MoneyBuddy says 25 SME loans matched in 2 months as rates fall to 2.5%

MoneyBuddy said its free loan-matching platform helped secure 25 SME loan deals in the past two months, with some borrowers getting effective annual rates as low as 2.5%. The Hong Kong platform linked the results to a recent system upgrade that improved matching with lenders across more than 30 banks and licensed finance firms.

Why it matters: - MoneyBuddy is positioning its free platform as a lower-friction way for small businesses to find financing without paying platform fees. - The reported 2.5% effective annual rate suggests some SMEs are finding materially cheaper borrowing options through the network. - Faster and more precise matching could matter for companies that need funding but want to avoid a broad search across lenders.

What happened: - MoneyBuddy said its free, independent loan-matching platform completed 25 successful SME loan matches in the past two months. - Some borrowers using the platform network obtained effective annual rates as low as 2.5%. - MoneyBuddy said other loan types in its network reached effective annual rates as low as 1.6%. - The company said the results followed a recent upgrade to its loan-matching system. - The platform is based in Hong Kong and compares loan products from more than 30 banks and licensed finance companies.

The details: - SME applicants must have been in business for at least one year. - Loan amounts can reach HK$2,000,000 or more. - Repayment terms range from 6 to 96 months. - The initial matching stage uses a soft credit check that does not affect a borrower’s credit score. - A hard credit check happens only after a borrower chooses to continue with a specific lender. - Borrowers do not pay MoneyBuddy at any stage. - MoneyBuddy said its advisers are salaried and do not work on commission. - The platform said final APR, loan amount and repayment period depend on each lender’s approval outcome. - MoneyBuddy said the 25 cases were approved through lenders’ own underwriting processes. - The platform said its matching service is available through its website. - MoneyBuddy said users can submit an inquiry to be matched with eligible offers from more than 30 banks and licensed finance companies. - The company said no fee applies even if no lender provides a quote.

Between the lines: - The 2.5% rate was presented as the lowest available option for a qualified borrower at the time, not as a guaranteed rate for every applicant. - The upgrade appears aimed at reducing mismatch between borrower profiles and lender criteria, which can improve conversion rates. - By emphasizing independence, no commissions and no borrower fees, MoneyBuddy is trying to separate its model from traditional broker or lender incentives.

What's next: - MoneyBuddy is likely to keep steering SMEs to lenders through its upgraded matching system. - Borrowers will still need to clear each lender’s approval process before any financing is finalized. - Actual rates and terms will continue to vary by applicant and lender decision.

The bottom line: - MoneyBuddy says its upgraded platform is helping more SMEs get matched with lenders faster, at terms that can be sharply lower than typical borrowing costs.