Hong Leong Bank recognised for SME financing efforts

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Fuda (fifth right) posing with the award together with several members of the HLB team.

KUCHING: Hong Leong Bank Bhd (HLB) was recognised as Top Financial Institution Partner – Overall Category at the Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd (CGC) SME Awards Ceremony 2019.

This achievement recognises HLB’s active participation in CGC’s financing schemes and underlines its continued commitment towards supporting the financing needs of local small and medium enterprise (SME) businesses.

“The recognition by CGC Malaysia, which comes hot on the heels of being awarded ‘Best SME Bank in Malaysia’ by The Asian Banker, is a clear endorsement for Hong Leong Bank as the preferred SME Bank in Malaysia,” HLB group managing director and chief executive officer Domenic Fuda said.

As of December 31, 2018, HLB under its SME Banking initiative registered double-digit year-on-year loans growth of 25.4 per cent and the Bank targets to continue the double-digit growth trendfor 2019.

HLB is working closely with government agencies, including CGC and is targeting to approve RM7.5 billion worth of loan funding to Malaysian SMEs this year.

“We are on the ground with SME owners, to listen and understand the diverse and different needs of SMEs, making us perceptive to their needs and able to bring real solutions.

“Our strong team of 150 Community Business Managers are able to provide holistic banking solutions by truly understanding SME businesses,” Fuda said.

HLB SME banking offers a one stop solution covering loans, cash management and digital solutions, an all-in-one POS merchant terminal, business auto loans, and bancassurance to SMEs.

The bank has developed a suit of innovative and comprehensive digital business and financing solutions that serve the needs of SMEs from cash management, advertising and promotions (A&P) solutions, as well as property financing and working capital.

In addition to HLB’s own platform, HL ConnectFirst Lite, the Bank also collaborates with reputable, best-in-class partners, Biztory, Kakitangan, SimpleTax and WeChat to put together a holistic, total Digital Business Solution to empower the SMEs of today.

Through HLB’s SME Elite loan package, SMEs can access up to 150 per cent margin of financing, which comprises loan, overdraft, trade, bank guarantee and forex, a flexi-term loan financing of up to 25 years with competitive interest rates to ease SMEs’ cashflow and plough back their profit to their daily business operations.