News
Financial Education
Financial Inclusion
Apr 17, 2025
Washington D.C, March 7, 2025 – Yemen Microfinance Network (YMN) , Yemen's microfinance institutions association, an NGO co-funded by UNDP and SFD has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Apr 16, 2025
Washington D.C, March 12, 2025 – Fauree , UAE’s leading provider of supply chain finance and working capital solutions, has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to...
Equity
Data Analytics
Apr 14, 2025
Washington D.C, March 26, 2025 – Convergence Blended Finance , the global blended finance network driving private investment in developing countries, has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Apr 07, 2025
Washington D.C, April 7, 2025 – Vayana , India's largest Supply Chain Finance Network has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Apr 03, 2025
Washington D.C, April 3, 2025 – FaturamPara , Turkey's first company with both RegTech and FinTech features has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to...
Data & Cybersecurity
Apr 02, 2025
Washington D.C, April 2, 2025 – ADAPTA , US Tech Firm Expanding AI-Driven Risk Management in Global Agriculture has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to...
Data Analytics
Mar 26, 2025
Washington D.C, March 26, 2025 – The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) , which enhances market transparency and combats financial crime through the implementation and use of the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 300+ members/affiliates of the...
Financial Inclusion
Mar 24, 2025
Washington D.C, March 24, 2025 – First Finance , a leading SME financial services provider in Iraq which adheres to international best practices to support and empower small and medium-sized enterprises has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum operate in 190...
Gender Finance
Mar 17, 2025
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, March 11, 2025 – To boost access to finance for women-led SMEs in Côte d’Ivoire, IFC and the Africa Local Currency Bond Fund (ALCB Fund) today announced an anchor investment in a gender bond from Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire, the first gender bond to be issued in the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Proceeds from...
Financial Inclusion
Feb 27, 2025
Washington D.C, Feb 27, 2025 – Beltone SMEs , a subsidiary of Beltone Holding - has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide...
Feb 23, 2025
Washington D.C, Jan 10, 2025 – Cenfri , a global think-tank and not-for-profit enterprise with offices in South Africa and Rwanda has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding...
Feb 17, 2025
Washington D.C, Feb 17th, 2025 – Banco de Crédito del Perú , the largest bank and the largest supplier of integrated financial services in Perú has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of...
Data Analytics
Jan 14, 2025
Uplinq is thrilled to unveil our latest collaboration with Visa . Together, we’ve released a groundbreaking case study titled "Transforming global small business underwriting with augmented data" —a deep dive into how AI-powered credit decisioning is reshaping small business lending worldwide. Leveraging sophisticated AI and machine learning...
Sustainable Finance
Nov 22, 2024
The Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector in Pakistan plays a pivotal role in the national economy, contributing approximately 40% to GDP and providing employment to millions. Despite its significance, the sector faces numerous challenges that hinder its growth and development. Key barriers include limited access to finance, complex...
Financial Education
Nov 19, 2024
10 Years of Leadership Excellence - Registration Now Open for the 2025 GABV Leadership Academy Dear GABV members, We are excited to announce the 10th edition of the GABV Leadership Academy —a milestone in shaping resilient leaders in values-based banking! Registrations are now open until 5 December 2024. This year’s programme, ' Resilience in the...
Governance
Nov 11, 2024
Washington D.C, Nov 11, 2024 – Nepal Bankers’ Association , an Umbrella Organisation of all 'A' Class Commercial Banks of Nepal has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding...
Financial Inclusion
Nov 01, 2024
Washington D.C, Nov 1, 2024 – 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion , an open and global learning platform has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small...
Fintech
Oct 08, 2024
By: Tommy Felts - October 04, 2024 Sandy Kemper, founder and CEO of C2FO, speaks during a panel conversation at the 2024 SME Finance Forum in São Paulo, Brazil; photo courtesy of C2FO C2FO would’ve been profitable in the US alone, CEO says; how solving for global needs made it an even stronger fintech leader T he impact of one Kansas City-built...
Sustainable Finance
Oct 04, 2024
Washington, D.C., October 1, 2024 - The World Bank Group and partners have launched the “ Sustainable Finance Knowledge Center for Francophone Africa ” today. A first preview of the center was presented two weeks ago at the annual Global Meeting of the SME Finance Forum in Brazil. This virtual platform, available in both English and French, is...
Non Financial Services
Equity
Sep 30, 2024
Washington D.C, September 30th, 2024 – KoreFusion Consulting , a boutique strategy consulting and investment bank focused on SME payments and financing in North America and Western Europe has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating...
Financial Inclusion
Digital Transformation
Sep 26, 2024
Divergent views among business leaders and bankers on priorities uncover a white space for nimble financial institutions to compete in this varied market segment. ARMONK, N.Y., September 18th, 2024 – New findings from IBM’s (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value and the Banking Industry Architecture Network (BIAN), with contributions from the...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Aug 30, 2024
Washington D.C, Aug 30, 2024 – InvoSoko Africa, a leading SMEs focused Supply Chain Finance solutions provider in Sub-saharan Africa has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding...
Trade Finance
Jul 18, 2024
We are glad to announce the launch of the " 360tf SMEs Trade Finance Survey 2024 Edition ," in partnership with Middlesex University Dubai . This survey is a unique opportunity for the SME community to voice their opinions and shape the future of SME trade finance in the UAE . The survey aims to gather feedback and insights that will drive...
Data Analytics
Digital Financial Services
Jul 18, 2024
Washington D.C, July 18, 2024 – Jocata, a leading digital lending transformation partner has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Jul 15, 2024
Washington D.C, July 15, 2024 – WeGro , a leading agri-fintech in Bangladesh has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Jul 11, 2024
Washington D.C, July 11, 2024 – Bank of Kigali , the largest bank in Rwanda by total assets has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Jul 09, 2024
Washington D.C, July 9th, 2024 – Receivables Exchange of India Limited (RXIL) , a leading MSMEs focused digital platform in India has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding...
Financial Inclusion
Sustainable Finance
Jun 16, 2024
The 2024 MSME Day offers an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas on how Key stakeholders, including policy makers, large companies, financial institutions, and the international community can support micro-, small and medium-sized businesses to advance the 2030 Agenda and contribute to achieving the SDGs, including poverty eradication and...
Jun 13, 2024
Washington D.C, June 13, 2024 – Akbank , a Turkish bank founded in 1948 has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through...
Jun 04, 2024
Washington D.C, June 4, 2024 – ICICI Bank , one of the leading private sector banks in India, has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses...
Fintech
May 27, 2024
Washington D.C, May 27, 2024 – Kapitale , one of the most innovative fintechs in receivables anticipation in Brazil, has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. Created by the G20 in 2012 and managed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the SME Finance Forum has more than 300 members/affiliates who...
Alternative Financing
Digital Financial Services
May 23, 2024
Washington D.C, May 23, 2024 – AgriAnalytica , a leading digital platform for MSMEs in Ukraine has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
May 20, 2024
Washington D.C, May 20, 2024 – Amret Microfinance Institution , a Cambodia leading microfinance institution and one of the top 10 financial institutions in the country has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who...
May 15, 2024
Washington D.C, May 15, 2024 – Caja Huancayo , a leading financial institution in Peru has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses...
May 14, 2024
Washington D.C, May 14, 2024 – Bank of Punjab , a leading SME focused bank from Pakistan has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses...
Digital Transformation
May 07, 2024
Global SME Finance Awards 2024 - INFORMATION SESSIONS The SME Finance Forum organizes the Global SME Finance Awards ( The Awards ) as a core part of its mission to create a unique platform for peer connections, knowledge dissemination, and innovations in SME Finance. The Forum’s extensive 240+ global network, crowds in financial institutions,...
Digital Transformation
Apr 18, 2024
Washington D.C, April 18th, 2024 – Singapore-based fintech Boost Capital has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 240+ members of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge...
Apr 18, 2024
Washington D.C, April 18, 2024 - Singapore-based fintech Digi Ally has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 240+ members of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange...
Digital Financial Services
Fintech
Apr 15, 2024
The launch event for isybank, Intesa Sanpaolo's digital bank, was held on 15 June at the "Shard of Glass" tower in Milan. The bank is primarily intended to serve the four million Intesa Sanpaolo customers interested in using innovative services exclusively online and on their smartphones. isybank is among the most important initiatives in the 2022...
Equity
Apr 15, 2024
Intesa Sanpaolo acquires Romania’s First Bank from US-based private investment fund J.C. Flowers & Co., strengthening its presence in the CEE region and doubling the Group’s presence in the country. More in detail , Intesa Sanpaolo and JCF Tiger Holdings S.A.R.L., the controlling shareholder of First Bank S.A., have signed a share purchase...
Sustainable Finance
Apr 15, 2024
Under the guidance of Niti Aayog, government primer think thank, and RMI as a knowledge partner, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has developed a book titled “De-risking lending for a Brisk EV Uptake: A practical guide on de-risking measures for Electric two- and three-wheelers in India" The report was released in Washington DC...
Financial Inclusion
Sustainable Finance
Digital Transformation
Apr 15, 2024
Karandaaz Pakistan, a development finance platform at the forefront of promoting financial inclusion and driving digital transformation across the country, announced the launch of GreenFin Innovations (GFI), a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to scaling innovative and sustainable solutions aimed at promoting a green economy and addressing the...
Digital Financial Services
Fintech
Payments
Apr 15, 2024
Bespoke tech solutions providers team up to empower digital transactions of small- and medium-sized business enterprises across MENA with cloud-based software Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 5th, 2023 – TRAY, a global leader in cloud-native enterprise-class POS systems, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Alraedah Digital Solutions...
Financial Education
Financial Inclusion
Alternative Financing
Gender Finance
Youth Entrepreneurship
Mar 08, 2024
The Forum established the Women’s Entrepreneurship Finance CoP (WEF CoP) Practice for groups of practitioners from member institutions to meet and share experiences, seek solutions to challenges that they face in financing women-SMEs. Since launching in 2022, the WEF CoP has evolved into a powerful example of how to empower women entrepreneurs...
Alternative Financing
Digital Transformation
Fintech
Feb 28, 2024
Johannesburg, 6 February 2024 – MTN’s Mobile Money Platform, MoMo, and banking technology company JUMO have partnered to launch Qwikloan, which offers affordable, short-term loans in South Africa and will drive financial inclusion across the country. Qwikloan enables MoMo users to obtain small, short-term loans on their mobile phones, ranging from...
Financial Inclusion
Jan 31, 2024
Washington D.C, January 31, 2024 – Nigeria’s Zenith Bank has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 240+ members of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and...
