Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (SME Bank) and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) have signed a partnership agreement (MoU) to support local entrepreneurs in Malaysia.
This partnership supports the goals of the MADANI economic plan and the National Entrepreneurship Framework (NEF). It aims to help entrepreneurs grow by giving them better access to funding, training, and digital tools. SME Bank said in a statement on Monday that this effort also highlights the important role of Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) in helping build the nation’s economy.
“Reaffirming our developmental mandate, we are committed to fostering inclusive and sustainable national growth by forging strategic partnerships that enhance access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to embrace innovative digital solutions,
“Central to this collaboration, BSN’s extensive pool of microfinance customers can leverage SME Bank’s robust suite of digital tools tailored for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) development,” said Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim, Acting Group President/Chief Executive Officer of SME Bank.
“In particular, through our ScoreXcess, a one-stop business financing application portal for small and micro-financing operated by our capacity building and training arm – Center for Entrepreneur Development and Research (CEDAR),
“By leveraging our combined expertise, this partnership signifies a strategic collaboration between two DFIs, reflecting our shared commitment to accelerate entrepreneurial growth and deliver tailored support that addresses the dynamic needs of today,” he added.
He said the company will keep supporting small and medium businesses (SMEs) in important industries, including BSN’s customers, when they’re ready to grow. This is part of their mission to help SMEs at every stage of their journey.
“Our financing and beyond financing support include the Technology and Digital segment through our SME Technology Transformation Fund (STTF) as well as the Pembiayaan Ekosistem Payung, a tailored financing solution to build resilience and scale within a guided ecosystem,
“We are also proud to mobilize Bank Negara Malaysia’s High Tech & Green Facility (HTG) to help SMEs grow in strategic and sustainable sectors,” he said.
From 2021 to 2024, SME Bank’s digital platforms—like ScoreXcess, ELSA, and ODELA—have played a significant role in helping nearly 5,000 SMEs in key industries.
These tools don’t just make it easier to get funding; they also help businesses with proper assessments and access to new markets, creating a complete digital system to support SME growth.
As part of the partnership, the ScoreXcess platform alone has already helped submit 89 loan applications, with financing requests totaling around MYR 3.2 million (about $750,000).
This initiative shows how working together through smart partnerships can help SME Bank reach more businesses and make its digital tools even more effective. According to the statement, it also strengthens SME Bank’s role as a key driver of SME growth across the country.
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