Sampath leads Sri Lanka’s lending transformation with AI-enabled credit intelligence

Chief Business Intelligence Officer Darshin Pathinayake

Deputy General Manager – Consumer and SME Banking Asanka Liyanage

Sampath Bank PLC said it has launched a fully integrated, AI-driven lending ecosystem, signalling a shift in credit assessment and delivery within the banking sector.

This marks one of the first comprehensive AI-driven lending frameworks in Sri Lanka, enabling seamless, paper-light loan approvals within seconds while setting a new benchmark for speed, simplicity, and accessibility across the industry.

The AI-driven lending model is designed to make accessing finance faster and more straightforward for customers. Existing customers who meet eligibility criteria receive instant loan offers through automated assessments, removing the need for documentation, collateral, guarantors, or salary remittance, while maintaining responsible lending practices. 

New-to-bank customers are supported through a digitally enabled process that combines external credit insights with a holistic view of financial activity, allowing faster loan approvals at branch level. The entire journey is delivered through the bank’s Vishwa digital platform, ensuring a seamless, secure, and transparent experience from application to disbursement.

Commenting on the development, Chief Business Intelligence Officer Darshin Pathinayake said: “Sampath Bank’s AI-driven lending ecosystem represents a significant step forward in delivering intelligent and responsive banking solutions. The use of advanced analytics enables faster access to finance while maintaining consistency, accuracy, and strong risk discipline, ensuring a superior customer experience across every touchpoint.”

The bank’s enhanced leasing framework further strengthens its offering through simplified income assessment models and reduced turnaround times, enabling eligible approvals within a significantly shorter period. Personal leasing aligns income estimation to customer profiles, while commercial leasing applies structured evaluations supported by turnover analysis and supplementary income considerations where required, ensuring consistency and reliability across segments.

Sampath Bank continues to strengthen SME financing through AI-driven capabilities that make access to funding faster, fairer, and more transparent. 

Commenting further, Deputy General Manager – Consumer and SME Banking Asanka Liyanage said: “This transformation is centred on making access to finance simpler and more inclusive for individuals and businesses across Sri Lanka. Faster turnaround times, reduced complexity, and a more transparent evaluation process enable customers to move forward with confidence, while ensuring that funding decisions are aligned with their true financial strength and growth potential.” 

Advanced tools analyse transaction flows and cash movement patterns to build a clear and reliable view of business performance. A structured, data-led evaluation model then applies consistent criteria to assess creditworthiness, ensuring objective assessments across the network while maintaining strong risk oversight.

The bank said this transformation enables businesses to access finance based on their true performance, reduces reliance on subjective assessments, and supports more consistent and responsible lending outcomes. Sampath Bank’s continued investment in AI-driven lending reinforces its position at the forefront of digital banking while delivering meaningful value to customers across retail, leasing, and SME segments.