Jan 31, 2024
The SME Finance Forum membership network consists of more than 240 member institutions active in 190 countries . The network is a unique community of SME-oriented commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions, fintech companies, and development finance institutions. UPCOMING EVENTS - Q1 and Q2 2024
Financial Inclusion
Jan 18, 2024
Washington D.C, January 18, 2024 – AccèsBanque Madagascar has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 240+ members of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and...
Payments
Dec 21, 2023
Former SVP and Managing Director of Marqeta takes on new role at leading global issuer-processor to propel its growth journey across the globe 12 th Dec Paymentology , a leading global issuer-processor, today announces the appointment of its new CEO Jeff Parker, who will be succeeding the interim Co-CEOs Abe Smith and Angy Watson. Jeff is a leader...
Islamic Banking
Dec 18, 2023
In the latest episode of Couchonomics, Arjun was joined by Paul Melotto, Executive Board Member at Alraedah Finance . Paul has played a key part in Arjun’s journey to understand the Saudi ecosystem, especially regarding fintech and financial services. In the episode, Arjun and Paul discussed: The state of Non-Banked Financial Institutions in KSA...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Dec 13, 2023
Former CEO of TransUnion Europe – Satrajit Saha – brings his expertise to Creditinfo, planning to drive growth across its credit bureaus globally. London – 29 th November 2023: Creditinfo, a global service provider for credit information and risk management solutions, has today announced the appointment of Satrajit Saha as its Global Chief...
Financial Inclusion
Non Financial Services
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Dec 06, 2023
Washington D.C, December 6, 2023 – Leading agri-services company SE Holdings has joined the SME Finance Forum as its global membership network’s latest member. The 240+ members of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Nov 28, 2023
FCI, an SME Finance Forum Industry Partner, held its 55th annual meeting in Marrakech, Morocco from October 29 to November 3 2023. More than 250 attendees joined to network and discuss current issues within the Factoring and Receivables Finance Industry. With over EUR 300 billion financed to SMEs as well as to larger corporates, the global...
Financial Education
Financial Inclusion
Nov 21, 2023
Washington D.C, November 21, 2023 – Ethiopia’s Dashen Bank has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 240+ members of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and...
Financial Inclusion
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Nov 14, 2023
Washington D.C, November 14, 2023 – Maldivian non-banking finance institution SDFC has joined the SME Finance Forum as its global membership network’s latest member. The 240+ members of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Policy & Regulation
Nov 01, 2023
During FCI 55th Annual Meeting , Qamar Saleem, CEO of the SME Finance Forum, launched the ‘ Knowledge Guide on Factoring Regulation and Supervision ’. This guide complements UNIDROIT's model law and provides guidance on law reforms seeking to support receivables finance. It indicates options and recommendations to establish a cohesive regulatory...
Policy & Regulation
Oct 12, 2023
New Delhi, September 15, 2023 – IFC Vice President for Industries, Mohamed Gouled, currently on a two-day official visit to India, has commended India's leadership at the G20 for its strong emphasis on the significance of digital public infrastructure (DPI) in achieving financial inclusion. "This formal recognition that technology must be used for...
Non Financial Services
Policy & Regulation
Digital Financial Services
Fintech
Sep 16, 2023
Day 3 of the Global SME Finance Forum 2023 saw panel discussions and keynote addresses by thought leaders like Shri Chanchal Chand Sarkar, Economic Adviser, DEA, Ministry of Finance, India, Shri T. Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor, RBI, Shri Ajay Seth, Secretary, DEA, Ministry of Finance, India, Ashwini Kumar Tewari, Managing Director, SBI, Ms. Nisha...
Non Financial Services
Policy & Regulation
Digital Financial Services
Fintech
Sep 16, 2023
Mumbai, India, September 14, 2023 - The 2023 Global SME Finance Award winners were announced during the Global SME Finance Forum 2023 in Mumbai, India. Across all categories, a record 165 applications were submitted from 120 different institutions. 30 applications were identified by an independent, expert panel of 85 judges as winners. The award...
Non Financial Services
Policy & Regulation
Digital Financial Services
Fintech
Sep 16, 2023
Day 2 of the Global SME Finance Forum 2023 saw panel discussions and keynote addresses by thought leaders like A K Goel, Chairman, Indian Banks’ Association, KV Kamath, Chairman, NaBFID, Alok Kumar Choudhary, MD, SBI, Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief Fintech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Rajiv Anand, DMD, Axis Bank, Chanchal Sarkar, Economic...
Non Financial Services
Policy & Regulation
Digital Financial Services
Fintech
Sep 16, 2023
SME Finance Forum 2023 commence their 9th edition of the Global SME Finance Forum 2023 in Mumbai The Day 1 of the Global SME Finance Forum 2023 saw panel discussions and key note address by some of the renown names as speakers like Mr. Makhtar Diop, Managing Director, International Finance Corporation (recorded speech), Mr. Nandan Nilekani, Co-...
Financial Inclusion
Sep 04, 2023
Newly released financial survey from our member Karandazz! The report delves deep into financial service access and demand, with a special focus on digital financial services. To support financial inclusion in Pakistan, it is important to have clear definitions, metrics, and estimates for planning and intervention designs. Karandaaz notes that...
Financial Inclusion
Payments
Aug 28, 2023
The partnership will enable a more robust financial ecosystem in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, granting underserved and unbanked segments of the population access to the digital economy. Guatemala, August 2023 : Paymentology , the leading global issuer-processor, today announces an expanded partnership with Mastercard to bolster financial...
Fintech
Payments
Aug 16, 2023
Paymentology’s card issuing platform and analytics capabilities support DolarApp with several industry firsts in Mexico Paymentology , the leading global issuer-processor, today announces its partnership with DolarApp , the Mexican startup which provides digital dollar accounts to consumers across Latin America. Established in 2021, DolarApp has...
Aug 03, 2023
Washington D.C. August 1st, 2023 - Matt Gamser, having reached the mandatory retirement age for World Bank Group employees, will step down as the CEO of SME Finance Forum, effective September 30th, 2023. This will bring to a close Matt’s 18+ years of service to the IFC, including the creation of the SME Finance Forum. Under his leadership, the SME...
Equity
Gender Finance
Sustainable Finance
Aug 01, 2023
Washington D.C, August 1st, 2023 – Leading impact fund manager C4D Partners has joined the SME Finance Forum as its global membership network’s latest member. The members of the Forum are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and...
Financial Inclusion
Operational Risk
Jul 27, 2023
Washington D.C July 2023 – Consolidated Bank Ghana LTD (CBG) joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “Since 2016, we’ve...
Fintech
Jun 13, 2023
Our Industry Partner, CFTE, has just launched the Online Certificate for Fintech in Africa. This is a great opportunity for those who want to learn about Fintech in Africa. The Online Certificate for Fintech in Africa is a foundational programme in Fintech. Learners will go through the building blocks of the future of finance: Fintech, AI,...
Financial Education
Financial Inclusion
Non Financial Services
Jun 01, 2023
Washington D.C. June 1 st , 2023 - The SME Finance Forum is proud to announce its recent victory at the KNOWbel Awards, a World Bank Group program that recognizes teams and individuals who utilize knowledge to drive better business outcomes and foster a productive knowledge culture. This esteemed accolade underscores the power of collaboration and...
May 11, 2023
3rd May 2023: Nairobi, Kenya: 4G Capital, the market-leading neobank powering micro and small business growth in Kenya and Uganda, has been ranked as one of Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies by the Financial Times. The Financial Times compiled the ranking with data company Statista and based findings on compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in...
May 02, 2023
360ᵗᶠ Spreading Far and Wide: As a Knowledge Partner of FCI (Factoring Chain International), 360ᵗᶠ conducted a pan-India Export Finance Survey for Indian Corporates. the initial findings of this survey were presented at the FCI IFSCA GIFT-City conference and will be shared with Regulators and the Ministry of Commerce, India. Our engagement with...
Digital Transformation
Fintech
Apr 20, 2023
29 March, London: Paymentology , the leading global issuer-processor, has joined forces with Wio Bank PJSC , the region’s first platform bank, to power its innovative banking model with customer-centric card payment services. Wio Bank PJSC is leveraging Paymentology’s industry leading in-cloud card issuing platform and data analytics capabilities...
Financial Inclusion
Guarantees
Apr 19, 2023
Washington D.C April 2023 – Credit Guarantee Corporation of Papua New Guinea joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “...
Non Financial Services
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Apr 13, 2023
Washington D.C April 2023 – arara joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “Since 2016, we’ve been implementing our...
Digital Financial Services
Fintech
Payments
Apr 11, 2023
Washington D.C April 2023 – Paymentology joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “Since 2016, we’ve been implementing...
Financial Inclusion
Gender Finance
Sustainable Finance
Digital Financial Services
Apr 06, 2023
The Global SME Finance Awards 2023 recognize financial institutions and fintech companies for their outstanding achievements in delivering exceptional products and services to their SME clients. Endorsed by the GPFI, the Global SME Finance Awards provide an opportunity for institutions to showcase and share their good practices and knowledge and...
Financial Inclusion
Apr 04, 2023
Washington D.C April 2023 – Altus Financial Services joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “Since 2016, we’ve been...
Sustainable Finance
Mar 30, 2023
Small and medium sized businesses in the SME Climate Hub community are committed to taking authentic climate action. This includes reporting annually on greenhouse gas emissions - ensuring transparency and accountability throughout their journeys towards net zero. Thanks to its new reporting tool, businesses part of the SME Climate Hub will now be...
Financial Inclusion
Gender Finance
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Youth Entrepreneurship
Mar 28, 2023
Washington D.C March 2023 – MEDA joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “Since 2016, we’ve been implementing our...
Digital Transformation
Fintech
Mar 22, 2023
Washington D.C March 2023 – ShopUp joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “Since 2016, we’ve been implementing our...
Digital Transformation
Fintech
Mar 21, 2023
Matthew Gamser, CEO of the SME Finance Forum, participated in the “Financial Technology Development and Innovative Applications” panel at the 2023 APFF Asia-Pacific Financial Forum on 17 March 2023 in Beijing, China. “It was a great pleasure to speak on this panel at the APFF Asia-Pacific Financial Forum in Beijing,” Gamser said. “My panel, which...
Trade Finance
Data Analytics
Digital Financial Services
Fintech
Mar 21, 2023
Washington D.C March 2023 – CredAble joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “Since 2016, we’ve been implementing our...
