Interview: Kueski’s CTO Jaime Romero on How AI is Rebuilding Credit Infrastructure in Emerging Markets

In emerging markets across Latin America, traditional financial institutions have long struggled to serve the underbanked population, largely due to a systemic lack of formal credit histories. Kueski, one of the largest buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) and consumer lending platforms in Mexico, is addressing this gap by leveraging artificial intelligence to build a modern credit infrastructure from scratch. In a detailed exchange on the state of fintech, Kueski’s Chief Technology Officer, Jaime Romero, outlined how machine learning algorithms are replacing legacy credit bureau models to democratize access to capital in regions historically ignored by commercial banks.

"Traditional credit scoring models are fundamentally broken for the majority of citizens in emerging markets," Romero explained. "By utilizing AI, we can analyze thousands of alternative data points in real-time—ranging from digital transaction behaviors to user-interaction telemetry—to construct an accurate risk profile in a matter of seconds." This alternative approach allows Kueski to approve loans for first-time borrowers who have no prior footprint with traditional financial institutions. Romero emphasized that the transition to AI-driven underwriting is not merely about automation, but about precision and bias reduction, enabling the platform to safely expand credit access while keeping default rates manageable.

The ongoing transformation of credit infrastructure has significant macroeconomic implications for Latin America, where cash has historically been the dominant medium of exchange. Kueski’s AI-powered engine has already processed millions of transactions, demonstrating that predictive modeling can effectively mitigate risk even during periods of economic volatility. By lowering the barrier to entry for consumer credit, fintech platforms are fostering a new wave of consumer purchasing power. This digital shift not only benefits individual consumers but also stimulates local merchant growth, creating a self-reinforcing digital commerce ecosystem.

Looking ahead, Romero believes that the structural blueprints being developed in Mexico will serve as a model for other emerging economies globally, particularly in Southeast Asia and Africa. However, scaling these AI systems requires navigating complex regulatory environments and heightened data privacy standards. "The future of financial technology is about building a secure, foundational trust network," Romero noted. As Kueski continues to refine its proprietary algorithms and integrate advanced predictive modeling, the company aims to prove that technology can bridge the financial inclusion gap far more effectively than traditional banking infrastructure ever could.