Industry Insights

We’re thrilled to welcome the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) to the Forum as an affiliate member. CAB is a community of banks and other financial institutions in the Caribbean/CARICOM Region, whose mission is to advance the interests of member institutions through advocacy, networking, provision of training and other solutions to strengthen the Caribbean Financial Services sector. “SME Finan

MIRA has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 250+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. "The SME Finance Forum is pleased to welcome MIRA as its newest partner. We look forw

This note provides an overview of the MSME Economic Indicators (MSME-EI) database, previously known as the MSME Country Indicators database. It collates the official country level definitions of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from over 176 economies. The comprehensive database is a unique data source that highlights the variety of definitions, allowing the IFC to assess the use of th

June 15, 2026 –  SME Finance Forum today announced that has joined its global network of 250+ SME financing experts across 190 countries working to expand small business access to finance worldwide."We are delighted to welcome Asseco Poland as our newest member. Technology plays an increasingly important role in expanding access to finance for SMEs, and we look forward to collaborating with Asseco

May 14, 2026 – Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank (KICB) has joined the SME Finance Forum as the newest member of the global membership network. The Forum’s 250+ members and affiliates are SME finance experts operating across 190 countries, united by a shared goal of expanding access to finance for small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. “We are pleased to welcome Kyrg

Illumina Global joins the SME Finance Forum   Washington D.C, April 23, 2026–Illumina Global has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 250+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation. 

The 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report, published by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) in partnership with the Bank for International Settlements, IMF, and World Economic Forum, finds that the financial services industry is rapidly outpacing regulators in AI adoption. Fintechs are leading the charge over traditional incumbents, with Generative AI and agentic AI emerging

How Alternative Data and AI Are Transforming Lending for Underserved and thin-file BorrowersCracking the Credit Code: Alternative Data and AI for Financial Inclusion explores how new data sources and artificial intelligence are transforming credit scoring and expanding access to finance for underserved borrowers in emerging markets. Traditional credit systems often exclude individuals and small bu

HighlightsWomen represent a distinct and profitable customer segment that is often underserved by traditional financial products and services.Financial institutions must identify, acknowledge, and address gender biases rooted in cultural norms, stereotypes, and institutional processes.A structured approach, including understanding gender dynamics, building organizational capacity, and designing in

SMEs play a pivotal role in driving the green transition. Increasingly, the provision of sustainability-related data is required to access green finance and participate in global value chains. However, many SMEs face challenges in measuring and reporting on their sustainability performance, stemming from a lack of resources and expertise; difficulties in data collection; and complexity and insuffi

Emerging markets require approximately US$2.5 trillion to achieve their ambitious climate adaptation and resilience goals. The financial sector is integral to tackling the mounting economic and social impacts of climate change. This white paper examines how financial sector regulators and industry associations can guide the sector toward sustainable finance systems that are more resilient and incl

Receivables finance is an underutilised financing arrangement for SME’s. Using the unpaid customer invoice after goods and services have been delivered, the SME can convert the invoice to immediate cash through what was called debtor finance.For the financier, the customer invoice potentially provides an IOU from a more credit worthy client than the SME, and shortens the cash conversion cycle,  so

April 27, 2026: The International Law Institute (ILI) has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 250+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation."The SME Finance Forum is pleased to

The Global SME Finance Forum 2025 was held in Johannesburg from 15 to 17 September as an official side event of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion Working Group.The event brought together nearly 1100 participants from 78 countries including 235 speakers and featured 70 sessions with diverse stakeholders from across the SME finance ecosystem.The forum followed a diverse set of engag

April 20, 2026 – SME Finance Forum today announced that Amazon has joined its global network of 250+ SME financing experts across 190 countries working to expand small business access to finance worldwide."We are delighted to welcome Amazon as our newest member. Together, we share a vision of empowering SMEs to grow, compete, and expand across borders. We look forward to collaborating on innovativ

April 14, 2026 – Qarar has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s newest member. The Forum’s 250+ members and affiliates are SME financing experts operating across 190 countries, united by a shared goal of expanding access to finance for small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation.“The SME Finance Forum is pleased to welcome Qarar as our newest mem

April 8, 2026: INSME - The International Network for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (INSME) has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest affiliate. The 250+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innova

Receivables finance is an underutilised financing arrangement for SME’s. Using the unpaid customer invoice after goods and services have been delivered, the SME can convert the invoice to immediate cash through what was called debtor finance.For the financier, the customer invoice potentially provides an IOU from a more credit worthy client than the SME, and shortens the cash conversion cycle,  so

Without strong financial systems to support climate adaptation and resilience, there is a growing risk that FSPs will retreat from high-risk areas, worsening financial exclusion and deepening inequality. Supporting climate goals requires a systematic approach to building financial systems that can respond to the breadth of climate risks and the needs of various customer segments. Limited private s

The agentic AI revolution is here. Leading technology giants like Amazon,Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Salesforce are embedding agentic AI into their offerings, possibly signaling a major shift in intelligent automation.AI agents can independently reason, execute complex tasks, and achieve targeted goals, unlocking efficiencies across many banking processes, including credit underwriting, treasur