National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) announced today that it launched NBF Connect, a dedicated and exclusive banking platform for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the first of its kind in the UAE. The community platform will serve as a one-stop shop for SME members which will include access to a suite of services and solutions as well as knowledge-sharing capabilities. Co-created with SMEs, this is the first time a bank joins hands with the SME community to create a platform of this kind “for SMEs, by SMEs”.
The platform will provide members with exclusive features that have been tailored to their specific needs. A suite of business services provided by fellow SMEs such as HR services, legal support, e-commerce and marketplace management for the SME community to meet their business needs. NBF Connect will be an important part of the business ecosystem as notable partners like Etisalat and Visa join hands with NBF to offer a range of non-banking services to empower SMEs with the right tools and support them to move ahead in their journey.
Some of the other services include a discussion platform where SMEs will be engaging in industry-focused conversations such as the opportunities and challenges that currently exist, a news and events hub where members will be receiving the latest SME news and business trends coupled by a calendar of the latest SME events.
Devid Jegerson, Head of Customer Experience and Platform Development, also said:” In an ever-shifting landscape, it becomes pivotal for banks to deliver a well-rounded offering that goes beyond financial services, and this is the kind of thinking that we have adopted at NBF. In a world that is witnessing an unmatched level of acceleration towards digital transformation, banks need to capitalize on platforms that bring them closer to their customers while equipping them with new tools to navigate a fast-changing environment. Through NBF Connect, our aim was to digitize the SME community and provide them with resources at their fingertips that allows them to not just operate in a new climate, but truly grow and develop even further.”
Commenting on the launch of NBF Connect, SMEs who were part of the development journey mentioned that, with digital banking becoming more prominent than ever before, NBF Connect will help the SME community enhance and streamline processes, gain market insights as well as explore opportunities to benefit from other fellow SMEs.