CLEVELAND, OHIO and RALEIGH, N.C., OCTOBER 27, 2026 – Small Business Financial Exchange (SBFE), the trusted source for small business lending data, and Vertical IQ, a nationally recognized provider of Industry Intelligence, today announced their partnership. Through the partnership, Vertical IQ will incorporate SBFE small business credit insights into its platform, providing financial institutions with deeper context to support commercial lending decisions.

The collaboration enables banks, credit unions and other commercial lenders using Vertical IQ to gain access to SBFE small business credit insights within the Industry Intelligence platform. Default rates, delinquencies and credit trends by industries are just a few of the SBFE features that will be included. These insights allow financial services professionals to better understand small business borrowers and support key commercial lending activities. 

“At SBFE, we’re committed to helping lenders better understand and support small businesses,” noted SBFE President and CEO Elisabeth MacDonald “Extending access to SBFE insights through Vertical IQ is another way we can deliver value to the lending community and support greater access to capital.”

“At Vertical IQ, we believe financial institutions make their best decisions when they have access to trusted, Verified Industry Intelligence powered by the highest-quality data available,” said Bobby Martin, co-founder and CEO of Vertical IQ. 

Martin continued: “Our partnership with SBFE represents another important step in that commitment by bringing highly respected small business credit insights into our platform. By combining SBFE’s credit data with Vertical IQ’s industry expertise, we’re helping lenders gain deeper context to strengthen credit analysis, improve risk assessment and make more confident decisions throughout the commercial lending lifecycle.” 

 

About SBFE

SBFE is the trusted data exchange where the small business lending industry comes together to strengthen access to capital for America’s small businesses. For more than 25 years, SBFE has united lenders in a member-driven community built on trust, collaboration, and the responsible use of data. 

Today, SBFE securely manages one of the nation’s largest repositories of small business credit data, contributed by more than 140 member institutions, including many of the country’s largest commercial banks. This data enables highly predictive credit reporting and portfolio management solutions that help lenders make more informed decisions, manage risk, and support the financial health and growth of small businesses. By transforming shared data into trusted lending intelligence, SBFE helps its members strengthen credit decisioning and promote greater access to capital. Learn more at www.SBFE.org. 

 

About Vertical IQ

Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., Vertical IQ is a nationally recognized leader in Industry Intelligence. Whether they’re discussing cash management with a local brewery or analyzing risk for a large-scale furniture manufacturing company, successful banks, credit unions, accounting, insurance and advisory firms use Vertical IQ to better understand a prospect’s or client’s business challenges before, during and after meetings. Covering 100% of the industries that comprise the U.S. economy and Canada, as well as 3,400 local economic reports, Vertical IQ equips users with the confidence and credibility to make memorable first impressions and sustain enduring relationships. Learn more at www.verticaliq.com

 

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