Amazon has reportedly teamed up with Bank of America Merrill Lynch to provide business loans, according to multiple news reports.
Amazon's small business lending arm - Amazon Lending - launched in 2011 and provides loans of $1,000-$750,000 with terms of up to one year. Total loan balance growth grew only slightly last year after almost doubling in 2016.
People familiar with the program said the company has been reassessing its credit risk exposure, a move that is aligned with broader adjustments at Amazon. According to sources cited by CNBC, Partnering with Bank of America allows Amazon to reduce its risk and access capital specifically to provide credit to more merchants so they can acquire inventory.
Read the full report here.