Financial Inclusion
Digital Financial Services
Payments
Mar 13, 2023
In a recent blog post, CGAP authors Joep Roest and Bongani Maponya wrote about the transformative power of open government-to-person (G2P) systems to connect G2P recipients with different Payment Service Providers (PSPs) in order to make the best choice, thereby incentivizing improved services from PSPs. The post was also a case study on how South...
Financial Inclusion
Mar 09, 2023
Washington D.C, March 9, 2023 – Standard Bank joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “Since 2016, we’ve been...
Sustainable Finance
Digital Financial Services
Mar 02, 2023
Fyndoo, the end-to-end SaaS Lending platform developed and owned by our member Topicus , has launched a new podcast called The Lending Bean – Powered by Fyndoo . Each episode, host Mike Cooper talks with experts about lending to inspire listeners to join Fyndoo in their mission to make lending effortless and accessible. In Episode 1 , Cooper talks...
Financial Inclusion
Mar 01, 2023
Washington D.C, March 1st, 2023 – Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “Since 2016,...
Alternative Financing
Credit Risk & Scoring
Fintech
Feb 28, 2023
Partnership Aimed at Expanding Access to Finance for Small and Medium Businesses Across the Globe WASHINGTON, D.C., and TORONTO, February 28, 2023 – Uplinq , the first global credit assessment and scoring platform for SMB lenders, today announced a partnership with the SME Finance Forum , a global network aimed at expanding finance to small and...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Feb 22, 2023
Washington D.C February 22nd, 2023 – Air8 joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “Since 2016, we’ve been implementing...
Financial Inclusion
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Feb 16, 2023
Washington D.C, February 16, 2023 – One of the Philippines‘ leading banks, Security Bank Corporation joined the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge...
Financial Inclusion
Feb 15, 2023
The Karandaaz Financial Inclusion Survey (K-FIS) responds to the need identified by multiple stakeholders for timely demand-side data and practical insights into the state of financial inclusion in Pakistan, including traditional banking, mobile money, and the potential for their expanded use among the poor. The aim is to: Track access to and...
Dec 30, 2022
Dear Members, Partners, and Friends, Working together during 2022 has been a pleasure, and we're proud to have you all with us. 2022 was a turbulent year in global markets, and SMEs all over the world have been dealing with soaring inflation, disrupted supply chains and volatile foreign currency markets. And yet, we have been inspired by how our...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Dec 26, 2022
Washington D.C., December 26th, 2022 – Koltiva joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012, we...
Non Financial Services
Dec 19, 2022
Sponsorship opportunities are still available for members who are interested in working more directly with the Forum and helping shape our Global Event. Sponsors can improve brand recognition, develop partnerships and demonstrate leadership via the growing outreach and networks of the Forum. SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Financial Inclusion
Gender Finance
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Trade Finance
Dec 06, 2022
Washington D.C., December 7 th , 2022 – ACLEDA Bank joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “ When we started in 2012,...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Fintech
Nov 21, 2022
Washington D.C., November 21 2022 – Progcap joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012, we were...
Sustainable Finance
Nov 05, 2022
HEALRWORLD, a social impact, for profit ESG Fintech, unveils its new corporate debit card at CC Forum - an investment conference which is 100% dedicated to investment in sustainability. In collaboration with Mastercard and its Priceless Planet initiative, Railsr, Toqio, and Penrose Digital, the HealRWorld corporate debit card will be the first of...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Oct 26, 2022
Lending is one of the main elements of the modern financial system. In one way or another, most people rely on loans from banks – whether these are credits, mortgages, installments, credit cards to pay for critical goods and services. An important role in this process is played by credit bureaus that collect, store, process and transmit...
Sustainable Finance
Oct 20, 2022
LONDON, 4 October 2022 – JUMO, a technology company advancing next-generation financial inclusion in emerging markets, today released VELA, a pioneering asset management engine built to give investors access to real social impact investments at the highest standards of governance and control. VELA is a powerful asset management tool underpinned by...
Non Financial Services
Policy & Regulation
Oct 17, 2022
Washington D.C., October 17th, 2022 – The Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (KOBİA) joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses...
Trade Finance
Digital Financial Services
Oct 04, 2022
Washington D.C., September 2022 – 360tf joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012, we were in an...
Sustainable Finance
Digital Financial Services
Digital Transformation
Fintech
Sep 29, 2022
Washington DC, September 29 2022 - The future of delivering inclusive and effective banking support for the world’s small and medium sized enterprises will be driven by digital transformation, according to the lead organizers behind this year’s Global SME Finance Forum 2022 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. More than 350 leaders and senior executives from...
Sep 28, 2022
Washington DC, September 28, 2022 - The 2022 Global SME Finance Awards winners were announced during the Global SME Finance Forum 2022. To learn who the winners are, please visit https://www.smefinanceforum.org/awards-2022 Organized by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the SME Finance Forum and endorsed by the G20’s Global Partnership for...
Fintech
Sep 08, 2022
London, 06.09.2022: Funding Options , the leading marketplace for business finance, has launched Funding Cloud: Insights to bring unparalleled data to SME lenders with a breadth of market insight capable of driving new product innovation. The intuitive and user-friendly platform provides near real-time knowledge and intelligence that has scarcely...
Alternative Financing
Fintech
Aug 12, 2022
Washington D.C., August 4, 2022 – Credit Bureau Cambodia (CBC) joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started...
Financial Inclusion
Jul 29, 2022
Washington D.C., July 28, 2022 – Awash Bank joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. Awash Bank becomes the first bank...
Alternative Financing
Digital Financial Services
Fintech
Jul 19, 2022
Washington D.C., July 19, 2022 – Mambu joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “Since 2016, we’ve been implementing our...
Non Financial Services
Fintech
Jul 13, 2022
Washington D.C., July 12, 2022 – SME Bank of Cambodia joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012...
Gender Finance
Sustainable Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Digital Transformation
Jul 06, 2022
APPLY BEFORE 15 JULY Deadline extended to July 15th! We’ve extended the deadline of our 2022 Global SME Finance Awards. Share your leadership experience with the SME community and show how your institution can become a winner of the next Global SME Finance Forum Awards. Welcome to the fifth Annual Global SME Finance Awards! We invite all types of...
Non Financial Services
Jun 21, 2022
Sidian Bank provides a range of financial products and services that support the growth of micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Kenya. With this focus, the bank plays a crucial role in boosting entrepreneurship, creating jobs, and building a strong local economy. In 2021, Sidian Bank received a USD 10 million loan from Triodos Microfinance...
Non Financial Services
Fintech
Jun 16, 2022
Washington D.C., june 16, 2022 – The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When...
Policy & Regulation
Jun 08, 2022
Central banks of many emerging markets are overshooting their inflation goals, as prices of essential goods and services - from flour to cooking oil, energy, and gasoline – continue to rise. Supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine are all compounding inflationary pressures. It is increasingly feared that the 1970s will...
Digital Transformation
Fintech
Jun 07, 2022
Washington D.C. June, 7th 2022 – Asante Financial Services Group joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Sustainable Finance
May 31, 2022
Caravela, a green coffee firm focused only on responsible sourcing and marketing high-quality Latin American coffees, has received a USD 1.5 million value chain loan from Hivos-Triodos Fund. The financing would allow the company to pay about 600 smallholder coffee producers in Mexico and Peru when their harvest is delivered. Throughout the past 20...
Operational Risk
May 19, 2022
Triodos Microfinance Fund has made a USD 7 million loan to Mi Banco in El Salvador, a cooperative bank that provides payroll deduction loans to low and lower-middle-income government employees. Mi Banco is one of El Salvador's fastest-growing cooperative banks, serving over 10,000 borrowers and 25,000 depositors through a network of ten branches...
Islamic Banking
May 13, 2022
Washington D.C., May 13th – Ghazanfar Bank joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012, we were in...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
May 11, 2022
JSC MFO Crystal (Crystal), Georgia's largest microfinance institution, has received a USD 5 million debt facility from Triodos Microfinance Fund and Triodos Fair Share Fund. The facility will support Crystal expand its outreach to micro and small firms and strengthen its liquidity position at a time when the region's macroeconomic instability is...
Islamic Banking
May 04, 2022
Washington D.C., May 4th, 2022 – Yanal Finance joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012, we...
Alternative Financing
Apr 27, 2022
Washington D.C., April 27, 2022 – Wing Bank (Cambodia) Plc joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in...
Fintech
Apr 08, 2022
Washington D.C., April 8th 2022 – Yemen Loan Guarantee Program joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started...
Fintech
Apr 06, 2022
Washington D.C., April 6, 2022 – Amartha joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012, we were in...
Financial Inclusion
Apr 05, 2022
Washington D.C., April 5 2022 – The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we...
Sustainable Finance
Mar 28, 2022
Triodos Emerging Markets Renewable Energy Fund and Triodos Groenfonds have invested USD 5 million and USD 10 million respectively in the final close of India’s largest and first of its kind climate-focused impact fund, Green Growth Equity Fund, managed by EverSource Capital. Building green infrastructure in India Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF)...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Mar 25, 2022
Hivos-Triodos Fund has provided USD 1 million in senior debt to Apollo Agriculture, a Kenyan ag-tech company that uses machine learning and automated operations technology to help small-scale farmers maximise their profitability. Apollo Agriculture (Apollo) provides an optimised bundle for farmers that includes financing, farming inputs, advice,...
Sustainable Finance
Mar 22, 2022
Triodos Microfinance Fund and Triodos Fair Share Fund have provided a EUR 15 million subordinated debt facility to Ameriabank in Armenia to support the bank’s mission to increase its outreach to small-scale entrepreneurs and green initiatives. Artak Hanesyan, CEO of Ameriabank : “This facility further improves our capital position under the Basel...
Digital Financial Services
Mar 16, 2022
Wednesday 16 March 2022 – Nairobi, Kenya : 4G Capital, the award-winning African neobank, has completed its Series C funding round with Lightrock, the leading global private equity fund, investing $18.5 million dollars. Since its inception in 2013, 4G Capital has loaned over 1,750,000 small business working capital loans valued at over $230...
Digital Financial Services
Fintech
Mar 15, 2022
Triodos Microfinance Fund has provided the first USD 2 million loan of a USD 4 million facility to Aspiria, a digital platform in Mexico that serves businesses that aren’t bankable in the traditional financial system. Aspiria is truly a fintech with an automated credit process, combined with the human touch during the onboarding process and...
Non Financial Services
Mar 10, 2022
Funding Cloud: Connect enables accountants and advisors to manage and track finance offers for SME clients via a real-time fully integrated lending platform London, 10.02.2022: Business finance marketplace, Funding Options has launched Funding Cloud: Connect , an extension of its Funding CloudTM platform, expanding its offering for intermediaries...
