ANEXT Bank & Schroders team to fuel wealth growth for MSMEs

By Gloria Mathias

ANEXT Bank, a digital wholesale bank incorporated in Singapore and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ant International, has announced its partnership with global asset management firm Schroders to lower investment barriers for MSMEs.

Through this partnership, ANEXT Bank will expand its product suite to include a selection of investment funds managed by Schroders, offering MSMEs more opportunities to grow their wealth alongside ANEXT Fixed Deposit, the bank’s existing investment product.

Over 30% of ANEXT Bank’s customers are foreign business owners (FBOs) from 78 nationalities operating businesses incorporated in Singapore, while 69% are microbusinesses. This expanded offering will allow a diverse global community of MSMEs to manage and grow funds with greater flexibility while ensuring cash flow liquidity with no lock-in period required.

The partnership between ANEXT Bank and Schroders is designed to make investments more inclusive, catering to the needs of small businesses. By leveraging secure APIs to facilitate seamless integration between ANEXT Bank’s online banking platform and Schroders’ products, the collaboration allows ANEXT Bank customers to conveniently access, manage, and track their investments directly within the platform.

ANEXT Bank and Schroders will also explore innovation to enhance investment access for MSMEs through asset tokenisation and sustainable investment solutions, supporting their sustainability journey.

“The partnership with Schroders marks a significant milestone for ANEXT Bank as our first collaboration with a global partner. By combining the strengths of both companies, we are bringing greater value to MSMEs by making high-quality investment products more accessible and opening up the world of financial growth to small businesses. Leveraging Schroders’ leadership and decades of expertise in the investment space, alongside ANEXT Bank’s insights into MSMEs and tech-driven innovation, we are excited to take a holistic approach to driving financial inclusion,” said Toh Su Mei, CEO of ANEXT Bank.

“MSMEs are the backbone of Singapore’s economy, comprising 99% of its enterprises. We are excited to partner with ANEXT Bank to serve this dynamic client segment better. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to financial inclusion and empowers MSMEs to thrive in a rapidly changing financial landscape,” said Lily Choh, Head of South Asia and CEO of Schroders Singapore.