Curve appoints ex-Googler to launch credit card product

Curve Credit will be headed up by ex-Google executive Paul Harrald.

Curve, the banking platform which consolidates all banks cards into a single card and app, is launching a credit card product and has appointed an ex-Google executive to head it up.

Paul Harrald, who previously ran UK and European private equity investments at Chinese venture capital company CreditEase, is heading up Curve Credit, which will allow Curve customers to pay off their credit card debt and to split transactions into instalments within the Curve app.

Curve customers will be able to pay full, ad hoc or make regular repayments to alleviate credit card debt through Curve Credit, although the product is likely to develop over time with new features.

Curve plans to apply for FCA approval for Curve Credit.

Harrald will build a team over time to support the product, which will sit within the overall Curve business.

Prior to his time at CreditEast, Harrald was also CIO and Director of Analytics at credit card provider SAV Credit and a credit and risk advisor at Google.

"Paul’s credit industry expertise is second to none,” said Shachar Bialick, founder and CEO of Curve. 

"He has a remarkable track record for building and growing hugely successful credit products and it is a massive coup for Curve to have secured such a talent and be able to draw on his expertise as we look to enter the highly competitive credit market later this year” he added. 

 “It’s my belief that, in time, Curve can rival Klarna, a company I admire greatly” said Harrald.

“Curve is uniquely positioned in the market as an Over-The-Top banking platform to offer consumers unrivalled simplicity in managing multiple payment and credit products. The launch of Curve Credit in 2020 will provide its customers with phenomenal control of their finances and the ultimate financial experience” he added.