Why it’s time banks start seizing the SME opportunity

• As global e-commerce continues to accelerate, what are the modern SME payment needs? And why is this segment often underserved by traditional financial institutions? 
  
  
• How are non-banks better serving this customer segment at the moment? And how can financial institutions of all sizes develop new ways to better service their SME customers? 
  
  
• International trade—underpinned by macroeconomic and geopolitical factors—is increasingly complex. How can financial institutions navigate these complexities to help SMEs develop effective cross-border strategies? 
  
  

Digitisation has impacted almost every aspect of life and business, and in few areas is this as visible as it is in commerce. Ecommerce has surged, and specifically cross-border e-commerce is expected to grow at a 30% CAGR between 2024 and 2031. In this global world of trade, cross-border opportunities are ripe for financial institutions and businesses alike, but one segment is often overlooked: small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). 

Global payment needs necessitate smooth financial operations and seamless cross-border cashflows. However, many SMEs struggle with the complexities of this: multiple currencies, reconciliation, local regulatory requirements, and the operational costs attached to all of this complicate strategic cross-border expansion. 

Historically, these SME needs can easily get lost in siloed structures and one-size-fits-all approaches of large financial institutions. Yet specifically in today’s macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, financial institutions need to understand the international payments needs of the forgotten middle. 

More and more fintechs are entering the market to fill this gap, thanks to their ability to offer more personalised services and manage complex cross-border payments in a fully integrated way. This webinar discusses why new market entrants are often better at serving their SME customers than traditional financial institutions. 

Register for this Finextra webinar, hosted in association with Ebury, to join our panel of industry experts who will discuss the payment needs of SMEs in a cross-border world, and the new and innovative ways in which financial services can best serve these businesses.