Co-operative Bank Wins Product Innovation Award at Eighth Annual Global SME Finance Awards

Co-operative Bank of Kenya has been recognized for its innovative approach to serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at the Eighth Annual Global SME Finance Awards, winning the Product Innovation of the Year – Africa award.

The Global SME Finance Awards 2025, organized by the Global SME Finance Forum (SMEFF), celebrate financial institutions and fintech companies that demonstrate excellence in supporting SMEs.

Endorsed by the G20’s Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), the awards aim to showcase best practices and foster collaboration to close the SME financing gap, thereby promoting job creation and economic growth.

The 2025 awards featured enhanced benchmarking against four market segments: Commercial Banks, Development Finance Institutions, Non-Bank Lenders, and Technology Innovators.

Winners were recognized in multiple categories, including Product Innovation, Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs, SME Financier of the Year, and Sustainable SME Financier of the Year.

At this year’s awards, the Eighth Annual Global SME Finance Awards winners included:

• Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs – Africa: Access Bank PLC

• Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs – Americas: Banco Cooperativo Sicredi

• Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs – Asia: Amartha

• Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs – Europe: FINCA Impact Finance

• Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs – Middle East & North Africa: Social Development Bank

• Product Innovation of the Year – Africa: Co-operative Bank of Kenya Ltd

• Product Innovation of the Year – Americas: Kapitale – Pague com Kapi

• Product Innovation of the Year – Asia: Shenzhen Credit Service Co., Ltd.

• Product Innovation of the Year – Europe: Allica Bank

• Product Innovation of the Year – Middle East & North Africa: Palestine Monetary Authority

• SME Financier of the Year – Africa: Access Bank PLC

• SME Financier of the Year – Americas: Banco de Crédito del Peru (BCP)

• SME Financier of the Year – Asia: Aye Finance Ltd

• SME Financier of the Year – Europe: Raiffeisen Bank International AG

• SME Financier of the Year – Middle East & North Africa: Jordan Ahli Bank

• Sustainable SME Financier of the Year – Africa: Cooperative Bank of Oromia

• Sustainable SME Financier of the Year – Americas: Banpro Grupo Promerica

• Sustainable SME Financier of the Year – Asia: BRAC Bank PLC

• Sustainable SME Financier of the Year – Europe: TEB Faktoring

• Sustainable SME Financier of the Year – Middle East & North Africa: Al-Amal Micro-Finance Bank

Co-op Bank’s award at the Eighth Annual Global SME Finance Awards recognizes its innovative products that have improved SME access to finance across Kenya and Africa.

The bank’s initiatives include digital lending platforms, tailored SME products, and streamlined credit processes, enabling businesses to expand, create jobs, and increase their economic footprint.

This recognition places Co-op Bank among global leaders in SME financing, joining peers celebrated for their contributions across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.