Sustainable Finance
Mar 08, 2022
Triodos Emerging Markets Renewable Energy Fund and Triodos Groenfonds have provided a KGS 212 million (USD 2.5 million) loan to microcredit institution Bailyk Finance in Kyrgyzstan for the expansion of its green loan offering. Bailyk Finance provides affordable financial solutions to around 43,000 small businesses and households, predominantly in...
Financial Inclusion
Mar 03, 2022
Washington D.C., March 3rd 2022 – G5 Innonet joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012, we were...
Sustainable Finance
Feb 24, 2022
First of its kind survey of businesses from UN-backed SME Climate Hub shows that small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) need additional resources and guidance to reduce carbon emissions. New survey reveals half of small businesses calculate emissions, and 60% have plans to reduce carbon impact. However, two-thirds of small business owners worried...
Sustainable Finance
Feb 15, 2022
Amsterdam, 9 February 2022 – The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), an international movement of frontrunner banks and leaders in sustainable and inclusive finance, asks the European Commission for a more ambitious and comprehensive approach to the development of a Social Taxonomy. The network wants the Commission to go further than...
Trade Finance
Feb 11, 2022
KYIV. Feb 10 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The portfolio of trade finance contracts of the state-owned Ukrgasbank (Kyiv) in 2021 expanded to UAH 23 billion, which is 35% more than last year (UAH 17 billion), the bank's press service reported on Wednesday. According to the report, the growth of the portfolio is due to the support of trade finance contracts...
Gender Finance
Feb 08, 2022
An African gender-lens equity fund proves that traditional investors are leaving money on the table, because investing in women brings superior performance. Chika Russell left her home in Nigeria for the United Kingdom at the age of six. But those early years of family cooking and traditional recipes inspired her career, because she fell in love...
Data Analytics
Feb 07, 2022
The global trend of loan availability at one's fingertips is gaining grounds in Bangladesh, this time with Prime Bank preparing to launch PrimeAgrim app, an AI-based instant digital nano loan platform. Customers whose salaries are of a specific range can avail up to 30 per cent of that as a loan within a few seconds through the app, which makes...
Fintech
Jan 28, 2022
Washington D.C., January 28th, 2022- Ontology joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012, we were...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Jan 18, 2022
Nairobi, Kenya (January 12, 2022) – 4G CAPITAL GROUP Limited (“4G CAPITAL”), a market leader in technology-driven financial inclusion in Kenya and Uganda, is honoured to receive a Real Leaders Impact Award yet again as we push on with our key role in bridging the finance gap to advance micro, small and medium businesses (MSMEs). Real Leaders is...
Financial Inclusion
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Jan 13, 2022
Washington D.C., January 13, 2021 - Buffalo Commercial Bank joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “40 percent of...
Financial Inclusion
Sustainable Finance
Dec 21, 2021
Washington D.C., December 21, 2021 - Karandaaz joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012, we...
Fintech
Payments
Dec 20, 2021
London, 15th December 2021: Business finance marketplace Funding Options has joined forces with Wise to offer Wise Business, the business account for going global, in its marketplace to further expand its offering for SMEs as they recover from the pandemic. Wise, the global technology company building the best way to move and manage money across...
Sustainable Finance
Dec 17, 2021
The operation consists of a USD 35 million loan and a EURIZ portfolio guarantee of NGN 5 billion (EUR 10 million equivalent) to support First City Monument Bank Ltd (FCMB) strategy to serve high-impact SMEs and for climate finance. Proparco and FCMB have already had the opportunity to collaborate through two FMO-arranged operations in 2014 and...
Financial Inclusion
Gender Finance
Dec 16, 2021
Medical Credit Fund, the only debt fund fully dedicated to African small and medium-sized health enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, today announced the completion of a EUR 32.5 million fundraise. With the launch of its second fund more healthcare providers can access loans to grow their businesses, purchase medical equipment, improve quality, and...
Dec 16, 2021
Dear Members, Partners, and Friends, As 2021 draws to an end, let me take this opportunity to thank you for your continued engagement and supports. 2021 has undoubtedly been another challenging year for all of us, including the MSMEs which we are trying to serve. We are proud that so many of our members reported, in our surveys and check-in calls...
Digital Transformation
Fintech
Dec 13, 2021
The open competition will offer the opportunity to FinTech and RegTech innovators to showcase transformative solutions which are enhancing access, usage, and quality of formal financial services for low-income populations in developing countries and emerging markets. Finalists will be provided with a dedicated time slot during the second half of...
Non Financial Services
Covid-19
Dec 10, 2021
December 6th, 2021 - Successfully holding the Investree Conference (i-Con) for 2 (two) years with the main topics being the empowerment of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and economic recovery through collaboration in the digital financial ecosystem. This year, fintech lending pioneer Investree will again hold i-Con 2021 with “Revitalizing...
Non Financial Services
Digital Transformation
Fintech
Dec 09, 2021
Sameer Vakil (Co-Founder of GlobalLinker ) first met Syed Abdul Momen (DMD and Head of SME Banking at Brac Bank ), in Beijing at the 2016 SME Finance Forum Annual Event. That was the first time Sameer got the opportunity to introduce the GlobalLinker platform to Brac Bank. A more specific discussion followed in Amsterdam during the SMEFF Annual...
Fintech
Dec 08, 2021
Washington D.C., December 12 2021 - Yoda joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “The SME Finance Forum is a global...
Financial Education
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Dec 06, 2021
December 1, 2021 – Nairobi, Kenya: 4G CAPITAL GROUP Limited (“4G Capital”), a market leader in technology-driven financial inclusion for MSMEs across Kenya and Uganda, has partnered with the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (“CGAP”) on developing a new tool that identifies financial stress and helps protect low-income consumers against over-...
Oct 21, 2021
Washington D.C., October 21, 2021 — The 2021 Global SME Finance Forum Awards winners were announced today on during the virtual conference 2021 Global SME Finance Forum. To learn who the winners are, please visit https://www.smefinanceforum.org/awards-2021 Organized by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the SME Finance Forum and endorsed...
Guarantees
Sep 06, 2021
Credit Guarantees in MENA: Rebuilding SMEs post COVID - Virtual Event 5th International MENA Guarantee Conference 2021 – September 6 th to 7 th , 2021 - 2PM (Saudi Arabia) GMT+3 The COVID-19 pandemic hit Middle Eastern small business hard: survey data collected by the Rand Corporation during the first wave of the pandemic in June 2020 found that...
Sustainable Finance
Aug 23, 2021
Theme: Greening SME Finance Date: October 18 th to 21st Visit the event website here> www.globalsmefinanceforum.org/2021/ The Global SME Finance Forum is the largest, most technically in-depth, and geographically diverse conference on SME financing hosted around the world each year. Last year, as COVID-19 ushered the world unexpectedly, we...
Fintech
Jul 09, 2021
Innovation is crucial, especially in tumultuous times like these. Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) knows this very well – proof of that is Elevator Lab, the largest fintech and startup partnership in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), powered by RBI. This year, among a record number of submissions, the Elevator Lab made it to Global Finance’s...
Fintech
Jul 08, 2021
Washington D.C., July 8th, 2021 - C2FO , the largest global platform for working capital, today announced it is joining the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Members consist of SME Financing experts from over 80 countries, all of whom share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses...
Governance
Jul 05, 2021
Bahrain Development Bank joins the SME Finance Forum to promote the growth of SMEs in the Kingdom of Bahrain and boost the local economy. Washington D.C., July 5ht, 2021 - Bahrain Development Bank joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share...
Financial Inclusion
Fintech
Jul 01, 2021
YSys joins the SME Finance Forum to provide sustainable FinTech and smart humanitarian solutions across regions. Washington D.C., July 1st, 2021. YSys joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance...
Jun 29, 2021
Washington D.C., June 29th, 2021- FintechOS , the global financial technology provider for banks, insurers and other financial services companies, joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to...
Jun 25, 2021
Last chance to finalize your Entries! The SME Finance Forum, organizer of Global SME Finance Awards, announced today that the Global SME Finance Awards 2021 deadline for has been extended to JULY 2nd! “As we look to recover from the impact of COVID-19, we are cognizant of the challenges posed to business and activities, therefore we decided to...
Jun 24, 2021
Washington D.C., June 24th, 2021 - Grupo CAPEM joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012, we...
Fintech
Jun 22, 2021
HACKFund Global FinTech joins the SME Finance Forum to bring Silicon Valley Capital Raising Tools to Global SMEs Washington D.C., June 22nd, 2021- HACKFund Global FinTech is the newest member of the SME Finance Forum. Members are SME financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to capital through knowledge...
Financial Inclusion
Jun 17, 2021
Washington D.C., June 17th, 2021 - Gojo joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “The SME Finance Forum is a global body...
SME Insurance
Jun 15, 2021
Washington D.C., June 15th, 2021 - SecureNow joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “The SME Finance Forum is a global...
Jun 01, 2021
The SME Finance Forum, organizer of Global SME Finance Awards, announced today that the final entry deadline for the Global SME Finance Awards 2021 has been extended to June 25th. “As we look to recover from the impact of COVID-19, we are cognizant of the challenges posed to business and activities, therefore we decided to extend the deadline to...
May 26, 2021
Washington D.C., May 26, 2021 - Banco Solidario joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we started in 2012, we...
Sustainable Finance
May 19, 2021
Global SME Finance Forum 2021 – Greening SME Finance – October 18 th to 21st As the governments around the world are wrestling to contain the spread of COVID-19 and its unprecedented impacts on people’s lives and the economies around the globe, this crisis also provides a unique opportunity to build a greener, more sustainable and more resilient...
Financial Inclusion
Sustainable Finance
May 04, 2021
Opportunity International joins the SME Finance Forum, which offers a new pathway to help more families who are living in poverty to build sustainable livelihoods and access quality education for their children. Washington D.C., May 4th, 2021 - Opportunity International joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership...
Apr 16, 2021
Global SME Finance Awards Deadline Extended to June 25 Welcome to the Fourth Annual Global SME Finance Awards! We look forward to hearing from financial intermediaries from across the spectrum and globe, as the need to learn from each other is even greater as we look to recover from the impact of Covid-19. We invite all types of financial...
Apr 16, 2021
Washington D.C., April 16th, 2021- BanQu joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “40 percent of small and medium...
Apr 13, 2021
Washington D.C., April 13th 2021 - CAF – Development Bank of Latin America joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “...
Sustainable Finance
Apr 01, 2021
Washington D.C., April 1st, 2021 - Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation...
