16th June 2025 - 2 min read
SME Bank and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) have formalised a strategic partnership aimed at supporting Malaysian entrepreneurs, with a strong focus on expanding access to financing, strengthening capacity building, and accelerating digital adoption. The collaboration, anchored in the principles of the MADANI economic framework and the National Entrepreneurship Framework (NEF), is designed to provide homegrown micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with the tools they need to grow and compete.
Through a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two development financial institutions (DFIs) are pooling their strengths to offer more seamless and scalable support to entrepreneurs nationwide.
SME Bank’s Acting Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Dr Mohammad Hardee Ibrahim, said that the partnership is an important step in driving sustainable and inclusive economic growth. “Reaffirming our developmental mandate, we are committed to fostering inclusive and sustainable national growth by forging strategic partnerships that enhance access for SMEs to embrace innovative digital solutions,” he said.
One of the key features of this collaboration is the integration of SME Bank’s digital financing platform, ScoreXcess, which acts as a one-stop portal for small and micro financing applications. Operated by SME Bank’s training and capacity-building arm, the Centre for Entrepreneur Development and Research (CEDAR), ScoreXcess is positioned to benefit BSN’s large base of microfinance customers by streamlining the application process and offering tailored support.
The partnership also opens up more targeted financing options under various SME Bank programmes. These include the SME Technology Transformation Fund (STTF), the Pembiayaan Ekosistem Payung for ecosystem-based resilience building, and the High Tech & Green Facility (HTG) by Bank Negara Malaysia, which is geared towards SMEs in strategic, sustainable sectors.
Between 2021 and 2024, SME Bank’s digital ecosystem, which includes platforms such as ScoreXcess, ELSA, and ODELA, has supported nearly 5,000 SMEs across various sectors. These platforms not only improve financing access but also help businesses with assessments and market access. ScoreXcess alone has already handled 89 applications with a total value of RM3.2 million, highlighting the growing impact of digital financing channels.
Entrepreneurs interested in financing or business development support can learn more by visiting SME Bank’s website, following its official Facebook page, or contacting the SME Bank Contact Centre at 03-2603 7700.
Samuel writes about personal finance and financial news, focusing on how banking updates, policies, and promotions affect everyday money decisions. He enjoys making complicated financial topics easier to follow. Outside of writing, he spends his time watching TV shows and occasionally convincing himself he will only watch one episode.
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