Welcome SME Banking Awards 2023

We are calling all leaders and innovators in the SME banking space! It's time to show off your skills and shine bright in the industry. The SME Banking Awards is back for its third edition and submissions are now open. Whether you're a banker or a bank, there's a category for you!

Current phase

Ceremony phase

Who made it to TOP 3?

Our Awards shortlisting process involves a panel of independent experts who carefully examined all submissions we received during the open submission  phase. The experts shortlisted the entries in each category, and the nominees were published online on our website. Who made it to TOP 3? We will unveil the winners during Reinvent Forum in Milan on 15 June 2023.

We are calling all leaders and innovators in the SME banking space! It's time to show off your skills and shine bright in the industry. The SME Banking Awards is back for its third edition and submissions are now open. Whether you're a banker or a bank, there's a category for you!

Join us in recognizing the best of the best in the SME banking industry. We have three categories to celebrate: SME Banker of the Year, SME Bank of the Year, and SME Neoplayer of the Year. If you're doing great work to bring innovative and digital offerings to your SME customers, this is your chance to be recognized!

Don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of the awards ceremony and join the distinguished list of winners.

Awards timeline

We are calling all leaders,innovators and institutions in the SME banking space! It's time to show off your skills and shine bright in the industry.

Our internal committee has reviewed all profiles and shortlisted the final list of nominees in each category. Nominee profiles are now be published!

Everyone has the opportunity to participate and contribute to selecting this year's winners! Whether you choose to vote in one, two, or all three categories, the power is in your hands. Feel free to return and submit your vote at any time during the voting phase. Your voice matters in shaping the outcome of this prestigious event!

Join us at our conference in Milan while we reveal the winners and celebrate those who made it to TOP 3 in each category! 

Vote now!

Your voice plays a crucial role in shaping the outcome of these Awards. Together, we can make a significant impact on the final results and determine the deserving winners of SME Banking Awards 2023.

Vote is now closed! Come back later to see the winners

SME Neoplayer of the Year 2023

We are introducing neobanks or challenger players established within last 10 years who are on their way to make a significant impact on the banking industry over the next 5 years by providing improved user experience and more accessible financial services.

Conrad Ford is Chief Product & Strategy Officer at Allica Bank, a British modern relationship bank,...
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We often read that the offers of traditional banks are not adapted enough to SMEs. So,...
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kompasbank is a Denmark-based neobank for SMEs that began operating in full in January 2022 and...
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We often read that the offers of traditional banks are not adapted enough to SMEs. So,...
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We often read that the offers of traditional banks are not adapted enough to SMEs. So,...
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Based in Singapore, Validus offers a “business account that does it all” in Southeast Asia. We...
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We often read that the offers of traditional banks are not adapted enough to SMEs. So,...
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SME Bank of the Year 2023

These outstanding banks have demonstrated innovative and digital offerings that are designed to meet the unique needs of small and medium-sized enterprises, whether it's through new financial products, digital banking services, or exceptional customer support.

Akbank was founded in Turkey on 1948, as a privately-owned commercial bank, and continues to serve...
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Commonwealth Bank is Australia’s leading business bank, supporting Australians to start, run and grow their business...
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Emirates NBD Group serves its customers (individuals, businesses, governments, and institutions) and helps them realise their...
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KBC is an integrated bank-insurer, with a leading position in our home markets in Belgium and...
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Why we're here: We're here to serve customers well and help our communities prosper. We're more...
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Since its incorporation in 1952 as Kuwait’s first indigenous bank and the first shareholding company in...
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We are a South African (SA) based financial service provider, with presence in Southern, East, West...
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Banking was broken – so we decided to fix it. The vision? Fast technology, fair service...
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TBC Bank is a leading company in the region. It is distinguished with its utmost care...
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UnionBank embraces the future of banking and is committed to be the Philippines’ leading digital bank...
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SME Banker of the Year 2023

We are introducing the nominees for SME Banker of the Year - bold and innovative leaders who have made it their professional mission to serve SMEs. With a passion for helping SME business owners succeed, these nominees have inspired their team members to do the same. Their dedication to the SME segment has made a significant difference in this vital sector of the economy, making them a standout leader in the world of SME banking. Get to know this exceptional nominee and be inspired by their commitment to serving SMEs!