Sustainable Finance
Mar 29, 2021
Washington D.C., 29 March 2021- We are pleased to announce that the International Trade Centre (ITC) is joining the SME Financing Forum. ITC , with Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations with responsibility for sustainable trade and enterprise development. ITC has a...
Financial Inclusion
Mar 25, 2021
Washington D.C., March 25th, 2021 - National Cash Transfer Co. (YCASH) joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “When we...
Trade Finance
Mar 24, 2021
Washington D.C., March 24th- FIMBank joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Financial Inclusion
Mar 01, 2021
10x1000 Tech for Inclusion is an open fintech learning platform sponsored by member Ant Financial Group and IFC that enables learners to become drivers of digital economic growth. Our mission is to train 1,000 emerging talents and tech leaders each year for the next ten years. Some quick highlights of 10x1000 online platform: A structured and...
Digital Financial Services
Digital Transformation
Fintech
Feb 26, 2021
BAI Global Innovation Awards, the financial service industry’s most prestigious awards program, has recently recognized UBX, the fintech spinoff and venture capital unit of Union Bank of the Philippines, for its high-impact innovation especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now on its tenth year, the BAI celebrates new and innovative solutions in...
Fintech
Feb 24, 2021
Member HPD Lendscape, a leading international secured lending platform vendor, today announces ambitious expansion plans for its global workforce, building on 12% growth in personnel in 2020. The recruitment drive follows sustained global demand for HPD Lendscape’s technology, with the company winning 35 new clients and increasing revenue by 36%...
Feb 16, 2021
Washington D.C., February 16th, 2020.- Zalgroup joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide, through knowledge exchange and innovation. “40 percent of small and...
Feb 16, 2021
2021 is a year full of new initiatives! At the SME Finance Forum, we are eager to introduce you to the largest community of SME practitioners and C-Suite leaders in SME Banking. We know that organizing events is a time-consuming task. However, sponsoring one of our events may be the easiest way to be present and be heard by your target audience...
Covid-19
Feb 08, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in the beginning of 2020 brought a significant impact to the society and especially for Indonesian SMEs, which is said to be the backbone of the country’s economy. Looking at the important role of SMEs in Indonesia, Investree, as a pioneer in fintech lending which is now becoming into an integrated digital...
Equity
Gender Finance
Jan 28, 2021
The devastating economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic is amplifying existing inequalities, which may be felt for years to come. Entrepreneurship is no exception. Even before the pandemic, there was a stark gap between access to capital for female-led entrepreneurs and their male counterparts. It’s only gotten worse in the past year. A recent...
Digital Transformation
Payments
Jan 27, 2021
PPRO , the global provider of local payments infrastructure, is working with Banking Circle, the ground-breaking financial infrastructure provider, to enhance the PPRO service offering, supporting PSPs working with cross border e-commerce merchants. The partnership underlines the effectiveness of Banking Circle as a next-generation provider of...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Jan 26, 2021
Unified registration mechanism to use movable property, rights as collateral China has established a unified national financing registration system that uses movable property and rights as pledges, which is expected to increase loans for small and medium-sized enterprises and improve the overall business environment. The unified system has been...
Gender Finance
Jan 26, 2021
First City Monument Bank, a foremost financial services provider in Nigeria, has continued her aggressive drive and support for the Small and Medium Enterprises sector in the country. The bank, which was recently voted as the Best SME Bank in Africa, thereby consolidating its position as the dominant financial institution in the segment, has made...
Guarantees
Jan 25, 2021
Triodos Fair Share Fund and Triodos Microfinance Fund have provided a EUR 5 million debt facility to Lovćen banka in Montenegro, which largely targets small and family businesses. Rosanna Sarkeyeva, Regional Manager for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia: “This transaction supports Lovćen banka’s strategy to increase its outreach to...
Financial Inclusion
Jan 20, 2021
Medical Credit Fund reached a disbursement milestone of $100 million in capital. As the only fund fully dedicated to the African health sector, its support has been critical for the continuation and improvement of care in many sub-Saharan regions, especially in the past crisis year. The Corona pandemic has put private facilities under increased...
Guarantees
Jan 19, 2021
Triodos Fair Share Fund and Triodos Microfinance Fund have provided a EUR 3 million debt facility to AraratBank, one of the leading financial institutions in the Armenian banking sector. This facility will enable AraratBank to further expand its outreach to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Rosanna Sarkeyeva, Regional Manager for Europe,...
Financial Inclusion
Jan 14, 2021
Fellow member Ant Financial has a very exciting program (cosponsored by IFC ) called 10x1000, intended to develop new fintech leaders for financial inclusion across emerging markets. The “ 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion Program ” is an open platform that encourages technology innovation and communication for future digital leaders. The program will...
Policy & Regulation
Jan 13, 2021
Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDBG) joins the SME Finance Forum global network to enhance coordination with international institutions for more impactful interventions benefiting its member countries and the Muslim communities worldwide . Washington D.C., January 13th, 2021 - Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDBG) , including ICIEC, IRTI, ISFD...
Fintech
Dec 18, 2020
Washington D.C. December 18th, 2020 - Business finance marketplace Funding Options has joined the SME Finance Forum global membership network. Small and mid-sized businesses are the lifeblood of the UK economy and will play a pivotal role in driving economic recovery with access to capital central to that. As the UK adapts to a tiered system of...
Dec 17, 2020
Washington D.C., December 18th, 2020 - SunTrust Bank joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide, through knowledge exchange and innovation. “40 percent of small and...
Sustainable Finance
Dec 17, 2020
Washington D.C., December 17th, 2020 - We are excited to share that Investree joined the SME Finance Forum global membership network. The Forum brings together development financial institutions, banks, and fintechs from around the world to support SMEs through knowledge exchange, policy change, and impactful partnerships. “When we started in 2012...
Dec 08, 2020
Washington D.C., December 8th, 2020 - First Bank Nigeria Limited ( FirstBank ) joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide, through knowledge exchange and innovation...
Policy & Regulation
Credit Risk & Scoring
Nov 30, 2020
Washington D.C., November 30th, 2020 - We are pleased to welcome SMERA to the SME Finance Forum. Our global membership network consists of leading financial institutions, innovative financial technologies companies, and development finance institutions who come together to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of small and...
Islamic Banking
Nov 20, 2020
Washington D.C., November 20, 2020 - We are excited to share that the Islamic Corporation for the Development of The Private Sector ( ICD ), the private sector development arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group , has joined the SME Finance Forum (Forum) global membership network. The Forum brings together development financial...
Nov 03, 2020
Washington D.C., November 3rd, 2020- vcita joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide, through knowledge exchange and innovation. “40 percent of small and medium...
Nov 02, 2020
Washington D.C. 28 de octubre de 2020 . El Banco BHD León se unió a la red global de miembros del SME Finance Forum (Foro de Financiamiento para Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas, en español) para seguir apoyando a las pymes de República Dominicana. El Foro agrupa grandes empresas a nivel mundial con el propósito de promover servicios multibancarios...
Financial Education
Oct 24, 2020
Washington DC, October October 27th, 2020 — The SME Finance Forum announced the winners of the 2 020 Global SME Finance Forum Award s today during the Global SME Finance Forum 2020 Virtual Conference . Check the list of winners here> https://www.smefinanceforum.org/awards-2020 Organized by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) , a member...
Covid-19
Oct 24, 2020
SME Finance Forum presents the 2020 Global SME Finance Forum Virtual Conference on October 26-28, with more than 1800+ senior executives from commercial banks, development finance institutions, fintech companies, regulators, and featuring exhibition booths, fireside chats, fintech pitches, virtual tours, and much more. The Global SME Finance...
Digital Financial Services
Oct 23, 2020
Washington D.C., October 23rd, 2020 - We welcome Polymath Ventures to the SME Finance Forum global membership network. Our network consists of SME financing leaders from around the world who come together to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of small and underserved businesses. “At SME Finance Forum we are committed to...
Oct 19, 2020
Washington D.C., October 19th,2020 - We’re excited to share that BHD Leon joined the SME Finance Forum global membership network. The Forum brings together development financial institutions, banks, and fintechs from around the world to support SMEs through knowledge exchange, policy change, and impactful partnerships. “When we started in 2012, we...
Oct 16, 2020
Washington D.C., October 16, 2020- Beehive joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide, through knowledge exchange and innovation. “40 percent of small and medium...
Oct 01, 2020
Washington D.C., October 1st, 2020 - Banco Atlántida joins the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 80+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide, through knowledge exchange and innovation. “40 percent of small and...
Sep 29, 2020
Washington D.C., September 29th, 2020 - We welcome RootAnt to the SME Finance Forum global membership network. Our network consists of SME financing leaders from around the world who come together to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of small and underserved businesses. “At SME Finance Forum we are committed to helping small...
Covid-19
Sep 28, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage economies around the world, our member FSD Kenya is steering forward to measure the economic impact of the situation on low-income Kenyans and smaller businesses. As a significant institution in the region, their efforts play a pivotal role in helping the financial sector develop policies and solutions...
Sep 23, 2020
The SME Finance Forum's "Fireside Chat" is a new series of one-on-one interviews with CEOs, senior executives of financial institutions and technology companies as well as financial sector regulators. The series focuses on a wide range of critical issues that matter to development and growth of MSMEs around the world. The invited guests will share...
Digital Financial Services
Sep 21, 2020
On the 5th Anniversary of our network, we thank our founding members for their invaluable support SMEs play a pivotal role in building economies and supporting job creation and innovation – yet most struggle to get the financing they require to grow. This is why the G20 countries, in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, decided to create...
Digital Transformation
Sep 18, 2020
Member Banking Circle announced on September 9th, 2020 that it is tackling the compliance and reconciliation issues often faced in global B2B payments with its new Payments on Behalf of (POBO) and Collections on Behalf of (COBO) solutions. Available globally through SWIFT, Faster Payments, CHAPS, SEPA and local clearing, the Banking Circle POBO...
Sep 17, 2020
Washington D.C., September 17th, 2020 - We welcome Rong360 Jianpu Technology (NYSE:JT) to the SME Finance Forum global membership network. Our network consists of SME financing leaders from around the world who come together to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of small and underserved businesses. “At SME Finance Forum we...
Sep 15, 2020
Washington D.C., September 15th - AfreximBank joins the SME Finance Forum as the 200th member of our global membership network. Our members are SME Financing experts from 190+ countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide, through knowledge exchange and innovation. “40 percent of small and medium...
