SME Bank of the Year 2025 nominee: Akbank
We are introducing the nominees for the SME Bank of the Year award. This category aims to acknowledge and applaud banks that demonstrate exceptional efforts in catering to the requirements of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Akbank is a Turkish bank founded in 1948, with over 12,000 employees and headquartered in Istanbul. The bank serves more than 13.1 million clients through its branches and subsidiaries in Turkey, Europe, and the Middle East. It offers a range of banking and financial services, including retail banking, corporate banking, investment banking, and asset management.
How would you describe your bank’s role in the SMEs business journey considering their importance in the economy?
Given Turkey’s growing economy, SMEs play a crucial role in its development. They make a significant contribution to employment, accounting for more than 70,5% of total jobs. Another key area where SMEs contribute is exports, as they represent more than half of the countrys total exports.
SMEs are not only vital to the Turkish economy but also to our bank. As a financial institution, we play a critical role in supporting their growth and development by providing access to financial products and services.
Our SME analysis is divided into two distinct segments: Micro and Small-Medium. Accordingly, we have designed a targeted approach for each segment. To better meet customer needs, our marketing teams develop specialized strategies for both groups:
- Small-Medium Segment: Customers with a turnover below 500 million TL
- Micro Segment: Customers with a turnover of 15 million TL or less
It is important to note that our services extend beyond conventional banking products such as loans and deposits. We actively support SMEs by providing guidance on the optimal utilization of these products and facilitating access to consultancy and mentoring services at reduced or even no cost to enhance their growth potential.
Out of a total of 3.7 million SMEs in Turkey, we are proud to serve 900K active Akbank SME customers, a number that continues to grow daily. This milestone reflects the trust and confidence SMEs have in our banks products and services. Akbank remains committed to providing tailored financial solutions that empower SMEs to thrive.
Why do you think your bank deserves to be awarded the SME Bank of the Year?
Akbank has demonstrated a clear commitment to meeting the needs of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey. Through its organizational structure, Akbank has established a specific focus on providing services to SMEs, allowing the bank to better understand their unique needs and offer tailored solutions. This customer-centric approach is further evidenced by Akbank’s continuous efforts to closely follow the requests and requirements of SMEs, ensuring appropriate solutions are provided.
- As SME Banking, we increased our total revenues by 110% in 2024. During this time, we reached the 1st place in customer satisfaction according to NPS Research conducted by IPSOS and achieved a 14.61% share in the SME Loans Market (according to the BRSA definition), with an improvement of 214 basis points. Our market share target for the end of 2025 is 16.25%. In 2025, our priority is to extend the continuity of these share gains to all sub-segments, including Micro, Small, and Medium.
- We aim to transform SME Banking, which currently generates nearly 35 billion TL annually, into a business unit producing 50 billion TL in income (NPV). In line with these goals, we completed the end-to-end digitalization of all our main products in 2024, implementing 43 projects and 113 different requests. Our main digitalization goals for 2025 are to increase the efficiency of currently digitalized products and to create a unique impact with our innovative and customized digital products.
- With a net increase of 60K active customers, our performance marked the second-highest annual net increase ever achieved. By the end of 2024, Akbank serves more than 900K active customers with at least one active product. We hope to reach 1 million active SME customers, one of our main goals by the end of 2025.
- We achieved the highest-ever increase in the digital penetration rate, one of our key performance indicators, finishing 2024 with 83%, up from 77% at the start of the year. We will continue to develop in this area by improving and enhancing the customer experience through digital channels.
Briefly highlight the top three projects or achievements your bank has delivered for SME customers in the past 18 months.
Digitization of products
Akbank has implemented a special program since 2023 for the digitalization of its banking products and processes for SMEs. With this program, SMEs were able to access the banking products they needed more quickly and easily. In this way, the time spent by portfolio managers on operational activities were minimized.
The first step of the digitalization program started with the implementation of the process that enables SMEs to become customers of the Bank digitally through the DOB channel. Afterwards, SMEs were enabled to use all the main banking products they needed through Akbank's digital channels. Afterwards, the credit limits of our micro customers were created digitally on a daily basis. In this way, maximum credit limits were instantly allocated to SMEs for loan applications. Last but not least, the product processes initiated in the branches were approved and completed by SMEs through the mobile application. In all these developments, in line with Akbank's sustainability vision, the processes that consume the most paper were primarily digitalized.
The digitalization program showed its impact quickly. Akbank acquired 75% of new sole proprietorship SME customers digitally through the DOB channel in 2024. In the same period, 82% of commercial loans with installments, 45% of commercial credit cards, 40% of commercial overdraft accounts and 45% of virtual POS were used by SMEs through Akbank's digital channels. With the automation of micro-loans, our credit limits to SMEs doubled in a 2-year period, and SME credit risk increased by 60%.
Akbank's digitalization process will continue unabatedly. In 2025 and beyond, more specific and niche products will be offered to our SME customers through our digital channels. In addition, Akbank aims to provide SMEs with higher credit limits by obtaining financial data from online services of government agencies and other service providers.
API Integration
Akbank’s progressive innovative development for 2024 is the digital commercial loan application process through APIs. Prior to this innovation, commercial loan applications could only be made through Akbank's in-house application channels such as the branches, Akbank mobile or Akbank corporate internet branch.
With development in accordance with this vision, SMEs input limited info on the marketplace platform and submit their commercial loan application to the Bank through this API. The information received through the API is evaluated in the Bank's credit model together with other information received from the online services of government agencies. After the application is submitted by SMEs, it is evaluated by the Bank and the application decision is sent to the marketplaces within 10 seconds on average.
