How JPMorgan uses AI to support SMBs

JPMorgan Chase is scaling its digital resources and fintech integrations to support small business owners through economic uncertainty and continued digital transformation. The effort starts with understanding business owners, John Frerichs, head of global SMB payments at the $4.3 trillion bank, tells Bank Automation News in this episode of “The Buzz” podcast. “Our duty is to be here for our customers in difficult and uncertain times,” he says. According to JPMorgan Chase’s March small business sentiment survey, 78% of respondents were optimistic about the future, with about 40% planning to expand, Frerichs tells BAN. However,  tariff concerns could cause confidence to dip slightly in April, he notes. Chase expects the results of its April small business sentiment survey by early May, the bank shared with BAN. With April marking National Financial Literacy Month, Frerichs emphasizes its importance: “We want to make small business owners’ life as easy as possible. Part of that is through financial literacy.” For example, the bank’s Coaching for Impact program, which provides consulting, on-demand financial education and banking tools for entrepreneurs, has grown from four cities to 38 since its 2020 launch to include 82 senior business consultants. “So far, 7,000 small businesses have gone through the program,” Frerichs says. To help business owners make data-informed decisions, Chase applies AI and analytics to transaction data. “We take anonymized transaction data and spin it back to … a small business owner, showing sales, customer demographics and transaction trends,” he says. Chase also offers SMBs end-to-end digital tools, including: Payroll integration via fintech Gusto; An e-commerce gateway through Visa-owned payment gateway Authorize.net; Real-time, same-day and scheduled payment options;  Digital invoicing; and Omnichannel acceptance for in-store, online and mobile transactions. “We try to always bring that all together in as streamlined a way as possible,” Frerichs says. “Small business owners need time back.” Learn more about how the nation’s biggest bank is tailoring solutions for SMBs in this episode of “The Buzz.”