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

Darshin Pathinayake

Asanka Liyanage

Sampath Bank PLC continues to transform Sri Lanka’s banking landscape through the introduction of a fully-integrated, AI-driven lending ecosystem, reinforcing its leadership in intelligent, data-led financial solutions. 

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 the customers. The existing customers who meet the eligibility criteria receive instant loan offers through automated assessments, removing the need for documentation, collateral, guarantors or salary remittance, while maintaining responsible lending practices. 

The 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.

Sampath Bank Chief Business Intelligence Officer Darshin Pathinayake stated, “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 Deputy General Manager Consumer and SME Banking Asanka Liyanage stated, “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 the 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.