NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Leading financial data platform Bloom Credit today announced it has been named Banking Infrastructure Software of the Year in the 2026 FinTech Breakthrough Awards. The annual awards honor the world’s top financial technology companies, products, and services that deliver innovative solutions and measurable impact across the fintech ecosystem.

Bloom Credit was specifically recognized for Bloom+, which financial institutions embed directly into consumer checking accounts transforming them into credit-building tools by tapping into financial data like recurrent payments from rent, telco, water, gas, and electric payments. The payments are reported to the credit bureaus as creditlines, allowing individuals to demonstrate and build creditworthiness without taking on debt.

“We’re honored to have been chosen for this award. Bloom+ benefits consumers by giving them an alternative way to gain access to affordable credit and it increases financial institutions' relevance and retention rates. But even more broadly, Bloom Credit’s infrastructure software is in effect helping to modernize and redefine how creditworthiness is determined, which is revealing an entire population of 'invisible prime' consumers,” said Christian Widhalm, CEO of Bloom Credit.

This recognition comes as Bloom Credit continues to see strong momentum around embedding credit-building capabilities into everyday banking products like checking accounts. A joint report from Cornerstone Advisors and Bloom Credit found that 6 in 10 consumers ages 21–44 rank credit-building as the most valuable checking account feature, while 73% say they would open a new account to access it and 68% would switch their direct deposit—highlighting a clear opportunity for financial institutions to deepen relationships and drive growth.

In the 18 months since its launch, Bloom+ has demonstrated significant traction and measurable impact for both consumers and financial institutions. On average, consumers can see an immediate impact to their credit history and subsequent score, while financial institutions experience an average 11% increase in deposits and customers add approximately 4.6 additional monthly recurring bill payments to their checking accounts. Given financial institutions’ need to attract and retain customers, Bloom Credit has witnessed strong demand for this type of credit-building solution embedded directly into primary banking relationships. Early partners offering Bloom+ include Inspire Federal Credit Union and Navy Federal Credit Union, which have now been joined by Suncoast Credit Union, InTouch Credit Union, Palisades Credit Union, and Pasadena Federal Credit Union.

Christian Widhalm will be speaking at FinTech Meetup on the panel How do you build lending infrastructure that lasts? Wednesday, April 1 at 10:20 am MST. The Bloom Credit team will also be at the Startup City Kiosk. For more information about Bloom+ visit this link or email [email protected].

About Bloom Credit

Bloom Credit is a financial data infrastructure company. Bloom’s API platform, strategic relationships and critical innovations, such as Bloom+ for consumer-permissioned data (CPD), enable access to validated financial data and reporting in real-time. The company's fintech solutions empower organizations to create, launch and grow new classes of credit products, increase business relevance and better address their consumers' needs. For its accomplishments in transforming the credit data ecosystem, Bloom Credit has earned Finovate's Best of Show (2024) and Tearsheet's Data Innovation Award (2024) and has been recognized by Finovate for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (2025) and the CU Times Luminaries Awards (2025). The company is backed by leading venture investors including Crosslink Capital, Allegis Capital, and Commerce Ventures. To learn more about Bloom Credit, visit BloomCredit.io.

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Source: Bloom Credit