nCino expands banking technology solutions with $52.5m Sandbox Banking acquisition

nCino, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCNO), a global leader in banking technology solutions, has acquired Sandbox Banking in a strategic move to strengthen financial institutions integration. The $52.5 million deal is set to enhance nCino’s ability to streamline digital transformation platforms for banks and credit unions, addressing critical challenges in data connectivity, system interoperability, and workflow automation.

As financial institutions grapple with fragmented legacy systems and time-consuming integration processes, nCino’s acquisition introduces an advanced digital transformation platform that enables seamless data alignment across multiple banking applications. By integrating Sandbox Banking’s proprietary technology, nCino aims to provide a single source of truth for financial data, reducing manual errors, improving operational efficiency, and accelerating product deployment.

Why Is nCino Acquiring Sandbox Banking?

The financial industry is undergoing rapid digital transformation, yet banks and credit unions continue to face roadblocks when integrating new technologies. Legacy systems often operate in silos, leading to inefficiencies, compliance risks, and costly integration projects. The growing demand for seamless financial institutions integration has prompted nCino to strengthen its cloud-based banking technology solutions through the acquisition of Sandbox Banking.

With this deal, nCino incorporates Sandbox Banking’s Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS), a powerful solution that simplifies system interoperability for financial institutions. This platform eliminates the need for complex, custom-coded integrations by allowing banks to connect their core systems with a wide range of third-party applications, including lending, customer relationship management (CRM), document management, mobile banking, and regulatory compliance tools.

Chris Gufford, Chief Product Officer at nCino, highlighted the strategic significance of the acquisition, stating that the partnership with Sandbox Banking has already demonstrated improvements in financial data transparency, operational efficiency, and accelerated project implementation. He emphasized that banks and credit unions require a flexible and scalable solution to keep pace with the evolving financial landscape, and this acquisition provides them with the necessary tools to integrate third-party systems and AI-driven technologies seamlessly.

By reinforcing its digital transformation platform, nCino aims to help financial institutions modernize their operations, reduce reliance on legacy infrastructure, and deliver superior banking experiences to customers.

How Will the Acquisition Improve Financial Institutions Integration?

Seamless financial institutions integration is critical for banks seeking to remain competitive in an increasingly digital financial landscape. By leveraging Sandbox Banking’s Glyue® platform, nCino will offer pre-built connectors for over 14 core banking systems and 50+ industry-leading solutions, removing traditional integration hurdles and significantly reducing implementation timelines.

Ravi Balasubramanian, CEO & Co-founder of Sandbox Banking, underscored the transformative impact of the acquisition, stating that financial institutions today are navigating a complex ecosystem of disconnected data systems, regulatory demands, and evolving consumer expectations. He emphasized that by joining forces with nCino, Sandbox Banking will provide institutions with the seamless integration capabilities needed to drive business growth, enhance customer satisfaction, and improve overall efficiency.

The integration of Sandbox Banking’s technology into nCino’s cloud-based ecosystem will enable financial institutions to enhance system interoperability, streamline banking processes, and optimize data-driven decision-making. By reducing manual data entry, improving automation, and ensuring secure connectivity, the acquisition creates a more agile and efficient financial infrastructure for banks and credit unions.

What Does This Mean for nCino’s Customers?

For nCino’s network of 1,800+ banking customers worldwide, the acquisition represents a major step toward advancing banking technology solutions. By integrating AI-driven automation, predictive analytics, and machine learning into its platform, nCino is equipping financial institutions with intelligent tools for improving operational efficiency, risk management, and customer engagement.

Brian Mulcahey, Chief Information Officer at Sunflower Bank, shared his insights on the benefits of the integration, noting that the combined technology has significantly enhanced operational efficiency within his organization. He highlighted that the ability to connect multiple systems seamlessly has reduced loan processing times, minimized errors, and freed up resources to focus on delivering exceptional financial services to customers.

With greater system interoperability, banks will be better positioned to meet the growing demand for digital-first banking services, improve customer retention, and launch new financial products faster. The acquisition also reinforces nCino’s commitment to providing financial institutions with cutting-edge solutions that streamline compliance, optimize workflows, and enhance scalability.

What’s Next for nCino’s Digital Transformation Platform?

As nCino continues to build on its digital transformation platform, the company is expected to integrate advanced AI capabilities and further automate financial processes. The acquisition strengthens nCino’s position as a leader in financial institutions integration, ensuring that banks can operate with increased agility and efficiency in a rapidly evolving market.

The purchase agreement includes an initial $52.5 million cash transaction, with an additional $10 million earn-out opportunity based on financial and product development milestones. This signals nCino’s long-term commitment to driving innovation in banking technology solutions and supporting financial institutions in their transition toward a fully connected digital ecosystem.

By incorporating artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and real-time data connectivity, nCino is positioning itself at the forefront of financial institutions integration. The combination of nCino’s expertise and Sandbox Banking’s cutting-edge technology is set to redefine how banks and credit unions approach digital transformation, enabling them to navigate market challenges with confidence and efficiency.