Q2 Holdings, Inc. (QTWO) announced a partnership with Sardine, a leading agentic risk‑management platform, to embed real‑time fraud monitoring and BSA/AML compliance tools into its Helix cloud‑native core. The integration will allow Helix sponsor banks and fintech partners to detect and block suspicious activity across ACH, RTP, cards, and ledger transactions before funds move, creating a single intelligent layer of risk assessment for every payment rail.
Helix, Q2’s award‑winning BaaS platform, currently powers more than 18 million accounts and processes roughly $40 billion in transaction volume each month. Sardine brings a unified platform that consolidates data from risk teams, applies AI and machine learning to device intelligence and behavioral biometrics, and streamlines compliance operations. Together, the two companies will deliver an AI‑driven fraud detection engine that can automatically trigger compliance workflows, reducing manual review time and lowering the cost of risk for Helix’s 1,300+ institutional customers and fintech partners.
The partnership is expected to deepen customer lock‑in and open new revenue streams. By adding real‑time fraud and compliance capabilities, Q2 can offer a more complete end‑to‑end risk solution, positioning Helix as a more compelling platform for sponsor banks seeking integrated risk management. The move also strengthens Q2’s competitive moat against other BaaS providers that lack a built‑in, AI‑powered fraud engine, and it aligns with the broader industry trend toward embedded finance and sophisticated risk prevention.
"Modern money movement happens in real time and risk decisions have to keep pace," said Ravi Loganathan, Head of Banking & Policy at Sardine. "Our integration with Helix gives sponsor banks a single intelligent layer to assess risk across every rail before funds move, enabling banks and fintechs to grow safely, remain compliant, and operate at the speed their customers expect." Ahon Sarkar, General Manager of Helix by Q2, added, "By partnering with Sardine, we’re giving our clients a best‑in‑class way to manage risk and compliance without sacrificing speed, efficiency, or customer experience. It’s a true example of how a modern core and modern fraud technology combine to deliver a seamless risk solution."
The partnership comes at a time when Q2’s Q2 2025 earnings showed a 13% year‑over‑year revenue increase and a return to profitability with net income of $11.8 million. The addition of Sardine’s real‑time analytics is expected to accelerate subscription growth and reinforce Q2’s strategy of monetizing its AI platform across the embedded finance ecosystem. As the fintech market continues to prioritize speed and compliance, the Helix‑Sardine integration positions Q2 to capture a larger share of the growing risk‑management segment and to deepen relationships with existing sponsor banks.
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