Scottsdale, Arizona — equipifi, a prominent provider of bank-led Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions, has been recognized as a finalist for the Phoenix Business Journal's Best Places to Work in the Valley for the fourth consecutive year. The announcement, made on October 2, 2026, highlights a period of significant expansion and development for the company.
This latest acknowledgment follows a year of rapid growth for equipifi, during which the company nearly doubled its workforce. Hiring initiatives spanned across sales, customer success, product development, and engineering departments to address increasing demand from banks and credit unions seeking greater ownership and control over BNPL offerings. This substantial growth in headcount was largely spurred by the company's successful Series B funding round, which concluded earlier in the year, reshaping various teams within the organization.
Bryce Deeney, Co-Founder and CEO of equipifi, commented on the challenges and successes of scaling quickly. Deeney noted that rapid expansion reveals the true nature of a company's culture. He emphasized that earning this recognition amidst significant team growth indicates the company is attracting individuals who not only match its pace but also contribute to its progress, reflecting the strength of its established culture.
Beyond internal expansion, equipifi also reported considerable growth in its operational metrics. The company saw a 128% year-over-year increase in BNPL transaction volume processed through its platform. Concurrently, equipifi enhanced its platform's capabilities, introducing improved underwriting processes and advanced notification features to better serve its financial institution partners.
Marlowe Everett, VP of People at equipifi, characterized the past year as a period of "growth, evolution, and lacing up our running shoes to move fast." Everett underscored equipifi's commitment to attracting exceptional talent and its deliberate strategies for hiring, developing, and retaining employees. The company seeks individuals who are eager to build something meaningful and grow with the organization, granting them significant ownership in their roles. Everett stated that a values-based culture, combined with a highly talented team, positions equipifi for even greater achievements in the coming year.
equipifi has a history of consistently receiving this "Best Places to Work" recognition during periods of fast growth, demonstrating a recurring pattern of success in cultural development alongside business expansion. The company's team is composed of professionals with diverse backgrounds, bringing together expertise in banking, payments, commerce, and financial technology. This multi-disciplinary approach is central to equipifi's mission of integrating Buy Now, Pay Later services directly into the native banking experience.
As a fintech firm, equipifi specializes in enabling banks and credit unions to offer flexible payment options and BNPL as an integrated feature within their existing digital banking platforms. By embedding installment lending directly into the financial institutions consumers already trust, equipifi aims to help these institutions deepen their relationships with customers, expand their lending portfolios, and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving payments landscape. Last year, equipifi secured second place in the Extra Small category for the same award. Following its significant expansion this year, the company is poised to compete in the next size category for the award in the upcoming year, reflecting its substantial growth.