Fintech is playing a major role in increasing financial access for underserved and unbanked populations in emerging markets, and this expansion into new customer bases offers significant growth potential. At the same time, established fintech markets are experiencing new growth waves as the prevalence of artificial intelligence grows and continues to revolutionize this space.
All these developments are creating new growth tailwinds for a wide range of fintech stocks, and that can translate to growth for long-term shareholders too. If you have $2,000 to invest in stocks right now, here are two no-brainer fintech stocks to consider putting some or all of that cash into.
1. SoFi Technologies
SoFi Technologies (SOFI +4.32%) has successfully transitioned from a student loan refinancer to a full digital bank that offers a wide range of products, including checking and savings accounts, personal and home loans, credit cards, and investing tools. This one-stop shop model encourages members to use multiple products, thereby increasing a customer's lifetime value and reducing the cost of acquiring new products from existing customers. Roughly 40% of third-quarter 2025 product growth came from existing members.
Image source: Getty Images.
SoFi's fintech ecosystem continues to deliver on its robust expansion goals, with its member base reaching over 12.6 million and total products exceeding 18.6 million as of Q3 2025. This growth represented a significant 35% year-over-year increase in members and a 36% increase in products. This momentum has helped SoFi achieve scale and operational efficiency faster than many traditional banks.
NASDAQ: SOFI
Key Data Points
SoFi was granted a national bank charter in 2022, a strategic move that allowed it to leverage low-cost member deposits for funding its lending operations. This provides a significant competitive advantage over fintechs that are reliant on third-party funding and has likely saved the company hundreds of millions in annual interest expenses. While lending remains a core business, the company is successfully diversifying its revenue streams through high-margin fee-based financial services and its technology platform, which powers other fintech companies.
Shares have experienced a run-up of about 60% over the trailing 12-month period. Investors seem to be responding with enthusiasm to the company's robust financials and growing addressable market. Now could be an excellent time to buy some shares before the stock rockets higher.
2. American Express
American Express (AXP +0.36%) tends to target higher-income consumers who are less affected by economic downturns and more likely to spend on high-margin categories like travel and entertainment. American Express' business model leverages a highly loyal customer base that's drawn to its valuable perks and brand image. This loyalty, combined with high retention rates, has consistently allowed the company to raise annual fees on many of its premium cards while maintaining profitability and cardholder satisfaction.
Unlike Visa and Mastercard, which are purely payment networks, American Express is both the card issuer and the payment processor. This structure provides several advantages. For one, American Express generates revenue from both merchant transaction fees and interest payments on outstanding loans. This is a balanced income stream that offers some insulation from interest rate swings. This end-to-end control also allows for lower default and write-off rates compared to industry averages.
NYSE: AXP
Key Data Points
American Express is successfully attracting millennials and Gen Z customers with its premium offerings and travel benefits, which is a key factor for long-term growth potential. Its Q3 profits surged 16% year over year to $2.9 billion, and total revenue grew 11% to $18.4 billion. Total card member spending increased 9% year over year, with significant growth among Gen Z and millennials, who now account for 36% of customer spending. International card services are experiencing the strongest growth, and a 13% year-over-year increase in billed business occurred in Q3.
The company maintains a strong balance sheet and has a long history of returning capital to shareholders through reliable, growing dividends and share buybacks. While the yield is less than 1%, American Express has a long history of paying dividends since 1989 and has never cut its dividend during economic downturns, including the 2008 financial crisis.
