55 million means we can say yes to more entrepreneurs who need working capital to grow and support our existing customers as their needs get bigger,” said Tomas Mačiulaitis, CEO of Finbee Verslui.

Finbee Verslui has originated more than €180 million in loans since its launch, issuing over 6,000 loans to more than 4,000 businesses. In 2025 alone, the company originated more than €40 million in new loans, according to its figures.

For Pollen Street, the expanded financing arrangement increases its exposure to Lithuania’s SME lending market through an established lending partner.

“We are pleased to increase our facility to Finbee Verslui and to continue our partnership. Finbee Verslui is a well-run business with a disciplined approach to lending and a high-quality, granular loan book. Through this partnership, our funding helps Finbee to support more great small businesses,” said Paul Varty, Investment Director at Pollen Street.

Established in 2013, Pollen Street manages more than €9 billion in assets across private equity and credit strategies. Its investors include pension funds, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, and other institutional investors.

The deal reflects a broader opportunity for nonbank lenders in European business financing. Traditional banks remain major sources of SME credit, but alternative lenders are competing on approval speed, digital access, and lending flexibility.

For Finbee Verslui, the immediate test is whether the additional €20 million in financing capacity can translate into more loans without compromising credit quality. For Lithuanian businesses, the more immediate benefit is access to larger loans at a time when traditional borrowing remains difficult.