Ponte Finance Partners with iDenfy to Strengthen Onboarding and Fraud Defenses

UK-based Ponte Finance has entered into a partnership with Lithuanian identity verification provider iDenfy, aiming to improve security and compliance standards across its lending operations. The move highlights how financial institutions are responding to the rise in fraud cases in the UK, which cost victims £1.17 billion in 2024 according to UK Finance.

Ponte Finance, a publicly listed company, specializes in secured lending such as bridging finance, property development loans, and buy-to-let mortgages. Executives at the firm said they were looking for ways to balance speed with regulatory rigor. By integrating iDenfy's verification and screening solutions, they expect to make the onboarding process faster for clients while reducing risks of fraudulent applications.

iDenfy's technology combines biometric facial authentication with government-issued document checks. Customers upload an ID and a selfie, which are verified through AI in real time. The platform supports more than 3,000 document types across over 200 countries, enabling Ponte Finance to handle both domestic and international borrowers seamlessly.

Beyond identity checks, the partnership includes anti-money laundering (AML) screening and continuous monitoring. Clients will be automatically checked against sanctions lists, politically exposed persons (PEPs) databases, and adverse media sources. The system updates regularly, flagging potential risks for compliance teams and generating reports for auditors.

The collaboration also covers corporate lending through iDenfy's Know Your Business (KYB) solution, which can cross-reference information from registries in more than 120 countries. This allows Ponte Finance to verify company structures, shareholders, and regulatory filings while monitoring for red flags over time.

"Financial institutions today cannot afford to compromise speed and security," said Domantas Ciulde, CEO of iDenfy. Ponte Finance executives echoed the sentiment. Managing Director Bruno Benner noted that the platform lowered compliance costs and improved customer satisfaction, while Director Sansão Rodrigues emphasized that shorter onboarding times help deliver "faster approvals for borrowers and greater assurance for our investors."