The study examines the potential of fintechs for SME financing. Fintechs often bring together capital supply and demand more efficiently than banks. In individual cases, their solutions can accelerate the speed of financing, improve lending conditions and enable financing. In addition, fintechs increase the innovation pressure on established banks to optimize their processes and services. Increasingly, both sides are cooperating with each other to this end, making banks increasingly acting as platforms. As a result, established SMEs in particular can benefit from the improved offerings both within and outside the existing relationship with their principal bank.