News
Aug 14, 2018
Washington, D.C., August 14, 2018 – Basware 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...
Aug 14, 2018
The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth is using technology to help entrepreneurs grow their business. Micro-entrepreneurs are excluded from the traditional financial system due to their cash-based transaction system and are unable to build trust among financial institutions. According to the article, “As of 2017, 70 percent of women-owned...
Aug 10, 2018
The Common Wealth Bank of Australia (CBA) teams up with Amazon, Google, Salesforce, Mastercard, Phoria and UsTwo, to provide a program that encourages the use of digital technologies. The program aimed at SMEs in Victoria is geared toward helping them embrace innovation. The announcement was revealed at the Small Business Festival, where CBA is...
Aug 07, 2018
Washington, D.C., August 7, 2018 – DBS 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 invest...
Aug 03, 2018
The Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) now has the highest mobile phone loan, allowing their customers to borrow Sh3 million digitally. The Loop platform, received an upgrade and now allows customers to apply for loans. With default rates at less than ten percent, bank execs are more trusting to move in the direction of the mobile money movement.The...
Aug 02, 2018
SME Finance Forum member, the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a financing agreement worth €375 million with the National Bank of Egypt to fund SME investments. According to a release by EIB, the agreement is in line with the Economic Resilience Initiative, which promotes financial inclusion and the creation of sustainable employment...
Aug 02, 2018
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending its reach, offering women-led SMEs in Morocco financial literacy, marketing, leadership skills and e-commerce through their Women in Business Programme. According to the article, the program funded by the EU Initiative for Financial Inclusion has a goal to impact 200,000...
Jul 31, 2018
Thinking of starting your own business? An interactive game allows for new business owners to test the waters by creating their own business in a virtual world. “Every year SMEs are constrained through a combination of external pressures, lack of business experience and commercial acumen,” shared Hon. Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Social...
Jul 25, 2018
SME Finance Forum member The European Investment Fund (EIF) signed the first InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility agreement in Montenegro with Erste Bank AD Podgorica to support innovative SMEs. The InnovFin Agreement will protect 50 percent of each loan distributed by Erste Bank and is expected to trigger a total loan portfolio of up to €30 million. “...
Jul 25, 2018
SME Finance Forum member, BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPP AM) (the investment side of BNP Paribas) will offer investors access to the lending market for UK SMEs. The funds will invest in senior loans, to SMEs that have an annual turnover of less than €50 million. Head of UK sales, Philip Dawes shared, “The launch of this fund is therefore...