ANEXT Bank, a digital wholesale bank owned by Ant International, has partnered with global asset management firm Schroders to make investing easier for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
This collaboration aims to address the fact that many MSMEs face significant challenges when it comes to investing their funds.
A recent ANEXT Bank survey revealed that four out of five MSMEs have never invested in financial instruments.
This is largely due to a lack of available funds, limited understanding of investment options, and a perceived lack of suitable products.
To overcome these barriers, ANEXT Bank will soon offer a selection of Schroders’ investment funds on its online banking platform.
This will provide MSMEs with more choices to grow their wealth, complementing the bank’s existing fixed deposit product.
The offering will ensure cash flow liquidity with no lock-in period, providing flexibility for small businesses.
The first fund is anticipated to be available in early 2025, pending regulatory approval.
This partnership will allow MSMEs to conveniently manage and track their investments within ANEXT Bank’s platform.
The companies also plan to explore innovative solutions like asset tokenization and sustainable investment options.
To further support MSMEs, ANEXT Bank and Schroders will collaborate on initiatives to promote financial literacy and make investing more accessible.
“By combining the strengths of both companies, we are bringing greater value to MSMEs by making high-quality investment products more accessible and opening up the world of financial growth to small businesses.
Leveraging Schroders’ leadership and decades of expertise in the investment space, alongside ANEXT Bank’s insights into MSMEs and tech-driven innovation, we are excited to take a holistic approach to driving financial inclusion,”
said Toh Su Mei, CEO of ANEXT Bank.
“This marks our first partnership dedicated to supporting MSMEs by enabling them to start their investment journey and providing easy access to tailored educational investment content.
By leveraging ANEXT Bank’s deep expertise in the MSME community alongside our best-in-class global investment capabilities, we aim to develop innovative solutions that will unlock new investment opportunities and address their evolving needs,”
said Lily Choh, Head of South Asia and CEO, Schroders Singapore.
Featured image: (From left) Lily Choh, Head of South Asia and CEO, Schroders Singapore; Toh Su Mei, CEO, ANEXT Bank