Sep 14, 2020
Washington D.C., September 14th - We’re excited to share that MIB Network Limited , a subsidiary of Mobvista, joined the SME Finance Forum global membership network. The Forum brings together development financial institutions, banks, and fintechs from around the world to support SMEs through knowledge exchange, policy change, and impactful...
Digital Financial Services
Sep 11, 2020
Washington D.C., September 11th, 2020 - We welcome TrueMoney to the SME Finance Forum global membership network. Our network consists of SME financing leaders from around the world who come together to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of small and underserved businesses. “At SME Finance Forum we are committed to helping...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Sep 03, 2020
Washington D.C., September 3rd, 2020 - We’re excited to share that Prime Bank joined the SME Finance Forum global membership network. We bring together development financial institutions, banks, and fintechs from around the world to support SMEs through knowledge exchange, policy change, and impactful partnerships. “When we started in 2012, we...
Aug 27, 2020
Washington D.C., August 27th, 2020 - We’re excited to share that AGFUND is the newest member of the SME Finance Forum. We bring together development financial institutions, banks, and fintechs from around the world to support SMEs through knowledge exchange, policy change, and impactful partnerships. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Digital Financial Services
Aug 25, 2020
Washington D.C., August 25th, 2020 - We’re excited to share that HPD LendScape has joined the SME Finance Forum global membership network. The Forum brings together development financial institutions, banks, and fintechs from around the world to support SMEs through knowledge exchange, policy change, and impactful partnerships. “When we started in...
Covid-19
Digital Financial Services
Aug 19, 2020
We are thrilled to announce that the nomination committee of the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) , an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), chaired by Baybars Altuntas, has unanimously selected the SME Finance Forum CEO, Matt Gamser, to join the Executive Committee of the Ethical Governance...
Digital Financial Services
Aug 17, 2020
American Express today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire substantially all of Kabbage , a leading financial technology company providing cash flow management solutions to small businesses in the U.S. The transaction represents an important step toward American Express’ goal of being an essential partner to small businesses...
Aug 10, 2020
Washington D.C., August 10th, 2020 - We’re excited to share that Salt Edge is the newest member of the SME Finance Forum. We bring together development financial institutions, banks, and fintechs from around the world to support SMEs through knowledge exchange, policy change, and impactful partnerships. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Aug 04, 2020
Washington, D.C., August 4th, 2020 – Retail Capital became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Jul 31, 2020
Washington, D.C., July 31st, 2020 – FNB became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum , a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses worldwide...
Policy & Regulation
Jul 29, 2020
Each year, our member BDC (Canada’s Business Development Bank) submits its annual report to the Parliament of Canada. It outlines BDC’s activities and achievements and includes its Consolidated Financial Statements as well as messages from the Chairperson of the Board of Directors and from the President and CEO. Some numbers: 62,000 entrepreneurs...
Jul 28, 2020
Washington D.C., July 28th, 2020 - We’re excited to share that Lucy joined the SME Finance Forum global membership network. The Forum brings together development financial institutions, banks, and fintechs from around the world to support SMEs through knowledge exchange, policy change, and impactful partnerships. “When we started in 2012, we were...
Digital Financial Services
Jul 09, 2020
Washington D.C., July 9th, 2020 - We’re happy to announce that Baobab Group joined the SME Finance Forum global membership network. The Forum brings together development financial institutions, banks, and fintechs from around the world to support SMEs through knowledge exchange, policy change, and impactful partnerships. “At SME Finance Forum we...
Financial Education
Jul 07, 2020
Eight members of the SME Finance Forum won the IFC's 9th-Annual Trade Awards , which recognize the most successful partner banks that have been active under IFC’s Trade Finance Program in 2019. 47 winners were selected based on a competitive process amidst a total network of over 500 banks. “ We’re proud of the contributions our members make each...
Jul 06, 2020
2020 Global SME Finance Forum – First Ever Virtual Edition The Global SME Finance Forum Conference is the largest, most technically in-depth, and geographically diverse conference on SME financing hosted around the world each year. Our events attract over 700 leaders from commercial banks, development finance institutions, fintech companies, as...
Financial Education
Jul 01, 2020
Washington D.C., July 1st, 2020 - We’re excited to share that Funding Societies joined the SME Finance Forum global membership network. The Forum brings together development financial institutions, banks, and fintechs from around the world to support SMEs through knowledge exchange, policy change, and impactful partnerships. “When we started in...
![[Member News] PayPal pledges over $500 million to support minority-owned U.S. businesses](https://smefinanceforum.org/sites/default/files/styles/720x486/public/PayPal-India-Expansion-Ecommerce.jpg?itok=7mHx0aw8 "[Member News] PayPal pledges over $500 million to support minority-owned U.S. businesses")
Jun 17, 2020
Member PayPal Holdings Inc said on Thursday it was pledging $530 million to support black and minority-owned businesses in the United States and foster diversity, amid worldwide protests over racial injustice. $500 million will be devoted to the creation of an economic opportunity fund that will invest in black and under-represented minority...
Jun 08, 2020
Washington, D.C., June 8th, 2020 – Farmerline became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum , a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Covid-19
Jun 01, 2020
A group of more than 25 development finance institutions (DFIs) including IFC - International Finance Corporation is scaling up cooperation in response to COVID-19. They have committed to provide and mobilize billions of dollars of funding to help the private sector deliver critical healthcare supplies, ensure micro, small, and medium businesses...
Digital Financial Services
May 19, 2020
Washington, D.C., May 19th, 2020 – nanopay Corporation became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum , a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium...
Covid-19
May 07, 2020
Member Proparco and IFC have agreed to collaborate more closely to create markets, mobilize private sector investment, and support economic recovery in developing countries in the wake of the COVID-19 global crisis. The agreement addresses a full range of collaboration activities with an emphasis on three key areas. First, it details the approach...
Covid-19
May 01, 2020
Member CreditEnable launched the “We Move Forward” initiative designed to help SMEs keep their businesses safe during the COVID-19 crisis. Offering free financial health checks and access to working capital loans, CreditEnable plans to provide 600,000 SMEs with this free service over the next month. Speaking about the initiative, CreditEnable CEO...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Mar 31, 2020
Washington, D.C., March 31th, 2020 – AB Bank Zambia became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Fintech
Mar 30, 2020
CRIF signs agreement for the acquisition of 100% of Strands Inc. to create a worldwide digital solutions provider for Open Banking business. Already partners for financial management solutions, both companies have invested in advanced Open Banking and Digital Economy solutions. The combination between Strands and CRIF will create a strong...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Mar 27, 2020
Washington, D.C., March 27th, 2020 – SimpleCredit became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Digital Financial Services
Mar 26, 2020
In the spirit of #stayathome for COVID-19 response, member CashDirector has developed a very simple and pragmatic solution for MSMs, based on their Platform. DocTransfer is a platform for customers to enable a remote, secure exchange of invoices and documents with their accountant. Business owners do not need to endanger their own or the...
Mar 17, 2020
Dear Members and Friends, We stand with our global community to support good public health practices and while we ourselves work remotely, per world bank group policy, we will continue to serve our membership through virtual means. We are still proceeding with the preparation for our annual conference and immersion programs, as planned. We are...
Mar 11, 2020
The SME Finance Forum is proud to announce the launch of the third annual competition of the Global SME Finance Awards 2020 , an initiative that recognizes financial institutions and Fintech companies for their outstanding achievements in serving SME clients with exceptional products and services. Endorsed by the G20 Global Partnership for...
Mar 11, 2020
Washington, D.C., March 12th, 2020 – FCMB Group , First City Monument Bank Limited, became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent...
Gender Finance
Mar 09, 2020
In 2019, the SME Finance Forum launched its second annual competition of the Global SME Finance Awards competition. The Global SME Finance Awards were created by IFC and the SME Finance Forum to celebrate the exceptional achievements of financial institutions and fintech companies in client delivery for SMEs. The awards are endorsed by the G20...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Mar 04, 2020
Washington, D.C., March 5th, 2020 – Lidya became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses worldwide...
Digital Transformation
Mar 03, 2020
Washington, D.C., March 3rd, 2020 – Banking Circle has become the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Feb 25, 2020
Join us on on October 26-28, 2020 for our 2020 Global SME Finance Forum Conference , this year on our Virtual Edition . The theme of this year's Global SME Finance Forum is "SME Finance Outlook 2030" . To celebrate the new decade, we will look much further forward to imagine where we might be in SME financing a decade from now. Over 700 senior...
Digital Financial Services
Feb 25, 2020
Two SME Finance Forum Industry Partners, ACCIS (Association of Consumer Credit Information Suppliers), and FEBIS (Federation of Business Information Services), signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a framework for co-operation to work on joint policy positions, outreach and joint promotions. Read more>
Digital Financial Services
Feb 20, 2020
Washington, D.C., February 20th, 2020 – WeBank became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Feb 12, 2020
To celebrate the new decade, this year’s Global SME Finance Forum will look much farther forward, to imagine where we might be in SME financing a decade from now. We will test the limits of our prescience by predicting how products, delivery channels, institutions and enabling environments might look 10 years from now. Following our practice of...
Feb 10, 2020
Washington, D.C., February 10th, 2020 – FinDev Canada became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Financial Education
Feb 05, 2020
Queen’s University is offering its cutting-edge program on Financial Institutions for Private Enterprise Growth (FIPEG) for professionals who wish to learn about the latest innovations and strategies in the area of small and medium enterprise (SME) finance. Based on international best practices, this two-week program provides professionals with...
Digital Transformation
Feb 05, 2020
Washington, D.C., February 5rd, 2020 – Tyme Global became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Digital Financial Services
Feb 03, 2020
Member AlRaedah Finance and Geidea Solutions team up to provide POS financing across the Kingdom 31st January 2020 -- Riyadh -- AlRaedah Finance and Geidea Solutions today signed a collaboration agreement for providing Point of Sale (POS) financing to SME’s across the Kingdom. Representing AlRaedah Finance, Paul Melotto, AlRaedah CEO and Abdulaziz...
Digital Financial Services
Jan 29, 2020
The SME Finance Forum’s immersion visit to Wells Fargo , a member of the Forum, was successfully organized and held on January 22-23, 2020 in San Francisco, California with the participation of 12 representatives from seven institutions and five countries, namely BRAC Bank, Equity Bank, PhilipBank, PPCBank, Accion, Acremac, and Experian. I was...
Digital Financial Services
Jan 28, 2020
Washington, D.C., January 28th, 2020 – Fintech Group became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Jan 13, 2020
Washington, D.C., January 13th, 2020 – Ipoteka Bank became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Jan 07, 2020
Washington, D.C., January 7th, 2020 – Creditinfo became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Jan 06, 2020
Washington, D.C., January 6, 2020 – Phongsavanh Bank became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses...
