Case Study: Afin Bank builds a digital-first banking platform for underserved borrowers with Vacuumlabs

Afin Bank launches digital banking platform in 2025 with Vacuumlabs

Afin Bank, a new UK digital bank focused on underserved communities, partnered with Vacuumlabs to address the challenge of providing financial services to Africans, foreign nationals, and self-employed professionals. These groups faced significant barriers to accessing mortgages and savings products due to restrictive lender criteria based on visa status and limited UK credit history.

Vacuumlabs helped Afin Bank build a next-generation digital banking platform from the ground up using Thought Machine's Vault core banking engine. The solution featured a MACH architecture, a React Native mobile app, and key integrations for payments and compliance. This modern infrastructure provided a scalable and intuitive customer experience, enabling Afin Bank to successfully launch in 2025 with inclusive lending products tailored to its target market.

Afin Bank