What’s the future of credit scoring?This UK fintech led by a female CEO is transforming what’s possible for borrowers and lenders
At this year’s IFGS 2025 – the crown jewel of UK Fintech Week – TFN went behind the scenes to meet some of the most influential voices shaping the future of finance. One leader stood out: Zitah McMillan, CEO of Finexos, who’s on a mission to remove bias in lending and transform the way the credit industry approaches financial access.
And her own path to the top? It’s just as fascinating as the Finexos vision for the future of credit.
Have a look at the full interview below:
The rise to a fintech powerhouse
“I think I’m on my fifth career choice now,” McMillan told us with a laugh. From marketing to advertising, then government communications, regulatory work, and finally entrepreneurship – she’s done it all. After successfully selling her first fintech startup, she thought she’d retire into the calm life of a portfolio career. But boredom? That wasn’t part of the plan.
“Fintech is a brilliant space if you’re bad at being bored – because there’s never a dull day,” she joked. That itch for challenge led her straight to Finexos, a company that’s not just changing how we think about credit – but who gets it, and why.
Credit scoring is not as fair as you think
In an ideal world, credit decisions are based purely on financial sense. However, “Even your name can create bias in lending,” McMillan revealed.
Traditional systems are prone to bias at many stages and black-box algorithms are impossible to understand. Finexos is doing the opposite. Their AI completely removes personally identifiable information (PII) – wiping out data like names and demographic details that can trigger unconscious bias.
And unlike faceless AI models that leave financial decisions hanging in mystery, the Finexos approach demands accountability. “If a system can’t explain its decision, it shouldn’t be making one. With our software, every client can see exactly which factors influenced a loan decision.” Transparency is non-negotiable.
Why this isn’t just about smarter credit – it’s about financial inclusion
Finexos isn’t just making credit decisions faster – it’s making them fairer. Their mission? To improve a system that can overlook responsible borrowers – consumers and small businesses – and on the flip side, hand out loans to people who can’t afford repayments. All while reducing risk and costs for lenders and enhancing regulatory compliance.
“We focus on affordability, not outdated scores,” McMillan said. And it’s not just talk – their angel investors have lined up behind this mission, betting big on a fairer financial system built for the modern world.
Leading by example: Breaking the barriers for women in fintech
But it’s not just the credit system that needs a reset – the leadership tables do too. McMillan is a champion of diversity in fintech.
“I walk into events and wonder, ‘Where are all the women?’ I know they exist – but why aren’t they in the room?”
Her leadership style is simple: go first, clear the path, and make it easier for the next generation of women and diverse founders to break through.
Her mantra? “You can’t talk your way out of what you behave your way into.” If we want more inclusive leadership, we have to live it every day.
As fintech continues to wrestle with diversity and fairness, leaders like Zitah McMillan aren’t waiting for change – they’re building it. And if her track record is anything to go by, this is one mission you’ll want to watch closely.
Want more stories about the pioneers in the UK who are rewriting the rules of tech and finance? Follow us for exclusive interviews and bold reporting from the frontlines of the fintech revolution only on this series by TFN – “The fintech powerplayers of the UK in 2025.”
This video series is brought to you by Finexos and in media partnership with IFGS 2025.