Digital Financial Services
Nov 13, 2019
Washington, D.C., November 13, 2019 – Fractal Labs has joined the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “40 percent of small and medium businesses worldwide struggle...
Digital Financial Services
Sep 12, 2019
Washington, D.C., September 12th, 2019 – ESAF Small Finance Bank became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “200 million businesses...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Digital Financial Services
Sep 09, 2019
Member CreditEase, a Beijing-based leading FinTech conglomerate in China, announced today that its CreditEase FinTech Investment Fund (CEFIF), participated in the recent $10 million Series A funding round of Railsbank, a London-based Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform that promises to give technology companies access to financial services using...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Digital Financial Services
Digital Transformation
Sep 09, 2019
REGISTRATION OPEN NOW! Under the theme “The Convergence of the Real and Financial Sectors in SME Finance” , the Global SME Finance Forum 2019 will examine the different ways in which the real sector has entered the SME finance space, and the various ways in which financiers and regulators are coping with the “new kids on the block.” This year we...
Digital Financial Services
Sep 05, 2019
Washington, D.C., September 5th, 2019 – MIZA became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “200 million businesses worldwide need financing to...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Aug 29, 2019
Washington, D.C., August 29th, 2019 – Kabbage has joined the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “200 million businesses worldwide need financing to invest, grow and...
Aug 06, 2019
Washington, D.C., August 6th, 2019 – Alpha Bank Romania became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “200 million businesses worldwide need...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Jul 30, 2019
Washington, D.C., July 29th, 2019 – INBONIS RATING became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. “200 million businesses worldwide need...
Jul 09, 2019
Member Mastercard and ING Turkey have partnered to allow MSMEs to use their android smart phones as POS devices. In order to accept card payments through their mobile devices, merchants have to be ING customers and will need to download ING application.
Non Financial Services
Jun 03, 2019
The members of the SME Finance Forum now have access to a member-only portal available through our main website! On that new space, members can explore exclusive content such as event proceedings, webinar write-ups, publications and blogs. The intranet is the perfect space to explore more in-depth all the knowledge products we have compiled for...
Non Financial Services
Policy & Regulation
Credit Risk & Scoring
Digital Financial Services
Digital Transformation
Mar 13, 2019
The SME Finance Forum LinkedIn provides an opportunity for financial experts to view the latest news, reports, data and discussions regarding the SME finance field. The group is comprised of more than 11,000 bank executives, investors, advisory service providers and financial technology experts, who share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote...
Financial Education
Oct 28, 2018
SME Finance Forum member, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will invest US $50 million a year towards, tourism, infrastructure, transportation, ports, roads, as well as in the financial sector projects in Jamaica. The investment is through IDB’s invest arm, according to the article, IDB Invest. “This latest expanded financial framework from...
Non Financial Services
Fintech
Oct 18, 2018
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank and SME Finance Forum member, Ant Financial Services Group (Ant Financial), operator of Alipay, have collaborated to offer 10X1000 Tech for Inclusion Programme. The initiative is aimed to increase support for tech leaders working to eliminate poverty and provide basic...
Equity
Gender Finance
Sustainable Finance
Oct 05, 2018
SME Finance Forum member, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has collaborated with the and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group to launch the first gender-focused fund for Latin America and the Caribbean. The investment, ‘Fund Mujer’ is for up to $200 million and will be made up of 30 percent debt and 70 percent equity,...
Non Financial Services
Gender Finance
Sep 14, 2018
Itaú Unibanco will provide a online course entitled, “Plano de crescimento: como transformar negócios em sucesso,” (Growth plan: how to turn business into success) to support women entrepreneurs. In partnership with the IFC and EDUK, a widely known learning platform in Brazil, Itaú Unibanco will develop and provide the course for free, according...
Non Financial Services
Youth Entrepreneurship
Policy & Regulation
Jun 29, 2018
Leading retail bank, Diamond Bank Plc has once again demonstrated its passion for supporting small businesses by rewarding finalists of the seventh season of the Building Entrepreneurs Today (BET) programme with N15million grant. Ikenna Ubah, Tope Alake, Jumoke Dada, Bayo Ojelabi and Osagie Azeta emerged winners of the grants having displayed...
Apr 12, 2018
The Marketplace will provide an opportunity for financial institutions and other Africa SME Finance Forum participants to have 15-minute one-on-one introductory meetings with investors, advisory service providers and financial technology companies. Follow those four simple steps to request a meeting: Download the ‘SME Finance' App for free from...
Digital Financial Services
Digital Transformation
Apr 05, 2018
The Africa SME Finance Forum 2018 will examine the key challenges faced by MSMEs in Africa, and explore innovative local and global best practice solutions to promote youth entrepreneurship and enhance access to financing for MSMEs. The TechPitch will be held in the afternoon of May 15, and will provide an opportunity for innovative fintechs to...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Digital Financial Services
Digital Transformation
Apr 01, 2018
The Africa SME Finance Forum 2018 will examine the key challenges faced by MSMEs in Africa, and explore innovative local and global best practice solutions to promote youth entrepreneurship and enhance access to financing for MSMEs. The Marketplace, an exclusive opportunity for B2B introductory meetings, had over 100 participants at the Global SME...
Financial Education
Islamic Banking
Dec 13, 2017
SME Finance Forum member The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) has entered into an agreement with BSIC Niger to finance SMEs in Niger. Khaled Al-Aboodi CEO of ICD and Abakar Adoum, Managing Director of BSIC, signed the Line of financing agreement for the amount of 9 million euro under the Wakala structure or...
Financial Education
Non Financial Services
Gender Finance
Oct 04, 2017
Türk Ekonomi Bankası (TEB) Women Banking recently expanded its strong non-financial services offering to include two capacity building programs for Turkish women SME owners: TEB Star Cluster and TEB Grow-up Academy. With TEB Star Cluster, its Women Banking program is partnering with a coaching firm to train branch managers on business coaching...
Non Financial Services
Gender Finance
Youth Entrepreneurship
Governance
Jul 21, 2017
Skills training and technological tools will be provided to 1,000 young coffee farmers in areas of Colombia that were previously affected by conflict. The initiative was launched in partnership Starbucks and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This is one part of a range of measures which the coffee chain says forms...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Jun 16, 2017
SME Finance Forum 's annual flagship event, to be held on 1-3 November in Berlin, Germany, will bring 400+ senior executives from commercial banks, development finance institutions, fintech companies, as well as regulators to focus on leveraging digital banking to serve MSME. The Marketplace , an exclusive opportunity for B2B introductory meetings...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Feb 15, 2017
KfW Group and GRENKE AG have signed a global loan agreement for lease finance with a volume of EUR 100 million at KfW's offices in Frankfurt am Main. This allows SMEs, the self-employed and start-ups throughout Germany to benefit from the attractive leasing conditions being offered by GRENKE AG and KfW for new acquisitions. Wolfgang Grenke, CEO of...
Equity
Jan 09, 2017
Regulatory changes at the beginning of 2016 opened equity crowdfunding up to more Canadian companies and retail investors. In the months since, a number of startups and growing ventures have sold small stakes to the public via online portals, though restrictions on interprovincial dealings mean they’ve largely used existing exemptions rather than...
Fintech
Dec 29, 2016
Steven Renwick, CEO of business finance firm Satago, explains how a new breed of FinTechs has emerged to transform the SME funding landscape. Disruptive innovation designed to break the stranglehold of dominant business models shows no signs of abating. Netflix, Amazon, Uber and Airbnb are the doyens of the on-demand economy as we know it today,...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Dec 21, 2016
Bank Zachodni WBK in Poland (Santander Group) is developing and offering non-financial services to its SME customers very actively. Bank has a really strong range of tools to support small business growth: Online Portal for SME customers called Firmowe Ewolucje (Company’s Evolution) The following services are available on the Portal: 1. Online...
Aug 15, 2016
The Global SME Finance Forum 2016 will take place in Beijing, China from September 19-21. This annual flagship event of the SME Finance Forum will bring several hundred senior bankers, fintechs, development bankers and policymakers together to discuss the latest trends, witness demonstrations of fintechs and consider specific investment and...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Jul 12, 2016
Typically, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) transacting global business face the strongest obstacles in accessing financing on affordable terms. Around the world, SME business leaders point to the availability of finance as a major barrier to their capacity to trade. This finance gap is of particular concern because SMEs are a leading...
Fintech
Apr 27, 2016
Marketplace lender Lendix has acquired short term loan specialist Finsquare. Lendix, the largest marketplace lending platform in France, said that Finsquare’s product addressed a “real demand for lenders and borrowers alike.” The acquisition was viewed as highly complementary to the Lendix platform – an online lender that already services multiple...
Alternative Financing
Fintech
Feb 26, 2016
At the Continuum SF Innovation and Credit Conference in San Francisco I recently attended, those present listened to a solid lineup of speakers discuss business development and more in SF and across the Pacific in China. Speakers included SF Mayor Ed Lee; Rob Suber, president of Prosper Marketplace; Rob Conway, founder and investor, Salesforce;...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Feb 03, 2016
Diamond Bank Plc has been named and awarded the Best Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Bank in West Africa by the famous Banker Magazine in the 2015 West Africa Awards. The Bank also emerged as the Best Microfinance Bank in West Africa. According to the awarding institution, the awards are in recognition of the Bank’s high value addition to the...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Oct 22, 2015
Last Monday and Thursday, 12-13 October, SME Banking Club organized CEE SME Banking Conference in Warsaw. During these two days, all participants shared their best practices and experience in SME Banking and specifically in non-financial services and digital solutions for SMEs.
Sep 25, 2015
The SME Finance Forum was proud to partner with IIC to organize the FINPYME Forum , which brought together over 400 leaders from financial institutions, government, civil society and academia. Representatives from 42 countries, gathered in Medellin, Colombia 21-22 September 2015, to exchange ideas on how to expand access to finance for small...
May 31, 2015
Izmir, Turkey, June 1, 2015 – Leading FinTech companies are joining a G20-supported workshop in Turkey this week to showcase innovations in technology and big data that are helping small businesses get better access to credit. Several of these FinTech firms are new members of the SME Finance Forum. Established by the G-20 Global Partnership for...
Gender Finance
May 20, 2015
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA ) will hold its inaugural Global Conference on Women and Entrepreneurship on May 20-21 in Hangzhou, China at the Dragon Hotel. The goal of the conference is to spark dialogue and action on what can be done to encourage more women to pursue their professional and personal ambitions. The more than 500...
