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“Guardian Angel to the Underserved: Universal Processing Brings Small Businesses uP!”
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Global Banking & Finance Review®
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In the bustling mecca of American entrepreneurship, small
In the bustling mecca of American entrepreneurship, small businesses are the lifeblood that pumps prosperity through local communities. Yet for minority and immigrant business owners, the road to success is often littered with obstacles. Universal Processing (uP) has dedicated itself to uplifting these underserved entrepreneurs through innovative financial technologies and unwavering personalized service.
Behind the scenes of every smooth-running operation are the silent guardians working tirelessly to remove barriers on the path to the American dream. Universal Processing keenly understands this through their own journey as an Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) founded and led company. Since 2003, uP has provided payment processing services to small businesses, specializing in those owned by immigrants and minorities. But their supportive role extends far beyond transactions, evolving into an ever-expanding ecosystem of platforms, tools and resources tailored to the unique needs of their diverse clientele.
The seeds for uP’s inception were first planted when Saint Hung, today the company’s Founder and CEO, recognized the lack of language access and cultural familiarity that non-native English speaking entrepreneurs faced in financial services. Drawing from his experience in fintech and passion for enabling pioneering business owners to thrive, he founded Universal Processing with inclusion and community uplift as guiding principles.
In its early days, uP offered point-of-sale systems and payment processing to help restaurants and retailers operate smoothly. They soon expanded into salons, convenience stores, liquor stores and professional service verticals. Through close working relationships with their merchant network, uP gained valuable insights into the evolving landscape of small business finances. They progressively adapted their proprietary technology to support changing needs, cementing client loyalty in the process.
As Hung shares, “Payments have gotten increasingly integrated with other services, so it was only natural that Universal Processing incorporated point-of-sale technology into our proprietary ecosystem…As we’ve grown, our customers’ needs have also expanded, so we’ve expanded our custom-built software to cover more verticals.”
When COVID-19 first impacted New York, Universal Processing suffered hugely with 25% of clients closing down and an 85% plummet in revenue. Yet rather than focusing inward, they looked outward to uplift devastated minority business owners nationwide.
As CEO Saint Hung shared with Forbes, uP rapidly researched relief programs in all 50 states where their clients operated. They produced multilingual video tutorials guiding owners to funding like PPP loans and state-specific aid. This pivot from sales to financial advisory support was a massive but worthwhile undertaking.
uP invested over $1 million in their COVID relief efforts, starting a help desk to consult small businesses nationwide and distributing over 16,000 N95 masks to medical facilities, police, and businesses.. The bulk of funds went towards retaining and repurposing staff as dedicated support navigators to support clients step-by-step through grant application processes.
Unlike competitors, uP leveraged their agility to rapidly upgrade software and distribute free hardware, enabling businesses to operate safer and smarter amidst the crisis. This crisis response won uP national acclaim. In 2021 they became the sole fintech firm selected for the SBA’s Community Navigator Pilot Program out of 450+ selected business and nonprofit entities, formalizing their positioning as trusted guides for minority entrepreneurs.
Unlike other fintech companies rushing to automate and digitize customer support services, uP is retaining the human touch even amid exponential growth. As Hung explains, “Nearly 90% of our sales efforts are handled face-to-face, with in-person installation and training also provided free of charge…staffed to meet the comfort of our customer base, down to the dialect or sub-language.” This cultural mirroring facilitates seamless communication and nurtures the relationships fundamental to uP’s model.
Combined with Hung’s mindset of “doing right by the immigrant and minority communities over revenues or profits,” uP is organically embedding itself into the fabric of local business networks nationwide. Their existing clientele of 31,000+ merchants stems largely from word-of-mouth referrals within ethnic enclaves. Each new product rollout or service expansion in turn drives more recommendations. The trust in uP’s offerings generates an enviable competitive edge with loyal retention.
Universal Processing’s expanding influence recently culminated in their shortlisting as a finalist for the upcoming Electronic Transactions Association’s ISO of the Year award. This honor acknowledges the instrumental role they play for minority small business owners. Paired with their recent rebranding to better convey their diversity-focused mission, uP is poised to scale new heights while remaining grounded by their community-centric roots.
When reflecting on the company’s history, Hung shares that “opportunities will continue to appear” because uP persists in “doing the right thing for underserved business owners.” The latest manifestation of this principle is their newly obtained Bank Identification Number, a credential only one other AAPI-owned payments processor currently claims. As just the second in history to integrate proprietary technology with bank partners, uP can significantly extend their reach to uplift more minority entrepreneurs.
As a pioneer in financial inclusion, Universal Processing continues illuminating the path for small business owners across America to thrive on their own terms. When discussing the years ahead, Hung stresses the importance of never stopping the search for opportunities to support minorities and immigrants.
True to these values, uP actively collaborates with renowned advocates like the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce as their largest community outreach partner. They also sponsor premier Asian American business events and maintain a community board presence to directly advance AAPI entrepreneur interests on the national stage.
At its core, Universal Processing champions the resilient and daring spirit of minority small business owners. They are the guardian angels working diligently behind the scenes of small businesses everywhere – understanding challenges, anticipating needs and clearing obstacles decade after decade so that diverse entrepreneurs can focus on what matters most: meaningful livelihoods that nourish families and neighborhoods for generations to come. With uP as a steadfast partner along the way, the American dream still lies firmly within reach.
Financial inclusion refers to efforts to ensure that individuals and businesses have access to useful and affordable financial products and services, including banking, loans, and insurance.
A point-of-sale system is a combination of hardware and software that allows businesses to complete sales transactions, manage inventory, and track customer data.
A community navigator is a person or organization that helps individuals and businesses access resources and support within their community, particularly in underserved areas.
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