"Financial vulnerability is something we will all face at some point - it’s a universal challenge that demands a smarter, more proactive approach."
- Savannah Price, founder and CEO at Serene
NatWest Group has made a minority investment in Serene, an early-stage AI platform dedicated to tackling financial vulnerability.
Through real-time customer insights driven by AI and behavioural science, the platform detects early signs of financial distress and predicts risks to help financial institutions deliver personalised, timely support at scale.
NatWest says partnering and experimenting with Serene has the potential to help refine its existing models and to improve customer insights and financial support, as well as providing an opportunity for cross-industry collaboration through Serene’s networks.
Serene joined NatWest’s Accelerator in 2023 and was spotted at the bank’s recent Fintech Showcase event where it pitched its concept to industry experts, investors and business owners.
David Grunwald, director of innovation and partnerships at NatWest Group, said: “As people continue to adapt to an ever changing world, it’s important for us to be a trusted partner who can anticipate, understand and respond to customers’ changing needs – technology is helping us to do this faster and more effectively. Platforms like Serene show the potential of tools like AI to improve outcomes for customers, in this case, by quickly identifying vulnerabilities to play a positive role across the financial system.
“We saw great potential in Serene when it joined in our Accelerator programme. As the biggest bank for start-ups in the UK2, investing in fintechs that share our strategic vision is an important part of our commitment to helping businesses grow and thrive.”
Savannah Price, founder and CEO at Serene, commented: “Financial vulnerability is something we will all face at some point - it’s a universal challenge that demands a smarter, more proactive approach.
“With NatWest’s support, we’re expanding our platform to help businesses deliver tailored solutions at scale. Their expertise in supporting scale-ups and understanding diverse customer needs will help to accelerate our growth and enable us to make an even greater impact for the organisations we work with.
“This investment highlights Serene’s role in redefining how vulnerability is managed and underscores the growing movement towards a more customer-centric approach to financial services - one where every customer feels seen, understood, and empowered.”
