Bank + Fintech love story: Max + Endor

How did the two of you meet?

Yaniv: The financial services sector is one of Endor's primary focus areas as we bring a new and innovative approach to the market. Max\LeumiCard, and Ohad, were among the first to collaborate with us.

Ohad: Max explores hundreds of startups each year. As a leading financial institution, it is clear to us that collaboration with innovative companies is necessary. We have a designated a program to partner and seek new and exciting solutions in the ecosystem – Max Value. When we heard of Endor, we knew it demanded further investigation.

Could you tell us about your first date?

Yaniv: During our first meeting we discussed the concepts of human behavior analytics and social physics. There was an immediate spark, a meeting of minds that in turn allowed us to significantly impact their credit card business sales within weeks. This was the beginning of a strong and fruitful bond.

Ohad: We were looking for the best and most advanced solutions in the field of data science, and there they were – a stellar team and a great solution.

What made you realize that you were perfectly matched?

Yaniv: The innovative culture of Max\LeumiCard over the years coupled with its eagerness and ability to explore new technologies is one of the key reasons for the solid bond between our firms. The strength of our relationship became evident early on as we discovered our shared mutual values of effecting change and impacting business needs from the ground roots.

Ohad: One might say it was love at first sight. We were impressed by Yaniv and impressed by Endor's capabilities. The discourse itself was always concise, helpful, and enlightening. Many have great ideas, but the ability to execute them in the best possible way is rare. We work hard to find excellence, so we know when it we see it.

What is the fruit of your relationship?

Yaniv: Our ability to collaborate with a lead player such as Max\LeumiCard (and specifically Ohad) had opened the door for us to embark on new and exciting relationships both within the local market and globally. Our strong collaboration with MasterCard StatPath's amazing program was made possible through Max\Leumi’s success. The close connection between our companies also allowed us to leverage the experience and know-how of the joint talented team for our own product advancements and fine tuning.

Ohad: I believe we can point to three main positive results of this partnership. First of all, Endor assisted us in bettering our models and therefore offering better services to our clients. We have improved our conversion rates and were able to sell much more than we did in the past. That is a direct contribution to our P&L. Secondly, as a financial institution which has to follow very strict regulation, we had the opportunity to challenge our boundaries, and make special efforts in making the partnership viable. Last but not least, we made great friends.

What makes your relationship work?

Yaniv: Our relationship is based on trust, both at senior management and at a team level. Furthermore, we believe that customers should be treated as an investment and recognize the importance in maintaining open communication to facilitate their evolving needs.

Ohad: Quite frankly – it's a rare combination of great attitude, strong work ethic, and a joint desire to achieve excellence. When we see sparks of innovation, we are more than happy to light them up into a fire.

What are your plans for the future?

Yaniv: We continue to invest in the financial market and to sharpen our offering. The collaboration with Max\LeumiCard is key and has strong roots. We continue to grow and expand our operations in Asia-Pasific, Western Europe and North America. This is constantly being driven by our commitment to evolve and innovate in the retail banking sector.

Ohad: As for the relationship with Endor, we believe we will continue our strong connection and find further ways of collaborating in the future. As for Max, we aim to continue to be a leader of innovative solutions for financial services.

Want to hear more about the collaboration between Max and Endor? Register for Bank+Fintech on 21-23 April in Berlin.