Hybrid digital assistant Anna has announced plans to launch a UK business current account aimed exclusively at supporting SMEs in the creative industries.
The current account will focus on SMEs operating in sectors such as advertising, games and TV, arts, distilleries and crafts.
Anna – which comes with a card that can be accessed via an app – is currently in its beta phase and will give three years of free access to its first 2,000 customers.
It has been designed to suit the needs of creative professionals at all levels, from sole traders to established agencies.
Features will include tools to analyse expenses, chase payments and cash flow predictions.
It will also send and pay invoices by combining artificial intelligence with human insights and offers 24/7 assistance.
Eduard Panteleev, co-founder and CEO at Anna Money, said the creative industries were one of the fastest-growing sectors.
“Yet until now, a single service aimed at making running a creative business easier didn’t exist.
“Anna changes all this; it will improve productivity with the main aim of saving people time so they are freed up to do more of the things they love.
“Our aim is to address the concerns of a vibrant and powerful sector, to promote the community of creators we came from and to ensure that there’s absolutely no-nonsense admin in any creative business.”
Daljit Singh, chief design officer at Anna, added: “Working with creative companies, I’ve often observed the struggles that small business owners go through dealing with admin.
“Anna embraces the latest tech and AI innovations, but it is design-led and focused on the human.
“Our product has been built to be relevant to the imaginative and visionary, dedicated and hardworking people behind all small- and medium-sized businesses.”
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