We launched the commercial loan application process via API in collaboration with Trendyol, Turkey's largest marketplace. With the application process opened to all Trendyol sellers in May 2024, over 300 mio.-TL credit was issued through the Trendyol platform. The most positive feature of the process was that SMEs were able to instantly access the financing needs that arose during their own activities through the platform they were working on.
After this pioneering application with Trendyol, we developed a generic version of the API that can be integrated into all marketplace platforms that want to collaborate. With this generic API, it became possible to apply for commercial loans through marketplaces with an average of 3 weeks of integration effort. This generic API was first launched on Hepsiburada, another leading marketplace platform in Turkey, in December 2024. It is aimed to integrate the generic API into different marketplaces where SMEs operate commonly.
Creating Segment Packages That Require Specialized and Sensitive Approaches
- Women SME
Akbank’s initiatives for the Women SME Segment began in 2022 with the launch of the EBRD-Women SME Package and expanded significantly after 2023. The successful allocation of a $50 million fund from EBRD in 2022 reinforced the banks strong commitment to this segment. Despite challenging economic conditions in Turkey, the entire amount was utilized by year-end 2023, demonstrating both the programs success and the high demand for financial support. With its attractive combination of exclusive financial and non-financial solutions, the package continued to draw significant interest. To meet this growing demand, Akbank collaborated again with EBRD and CGF, securing an additional $50 million in late 2023.
Following the EBRD funding, Akbank further strengthened its financial partnerships. By the end of 2024, the bank had secured $135 million from leading international financial institutions, including IFC, DFC, and Proparco, to provide additional financing for women SME clients. Moreover, in 2024, Akbank introduced special credit packages backed by the Turkish Exporters Insurance Agency (IGE), specifically designed for women-owned exporter SMEs.
- Enhancing Women SME Support with Mentorship and Education
Akbank has enriched the Women SME Package with non-financial services, including mentorship and training programs. Building on the success of a 2022 pilot program where Akbank partnered with IWF Turkey to provide free mentorship to 10 clients, the bank launched the “BinYaprak Women SME Mentorship Program” in collaboration with Turkishwin on November 19, 2023, World Women Entrepreneurs Day. This initiative invited 100 mentors from Turkey and around the world to voluntarily mentor 100 mentees. The overwhelming number of applications for this six-month, one-on-one program highlighted the strong demand for such support.
By July 2024, all 100 mentees successfully graduated, leaving behind inspiring testimonials. The 2024-2025 Mentorship Program began in November 2024, once again attracting significant interest. As of January 2025, 100 new mentees have been selected, and throughout 2025, these women SMEs will receive personalized one-on-one mentorship.
On the education and empowerment front, Akbank Academy’s Transformation Academy includes a specialized module for Women SMEs, featuring tailored digital and business courses to help women entrepreneurs enhance their skills.
- Green SME
Creating a new customer segment for eco-friendly SMEs underscores Akbank’s commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. These businesses play a vital role in driving sustainable economic growth and minimizing the environmental impact of commercial activities.
To support their unique needs, Akbank offers tailored solutions that promote sustainable business practices. In collaboration with TURKONFED, we have organized “Green Transformation of SMEs” seminars across Anatolian provinces to raise awareness. Additionally, we are facilitating an $81 million fund from leading international financial institutions such as Proparco, FIM, and IFC to support SMEs in their green transformation.
Furthermore, we have launched Turkey’s first “SME Eco-Transformation Package” setting a new industry benchmark in sustainable banking.
- Entrepreneurs
Startup Banking, project of Akbank stands out as a cornerstone initiative. This comprehensive program dedicated to nurturing technology enterprises and startups from their nascent stages through to global expansion. Akbank has already established specialized branches in strategic locations such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir marking the completion of the initial phase in structuring customer representatives, branches, and product offerings.
Akbank has created ‘’The Technopreneur Package’’ which is customized with a suite of benefits, including an integrated service model with financial and non-financial products and services, networking and investment opportunities that supports technology companies/SMEs and start-ups in all stages from their establishment to their global expansion. To date, over 2,000 startups and techno-enterprises have accessed our Startup Banking network and benefited from our products and services. In 2024, there was a net growth of 32.6% in the number of entrepreneurs.
We have realized 24 collaborations to date. We have participated in over 30 events as sponsors/participants. With our collaboration with Arya Investment Platform that started in 2024, we have hosted 4 different workshops, 1 academy, 1 mentor check-up, and 1 investment preparation program. We have received nearly 1000 startup applications to date, 300+ participating entrepreneur candidates and/or entrepreneurs accompanied our workshops. 23 startups have graduated from our Entrepreneur Academy, which we organized in collaboration with Arya Investment Platform. In addition, 16 startups that we have selected for our Investment Preparation Program are continuing their journeys. At the end of the program, we have selected 5 startups that we will bring together with investors.
- Agriculture
We support both new agricultural initiatives and existing investments as a financial advisor to our customers, ensuring sustainable and efficient production. Additionally, through collaborations with third parties, we facilitate farmers access to financing and stand by them throughout all production processes. With products such as drip irrigation, drone, and tractor loans, we contribute to a sustainable future by reducing carbon emissions.
Agricultural Credit balance exceeded 7 billion TL across the bank and reached 6.7 billion TL in SMEs. Campaign Tractor Loans implemented in the 3rd quarter exceeded 3.6 billion TL."
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