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SME Bank Expects 8-9 Per Cent Net Loan Growth This Year
KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Bernama) -- SME Bank Bhd has targeted an eight tonine per cent net loan asset growth this year from RM3.7 billion last year,Managing Director Datuk Azmi Abdullah says.
He also said the bank aimed to increase its servicesthrough strategic alliances and to aggressively market its products through its19 branches nationwide.
SME Bank has created an integrated network forcooperation with strategic partners from ministries, government agencies,universities and other financial institutions.
"We hope to increase our customer base which isclose to 7,000 to date," he told reporters at a signing ceremony betweenthe bank and the Federal Algricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) in Selayangtoday.
SME Bank provides financing as well as financial andbusiness advisory services to small and medium enterprenuers (SMEs) inMalaysia.
As at February 2010, SME Bank's net loan asset stood atRM3.9 billion, Azmi said.
He said the memorandum of understanding with Fama, signedtoday, was the bank's 12th strategic alliance and through this alliance, thebank would offer financial assistance to Fama's 50,000 members.
"The strategic alliance with Fama can hopefully helpform more dynamic, competitive and viable entrepreneurs," said FamaChairman Datuk Paduka Badruddin Amiruldin.
He said the alliance would hopefuly become a goodplatform in improving and strengthening development programmes for SMEs inagro-based industries.-- BERNAMA