António Fery Antunes Head of Direct Channels for SME and Corporates Millennium BCP
António Fery Antunes is theHead of Direct Channels for SME and Corporates at Millennium bcp, which...
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Bülent Oğuz Executive VP SME Banking & Chief Diversity Officer Akbank
Bülent Oğuz joined Akbank in March 2003 and served as Vice President and Senior Vice President...
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Carlo Panella Head of b-ilty Division ILLIMITY GROUP
Carlo is a management engineer with a managerial background focused on transformation, starting in multinational companies...
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Jaya Balan Kathiravalu Head of SME Banking Malaysia, Group Commercial Banking CIMB
KJ Balan is the Head of SME Banking, Group Commercial Banking, CIMB Bank Bhd, Malaysia. He...
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Jenine Zachar Head: Enterprise & Direct Banking Segment Standard Bank
Despite experience in teaching, communications, consulting, process engineering, and digital solutioning, I’m constantly surprised that my...
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Julie Hall Veterans Business Banker Commonwealth Bank
Julie Hall is a resilient, energetic, self-driven and customer-centric SME Banker at the Commonwealth Bank of...
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Michal Boleslawski Global Head of Business Banking ING GROUP
He is responsible for corporate banking (SME/MC/SEM) in all markets where the group has such operations:...
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Voting criteria

Originality

Why is the solution different? How inventive, innovative, unique and distinguished is the solution in the market?

Internationality

Performance at the cross-country level, the degree of internalization

Impact – Traction

Is the solution capable of generating significant revenue and have strong traction?

Business Potential - Pain solver

How big and important is the business problem and the level of pain being solved? Is this solution going to solve it at scale?

Wow factor

How excited are you about the project?

Meet the jury members

profile picture of Agnieszka Wolska

Agnieszka Wolska

BNP Paribas (Poland) Vice President of the Management Board, responsible for SME and Corporate Area
profile picture of Andrii Hidulian

Andrii Hidulian

Raiffeisen Bank International SME Segment Lead
profile picture of Arild Langberg Johannessen

Arild Langberg Johannessen

SpareBank 1 SR-Bank Director Strategy & Business Development SME
profile picture of DC Lim

DC Lim

United Overseas Bank Group Head, BizSmart and Ecosystem
profile picture of Dhiraj Kunwar

Dhiraj Kunwar

Rakbank Managing Director,SME Business,Commercial Banking , Asset Backed/Real Estate Finance
profile picture of Don Ludlow

Don Ludlow

Royal Bank of Canada Vice President Small Business, Business Financial Services Strategy & Partnerships
profile picture of Han Peng Kwang

Han Peng Kwang

Wing Bank Chief Executive Officer at Wing Bank
profile picture of Helene Panzarino

Helene Panzarino

The London Institute of Banking & Finance Associate Director, Centre for Digital Banking and Finance
profile picture of Jack de Mooij

Jack de Mooij

Rabobank Directeur MKB, Head of SME, Commercial Banking
profile picture of José De Souza

José De Souza

Banco Pichincha Product owner
profile picture of Juan Huitz

Juan Huitz

Erste Group Corporate Business Partner
profile picture of Ken Burke

Ken Burke

Qorus SME Banking Community Chairman & Senior Advisor
profile picture of Lukas Dzuroska

Lukas Dzuroska

Qorus Head of Communities
profile picture of Magdalena Zmitrowicz

Magdalena Zmitrowicz

Bank Pekao Deputy CEO
profile picture of Marcus O'Toole

Marcus O'Toole

Senior Vice President Global SME Segment Solution's & Distribution
profile picture of Martin Hyde

Martin Hyde

J.P. Morgan Executive Director
profile picture of Özkan Erener

Özkan Erener

VeriPark CEO
profile picture of Rajeev Chalisgaonkar

Rajeev Chalisgaonkar

Mashreq Executive VP, Head of Business Banking & NeoBiz
profile picture of Sofia Wallén

Sofia Wallén

Swedbank Head of Segment LCI and Head of Strategic Client Interaction & Event
profile picture of Stergios Zlatanos

Stergios Zlatanos

Piraeus Bank Director, Small Business Strategy
profile picture of Gábor Tenke

Gábor Tenke

MKB Bank Director of SME Strategy
profile picture of Zubair Ahmed

Zubair Ahmed

VeriPark Managing Director - Middle East & Africa
Join our live event

Award ceremony

Join us at Reinvent Forum Milan as we celebrate the TOP 3 in each category and announce the winners!

Last year's winners

SME Banker of the Year

1st
Simone Cooper Head Business Clients Standard Bank
2nd
Jack de Mooij Directeur MKB, Head of SME, Commercial Banking Rabobank
3rd
Jesse Weinberg Head of SME First National Bank - FNB (South Africa)

SME Bank of the Year

1st
Union Bank of the Phillippines
2nd
Standard Bank
3rd
HSBC UK

Relive the last year's awards

Rewatch last year's online ceremony to relive the excitement of the winners' announcement, gain inspiration from the guest speeches, and learn valuable insights from the panel discussions with the esteemed jury members!

Reach out to us if you have any questions or issues!

profile picture of Miroslava Tokarova

Miroslava Tokarova

Qorus Communities Manager
profile picture of Dorota Valkova

Dorota Valkova

Qorus Communities Manager