Nedbank has expanded its support for South Africa’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through new partnerships with Adbot and DHL, giving businesses access to digital marketing support and export-readiness training as part of a broader suite of solutions designed to help them grow.
The announcements were made at Nedbank SME Day on the 29th of October at their headquarter office in Sandton, where business owners, industry experts and banking leaders came together to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing SMEs in South Africa.
According to Daniel Kaan, Managing Executive for SME at Nedbank, the partnerships respond directly to what the bank has been hearing from entrepreneurs across the country.
“While access to funding remains critical, business owners are increasingly looking for support that helps them attract customers, expand into new markets and unlock new opportunities for growth. Our role is to help address these needs by connecting SMEs with practical solutions that support their ambitions.”
To help SMEs grow their customer base, Nedbank has partnered with Adbot, an award-winning South African AI-powered digital marketing platform that simplifies online advertising and helps businesses improve their digital visibility. Through the partnership, qualifying Nedbank SME clients will receive access to discounted rates on the platform, making digital marketing more accessible and affordable.
The bank has also partnered with DHL through its global GoTrade programme, a free trade-enablement initiative designed to help SMEs access new markets through export education, practical training and logistics expertise. The programme combines DHL’s global trade experience with Nedbank’s banking, foreign exchange, payments and funding capabilities to support businesses looking to expand beyond South Africa’s borders.
Alongside the new partnerships, Nedbank announced enhancements to its SME offering, including twice-daily settlements for qualifying businesses using iKhokha devices, 365 days a year, helping improve cash flow and provide quicker access to working capital. The bank has also expanded access to pre-approved funding solutions through behavioural credit scoring, enabling qualifying businesses to access finance more quickly and with minimal paperwork.
Speaking at the event, Andiswa Bata, Group Managing Executive for Business and Commercial Banking at Nedbank, said SMEs remain central to South Africa’s economic growth and job creation ambitions, “SMEs play an essential role in driving economic activity and creating opportunities in communities across the country. By combining banking solutions with meaningful partnerships and support programmes, we can help business owners navigate challenges, seize opportunities and build sustainable businesses.”
The new partnerships form part of Nedbank‘s ongoing commitment to helping businesses start, run and grow by providing access to funding, expertise, networks and opportunities that enable long-term success.
