The Power of Innovation: Rick Cunningham, Bread Financial

In this episode of our ‘POS Finance Innovators’ series, I had the privilege of sitting down with Rick Cunningham discuss how embedded lending is driving growth and delivering value. 

In our latest episode of the POS Finance Innovators series, I had the pleasure of speaking with Rick Cunningham, Senior Vice President of Strategy at Bread Financial. Rick shared how embedded lending is driving growth for merchants and delivering value to consumers. 

This conversation comes on the heels of our announcement earlier this year that Bread Financial joining the ChargeAfter embedded lending network, an exciting partnership that will empower more merchants and consumers with flexible financing options.

Here are some takeaways from our conversation. 

Partnerships drive success

Rick emphasized that partnerships are at the heart of a successful point-of-sale financing approach. By working closely with merchant partners and working with embedded lending platforms like ChargeAfter, Bread Financial delivers tailored solutions that meet evolving customer needs and support merchant growth.

Customer-centric innovation

Rick talked about the importance of continuous innovation in POS financing. From frictionless APIs to risk management advances, every decision Bread Financial makes is centered on enhancing the customer journey. The company’s ability to blend the stability of a regulated bank with the agility of a fintech sets it apart in the market. They’re not just offering financing, they’re co-creating solutions that align with merchants’ needs and meet the expectations of today’s digital-first consumer.

The Role of AI in Customer Experiences

AI is playing an increasingly important role in retail. Rick highlighted that while consumers see the potential of AI to personalize experiences and offer better deals, merchants must use it thoughtfully to build trust and strengthen loyalty.

I hope you enjoyed this conversation! Make sure to follow us on LinkedIn or subscribe on YouTube to be notified when we release more videos.

About Jeffrey Tower
EVP Global Business Development and Strategy
Jeff has over 20 years of experience driving revenue through building global brand awareness, business development, marketing, and sales departments focused on consumer financing, fintech, and eCommerce.

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