Mar 24, 2015
FinovateSpring 2015 (May 12 & 13, San Jose) is right around the corner, and the presenter lineup has just been announced ! In Finovate fashion , each of these 72 hot young startups & leading established companies will have just 7 minutes on stage to demo their best, new fintech. It’s sure to be an exciting event, and we hope you’ll join us...
Alternative Financing
Mar 19, 2015
Symbid , one of the first investment crowdfunding platforms worldwide, today announced the launch of The Funding Network . Based in the Netherlands, the birthplace of the world's first stock market, Symbid has launched a go-to platform connecting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to all types of funding, traditional and alternative. The...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Jan 20, 2015
Recognising that small businesses find it hard to get affordable funding, the Chinese government is encouraging the formation of new banks to focus on lending to this sector. Early this month, the first trial loan was advanced by one of these banks, and five other new banks have been granted licences, including an affiliate of e-commerce giant...
Gender Finance
Nov 17, 2014
In Uganda, there has been a call for a women’s bank. A cross-section of women have called upon the government to provide a bank that will handle the financing of their large and small scale businesses.
Credit Risk & Scoring
Oct 17, 2014
Spotcap is the new innovative online credit platform providing fast and flexible financing to small businesses. The company’s mission is to enable business owners to invest and grow without having to worry about how to finance their projects. Applying for Spotcap’s credit lines takes as little as five minutes making it the fastest online credit.
Gender Finance
Oct 03, 2014
When it comes to small business startups in the United States, women entrepreneurs are increasingly leading the way. According to the American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Business report, last year women started a whopping 1,200 new businesses a day—up substantially from the already-impressive 740 a day the year before. In case you’re still...
Financial Education
Sep 02, 2014
The Token Administration Platform, or TAP, is an e-voucher scheme that uses the latest tablet and smartcard technology to change the way the Nigerian government collects data and delivers benefits to its citizens. Its use of near field communication (NFC) technology is revolutionizing agricultural development in rural Nigeria.
Policy & Regulation
Aug 29, 2014
Alibaba, working with Bank of China, China Merchants Bank, China Construction Bank and other banks, is offering big data-based unsecured credit loans of up to 10 million yuan for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) using Alibaba Onetouch's basic export services. This is the first time ever that banks provide unsecured loans for SME based on...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Aug 05, 2014
The European Union has announced that funding worth €7.75 million will be given to 155 small and medium-sized enterprises from 21 countries, including Israel and Turkey, for innovation studies. The SME Instrument is worth €3 billion over seven years and is part of "Horizon 2020", the EU's biggest ever research and innovation framework with a seven...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Aug 04, 2014
Consumer and business finance company afb has launched an innovative Business Cash Advance product for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya. A first of its kind, the product offers eligible SMEs unsecured cash advances of up to Kshs 5 million, to help them with working capital for their business growth and expansion. The product will go a...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Jul 31, 2014
Until 15 July 2014, financial institutions had been invited to apply for the "SME Finance Innovation Award", hold by DEG. Overall, 34 finance institutions applied (Asia 11, Africa 8, Latin America 6, Europe 5, supraregional 4), 12 of them being DEG customers. The "SME Finance Innovation Award" honours innovative finance products, services and...
Gender Finance
Jul 24, 2014
Women entrepreneurs have steadily emerged as leading contenders among new business start ups. Although statistics show that the rate of women starting businesses has significantly increased over the years, women entrepreneurs are still experiencing undercapitalization. To amend this issue, programs such as the Women-Owned Small Business Federal...
Financial Education
Non Financial Services
Gender Finance
Jul 14, 2014
In 2011, Ecom in conjunction with IFC, scaled up its farmer training programs in both Indonesia and Vietnam to increase productivity, sustainability, and to improve the quality of their coffee beans. When the training centers opened for business, there were hardly any female coffee farmers in attendance. On investigation, the project team found...
Financial Education
Gender Finance
Jun 30, 2014
One innovative example of improving rural supply chain challenges through the use of mobile phones can be found in Gujarat, a highly entrepreneurial state in India. Here, the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), the Vodafone Foundation in India and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women have joined hands to develop a mobile-based Management...
Credit Risk & Scoring
May 14, 2014
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is to invest in a private equity fund to help SMEs in the West Bank and Gaza gain access to the finance they need to grow and create jobs. IFC’s equity investment of up to $3 million in the Palestine Growth Capital Fund, which is managed by The Abraaj Group, will help provide long-term financing to SMEs...
May 14, 2014
The SME Finance Innovation Award is specifically designed to honor financial institutions for innovative products, services and distribution channels in SME Finance. Three European Development Finance Institutions – German DEG, Dutch FMO and French Proparco – invite financial institutions to submit applications to the award which aims at...
Credit Risk & Scoring
May 12, 2014
Oman has launched a new national fund for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), adding new impetus to the government's efforts to nurture a strong entrepreneurial culture among youngsters in the Sultanate. The SME Development Fund (also known as Al Namaa Fund) has been set up with a capital of RO 100 million, a key executive...
Gender Finance
May 07, 2014
Zambian Central Bank Deputy Governor Dr. Tukiya Kankasa-Mabula notes that the creation of a women's bank is an initiative that will boost financial inclusion. In an interview in Lusaka, Kankasa-Mabula revealed that an initiative to establish a women's bank was being developed and driven by private sector Zambian businesswomen, and was intended to...
Credit Risk & Scoring
May 01, 2014
The Tanzania based CRDB Bank Group has signed a loan deal with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for $75 million for women SMEs. CRDB Managing Director, Dr. Charles Kimei and IFC’s Vice President for sub-Saharan Africa, Jean Philippe Prosper signed the agreement recently which will also support farmers and agribusiness. The comprehensive...
Gender Finance
Apr 17, 2014
While the majority of people in Zimbabwe are grappling with severe power outages, a microfinance institution has launched a program to provide economic opportunities for women. Using solar energy initiatives, the Zimbabwe Resources Foundation has given solar kits to 100 women entrepreneurs in various communities in Manicaland. The kits include...
Gender Finance
Apr 14, 2014
Keshala Jayawardena, the Chairperson of the Regional Development Bank (RDB) of Sri Lanka has noted that a loan scheme launched especially to encourage female entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka to be self-sufficient has been a success. According to Jayawardena, the Bank has made arrangements to grant loans to 50 female entrepreneurs from each of its 267...
Financial Education
Non Financial Services
Apr 09, 2014
Bank Alfalah and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have launched the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) Toolkit in Pakistan. It is an online solutions platform, which provides value-added resources, including business advice, local and global best practices and opportunities, to both existing and potential SMEs to grow and improve their...
Policy & Regulation
Credit Risk & Scoring
Apr 07, 2014
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Asia, including the Philippines, need better access to finance to grow and generate badly needed new jobs for the region, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. Noritaka Akamatsu, deputy head of ADB's Office of Regional Economic Integration, noted that most of Asia's smaller firms are faced...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Apr 07, 2014
Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka account for 80% - 90% of the total number of enterprises, and the development of the sector is the key for resilient national economies, says the Asian Development Bank. Sourcing the facts to the Annual Report of the Ministry of Finance and Planning 2012, the inaugural edition of the Asia SME...
Gender Finance
Mar 26, 2014
China's first venture capital (VC) fund focused on solely female entrepreneurship - the Wuhan Cybernaut Women's Innovation Entrepreneurship Venture Capital Fund - has been established in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province. The fund was co-planned and launched by the Wuhan Women's Federation and Silicon Valley-backed Cybernaut (China...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Mar 14, 2014
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has awarded the Amsterdam-based Medical Credit Fund one of its first-ever Impact Awards for financing health care in Africa. In a ceremony held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., Medical Credit Fund received the OPIC Impact Award in the category Access to Finance for providing...
Gender Finance
Mar 03, 2014
While the Indian government launched the country’s first state-owned bank for women just a few months ago, in the western state of Maharashtra, women have had their own bank for more than a decade. Chetna Gala Sinha founded Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank–India’s first rural cooperative bank for women–back in 1997. It has since grown to become the...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Feb 27, 2014
Entering the Year of the Horse, the pace to give more credit support to the development of SMEs continues quickening. However, the problem of SMEs' financing difficulty cannot be solved by banks only. Seen from the international experiences and the developing trend of SMEs financing in China, more direct financing modes are in urgent need...
Financial Education
Feb 25, 2014
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2014 is expected to be slightly higher than of that in 2013, at around 6%. This growth, coupled with the more than one billion consumers on the continent who spend $600-billion annually, as well as having the fastest growing middle class in the world, and...
Gender Finance
Feb 13, 2014
In a bid to support women entrepreneurs to run thriving businesses, Diamond Bank, a player in the retail banking space, has provided ICT training for women functioning within the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector. At the two day programme, which held at the Enterprise Development Centre of the Pan Atlantic University last week, the...
Gender Finance
Jan 06, 2014
After four months of business and management training, 94 students graduated from the 10th class of the 10000 Women Entrepreneurship Track Program for Chinese Women in China's capital city of Beijing on December 29, 2013. The program, jointly created by the School of Economics and Management of Tsinghua University (Tsinghua SEM) and the Hautes...
Gender Finance
Dec 10, 2013
WeXchange , a conference focused on women entrepreneurs in Latin America, is slated for Dec. 11-12 in Miami. In Latin America, women entrepreneurs represent a low percentage of the business community, in some places as low as 6 percent. Their low numbers mean they face more challenges than men in the region, mostly due to the lack of strong...
Alternative Financing
Dec 04, 2013
Out of the 14 teams that competed in the Accra Startup Weekend event, SliceBiz, a startup that is providing a web and mobile platform which connects entrepreneurs and investors for startups were declared winners of Startup Weekend Accra. SliceBiz proposes a disruptive way of giving individuals and investors the opportunity to ‘own a slice of a...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Nov 21, 2013
Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, yesterday launched a unique SME financing programme which addresses a long-felt requirement of entrepreneurs in Oman. The new facility broadens financial access and helps entrepreneurs overcome challenges arising from non-availability of collaterals for SME finance.
Islamic Banking
Nov 21, 2013
Credit Guarantee Corporation (CGC) expects to provide financing worth RM200 million to about 400 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) under its first Islamic Portfolio Guarantee (PG) Scheme, in collaboration with Standard Chartered Saadiq Bhd. CGC Managing Director Datuk Wan Azhar Wan Ahmad said the Islamic PG scheme will be executed based on...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Nov 18, 2013
An annual survey of banks in Latin America and the Caribbean regarding the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector shows overwhelming interest in SMEs as banking clients. Ninety-six percent of the 100 banks interviewed in 21 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean consider SMEs to be a strategic part of their business, and 92% have a...