Alliance Financial Group Bhd : Alliance Bank called a True “Friend” To SMEs

Alliance Bank, True Friend of SMEs (From left to right): Teh Kee Sin, President of SMI Association of Malaysia; Christopher Yap, Head of SME, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad; Dato' Seri Kong Cho Ha, former Minister of Transport; and Datuk Sim Eng Peng, Chairman of the Working Committee, SME Recognition Award 2013.

Kuala Lumpur, 3 January 2014 - For the fourth consecutive year, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad ("Alliance Bank") was recognised as a true "friend" of small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) by the SMI Association of Malaysia.

At the recent 12th SME Recognition Award Ceremony 2013, the Bank was honoured with the Sahabat Negara SME Award for its initiatives in nurturing the development of the SME market through innovative financial solutions and services.

In explaining its successes, Steve Miller, Head of Business Banking at Alliance Bank said, "The Bank's proposition of investing in our customers' future and helping them to succeed drives us to raise the bar beyond traditional banking and financial propositions."

"The Bank is honoured to receive this recognition from an established trade association such as SMI Association of Malaysia. It is testament to our leading SME business model which is underpinned by personalised relationship management, superior programme lending model, deep customer insights and holistic approach in serving our customers' banking needs."

As a result of Alliance Bank's continuous focus and support for the country's SME segment, the Bank has also received numerous accolades which include the prestigious "Best SME Bank" in Asia Pacific, Gulf region and Africa award by The Asian Banker and "Service Excellence Provider in SME Banking" from the Banking & Payments Asia Trailblazer Awards in 2013. 

As the Bank continues to assist in the growth of the nation's SME segment, it has introduced the Alliance BizSmart proposition with the launch of the BizSmart Online Banking back in 2012. The BizSmart Online Banking offered advanced online business cash management tools for businesses of all sizes, including sole proprietors. In 2013, the Bank further enhanced this proposition with the Alliance Bank BizSmart Academy, which was designed to be the "go-to" resource for young business owners. For the inaugural SME Innovation Challenge, the Bank received over 200 submissions from some of the nation's most promising young entrepreneurs.

"We appreciate the confidence that the SME community has placed in us, and for honouring us with this Award. We look forward to more ways in which we are able to enable SMEs to grow their businesses further in the coming years," said Miller.

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About Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad

Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad is a dynamic, integrated banking group offering end-to-end banking and financial solutions through its consumer banking, business banking, Islamic banking, investment banking and stockbroking businesses, having served the financial community over the past five decades.

The banking group is involved in the provision of financial services through its principal subsidiaries, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad, Alliance Investment Bank Berhad, and Alliance Islamic Bank Berhad. It provides easy access to its broad base of customers throughout the country via multi-delivery channels which include retail branches, Privilege Banking Centres, Islamic Banking Centres, Business Centres, Investment Bank branches, direct marketing offices located nationwide, as well as mobile and Internet banking.

For more information on this press release, please contact Agnes Ong, Tel : [phone], Fax : [phone] or e-mail: [e-mail]