Vitesse has unveiled a new research report shedding light on major inefficiencies in claims finance that continue to burden the insurance industry across the US and UK.
The study, titled The State of Claims Finance: Tackling Roadblocks in Payments, Liquidity and Financial Coordination, draws on insights from over 200 senior insurance professionals. It reveals critical shortcomings in collaboration, liquidity, data transparency, and financial oversight, underscoring a need for better-integrated financial infrastructure.
One of the most alarming findings is that just 1% of insurers rate collaboration between their claims and finance teams as “highly effective.”
This siloed structure not only delays disbursements but also compromises reconciliation and financial visibility. Nearly 80% of respondents point to internal process complexity and coordination issues with brokers, TPAs, or banks as the main culprits behind slow payment delivery to claimants.
Liquidity also emerged as a major pressure point. Two-thirds of insurers face challenges accessing funds, with this figure jumping to 74% in the US. This bottleneck affects insurers’ ability to settle claims efficiently and manage capital effectively, especially in fast-moving regulatory environments.
Compounding the issue is a widespread data shortfall: 44% of participants reported inconsistencies in data, while 41% cited a lack of interdepartmental transparency. These gaps in information flow make it difficult to align disbursements and reconcile transactions across platforms and teams.
Visibility is another concern. Only 32% of finance leaders say they have insight into delegated claims funds, highlighting significant blind spots in how insurers monitor and control their capital. The report calls for a shift from fragmented workflows to unified financial infrastructure — a change Vitesse argues is becoming a strategic imperative for insurers seeking greater capital efficiency and trust.
Vitesse CEO and founder Philip McGriskin said, “Many insurers are doing the right things, but they’re doing them on top of disconnected infrastructure. When teams, systems, and partners lack shared visibility and control, friction becomes inevitable. The shift from fragmented workflows to unified financial infrastructure is becoming a strategic priority for insurers modernising their operations. Claims finance can’t stay buried in the back office — it needs to become a driver of capital efficiency and trust.”
Regional differences are also notable. US insurers were more likely to prioritise governance and compliance, with 37% naming it a top concern, compared to just 22% in the UK. Access to liquidity also ranks higher on the US agenda, where nearly three-quarters of respondents cite it as a challenge versus 58% in the UK.
Curt Hess, president of Vitesse (US), said, “The US market is feeling the pressure of operational complexity – especially when it comes to compliance, oversight and managing funds across multiple partners. What stood out in the data is that US insurers are more likely to prioritise governance and control. That’s a reflection of real-world friction – complex regulation, decentralised systems and growing demands on finance teams. What they need now is infrastructure that brings clarity and control to the complexity. As claims ecosystems grow more complex, and regulatory pressure mounts, the ability to access, see and move funds quickly will define the next generation of performance.”
The report coincides with Vitesse’s continued expansion in the US, marked by the launch of Vitesse Trust Company — a New York-regulated entity offering insurers real-time control and clarity over their claims funds.
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