Financial Institution
All too often, despite their potential as a revenue source for banks, small businesses end up relying on banking services and products designed for consumers. Now two well-known SME Finance Forum members are offering banks digital cash management and commercial payment tools specifically designed for their small-to-midsize customers.
BBVA is Spain’s second largest bank and an innovative global financial group that provides financial services in more than 30 countries to 72 million customers, of which SMEs is a very important client segment. In recent years, the bank has reinvented itself as a digital business, and it aims to be as nimble as a fintech.
Bank of Palestine was established in 1960 to serve Palestinians of all socio-economic groups. With a network of 70 branches, 31 percent market share of deposits, 33 percent market share of loans and more than 890,000 customers, the bank serves retail, corporate, small and medium enterprises, microenterprises, and the Palestinian diaspora. The bank has been listed on the Palestine Exchange since 2005, and it is the second largest listed company.
EcoBank is known for its pan-African presence. Headquartered in Togo, it has operations in 36 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, 11 million customers and over 20,000 employees. Its scale and reach make it unusual among African banks and give it an advantage over competitors. But that scale and diversity has its drawbacks. When the bank took a look at how it was assessing risk in SME lending, it discovered it had 100 credit risk products, largely due to growth through acquisitions.
Nedbank Group is a bank holding company listed on the JSE Limited, with a market capitalisation of R137bn as at 31 December 2024. Nedbank is one of Africa’s largest banking groups, with operations in South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini, Mozambique, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, and offshore in the Isle of Man and Jersey. It also has representative offices in other Africa countries, including Kenya, and has key global financial centres to provide international banking services for SA-based multinational and high-net-worth clients in London and Dubai. The group is a diversified financial services provider, offering a wide range of wholesale and retail banking and financial services. Nedbank has maintained its level 1 BBBEE status for the past 7 years and rates in the top quartile of local and international banks on ESG scores.
Maya Bank, Inc. (Maya Bank) powers the digital banking experience of consumers and enterprises across the Maya family of products, including Maya all-in-one app, Maya Business, and Maya Center. As a pioneering digital bank, it is transforming how money works for Filipino consumers and MSMEs, through innovative and relevant financial services, including savings, deposits, and credit via Maya.
Yemen Microfinance Network (YMN) is an NGO co-funded by UNDP and SFD, serving as Yemen's microfinance institutions association. YMN includes over 80% of microfinance institutions in Yemen, comprising banks, foundations, and programs. It serves its 26 members through capacity building, research and development, and advocacy.
Republic Financial Holdings Limited is the registered owner of all of the Banks in the Republic Group – Republic Bank Limited, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Republic Bank (Barbados) Limited, Republic Bank (Grenada) Limited, Republic Bank (St Maarten) N.V., Republic Bank (EC) Limited, Republic Bank (Anguilla) Limited, Republic Bank (Suriname) N.V, Republic Bank (Ghana) Plc., Republic Bank (BVI), Cayman National Corporation as well as subsidiaries such as Republic Wealth Management Limited and Republic Life Insurance.
As a global leading player in trade credit risk management for almost 80 years, Coface helps companies grow and navigate in an uncertain and volatile environment. Whatever their size, location or sector, Coface provides 100,000 clients across some 200 markets. with a full range of solutions: Trade Credit Insurance, Business Information, Debt Collection, Single Risk insurance, Surety Bonds, Factoring. Every day, Coface leverages its unique expertise and cutting-edge technology to make trade happen, in both domestic and export markets. In 2024, Coface employed +5,200 people and recorded a turnover of ~€1.845 billion.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of many economies, especially in frontier countries like Nepal and Bangladesh. Despite their potential, these SMEs often face significant challenges, including limited capital, poor access to technology, and inadequate business knowledge. One to Watch (OTW) addresses these barriers by bridging the "missing middle" in finance and providing essential business support to entrepreneurs.
