After Lydia, the ancient kingdom of Asia Minor where the first coins were minted, comes Sumer, a pioneer of writing. It is in fact under the Sumeria brand that Lydia, a specialist since 2013 in payments between individuals via mobile phones, is launching in earnest, Wednesday May 15, into a new activity: banking.
And more precisely the deposit bank, specify the two founders of the company, Cyril Chiche and Antoine Porte. ” The banks, explain to World this last, have diversified a lot and have gradually abandoned customers who simply need deposit accounts, not ten savings accounts or stock market trading tools, and who want to know on a daily basis how much they have, how much they will have and what ‘they do. »
There is no question, therefore, of “reinventing” the deposit bank, but rather of “simplifying” it as much as possible. Sumeria is therefore banking on an application in which drop-down menus have been banned and which promises quick access to your account balance, your means of payment and the latest transactions, all updated in real time.
Assisted by artificial intelligence
The company is not afraid to aim high: Sumeria envisages 5 million banking customers in France within three years, with 100 million euros of investments and a recruitment plan for 400 people, mainly financial advisors. line called to “support” customers, in France and in Europe. These advisors, with portfolios of several hundred clients, will be assisted by artificial intelligence, responsible in particular for analyzing the profile of their correspondents and their transaction history to guide exchanges.
Above all, the new bank is banking on Lydia’s user base, 8 million people in total since its launch in 2013, mainly in the 18-35 age group, and who have popularized the expression “make a Lydia” to discuss a quick repayment between friends or family.
According to a survey by Colombus Consulting and OpinionWay published on April 30, Lydia is, behind Revolut, the player in the “neobank” segment which, since 2022, has gained the most in notoriety and market share, even if this remains modest, of the order of 1.5%.
Faced with rivals determined to grow rapidly on the French online banking market, such as BoursoBank, a subsidiary of Société Générale which had 6.3 million customers at the end of March, or Revolut, which is launching into real estate loans, Sumeria has chosen a commercial argument that differentiates it: the remuneration of current accounts, at 4% for the three months following the opening of the account, then at 2%, including for customers who have chosen the basic commercial offer.
You have 23.14% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.