Global Lending Groups Performance in Q1 2025
- MD Finance Team
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Non-bank international lending groups play a prominent role in shaping the credit landscape. These companies operate across multiple countries and provide various financial services, from short-term credit and instalment loans to BNPL, revenue-based financing, and more.
Our latest report for Q1 2025 captures early financial results and strategic developments from 37 international groups operating in 60 countries, along with current market dynamics.
Key Financial Results
Although only a limited number of companies have disclosed their Q1 2025 results, early data points to a strong start to the year and growing profitability across the sector.
Credit Saison showed a stable Q1 2025 performance with a revenue of €760.4M, alongside the highest revenue and stable strong profit margins year-after-year. Headquartered in Japan and actively expanding across Asia and Latin America, Credit Saison offers instalment loans, digital credit lines, BNPL, and business loans.
European-based group 4finance with a diversified product portfolio, such as short-term loans, bank credits and auto leasing hasdemonstrated a growth - the company reported €117.7M revenue.
International Personal Finance (IPF), which originated from the UK and is active in Mexico, Romania, Poland, Australia and more countries, is also expected to report stable returns, drawing on its hybrid model, including home credit and flexible digital services.
Apart from the largest business groups we outlined, one of the most remarkable cases in Q1 was Wandoo Finance, reporting a 417% increase in net profit year-over-year. This jump was driven by expanding customer demand and successfully implementing digital scoring and automation tools.
These companies are financial leaders and some of the most globally represented. Groups such as IPF, Credit Saison, and Home Credit operate in around 10 countries each, offering consumer loans, payday credit, online billing services, BNPL and SMEs-oriented products.
Market Updates: Expansion, Funding, and M&A
Beyond financial results, in Q1 2025, six groups expanded their services in underbanked markets such as Romania, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Mexico and more. These moves reflect a trend of global lenders seeking growth in regions with high consumer demand and limited access to traditional financial services.
The market has also seen several exits and consolidations. For example, 4finance agreed to sell TBI Bank to Advent, a global private equity investor with existing stakes in MFIs and banks in India.
Mergers and acquisitions have been noted as strategic priorities for some groups. IUTE Group acquired an additional 49.7% stake in Moldovan Energbank on the stock market for a total purchase price of € 8.3M. Now, the group owns 59.7% of Energbank shares.
Funding rounds and new partnerships provide the capital and infrastructure needed for market expansion. Eleving entered a partnership with Airtel to launch smartphone financing in Uganda, while Fingular partnered with the ride-hailing app inDrive to offer attractive loans to top-performing drivers.
Investors show their confidence in the long-term scalability of digital lending and their interest in regional models tailored to local consumer needs. Credit Saison India has raised $300M in its maiden syndicated and bilateral external commercial borrowing (ECB) issuance aimed at strengthening its wholesale, co-lending, and secured direct lending operations in India.
Tala secured a $150 million debt facility from Neuberger Berman to expand its lending operations in Mexico. In Europe, IUTE settled its €75 million senior secured bond 2021/2026 to professional and retail investors.
Q1 2025 confirms that the international alternative lending sector remains dynamic and resilient thanks to economic growth, especially in emerging markets, and technological acceleration.
Download the full report for more insights on the prominent market players.
