The bank has launched a digital wallet for businesses in Singapore, which enables them to send, receive and hold cash in multiple currencies.
HSBC’s Digital Wallet, which aims to significantly reduce the time it takes for SMEs to make business payments, is also being launched in the U.K. and the U.S., with a pipeline of further markets as well as new currencies and enhancements, the bank said in an announcement.
The multi-currency wallet is integrated into its business banking platform HSBCnet, and removes the need for businesses to use third-party providers for international transactions, HSBC said. For example, businesses in Singapore can pay their Malaysia counterparts directly in ringgit.
Li Lian Ng, HSBC’s head of business banking, Singapore, said the bank is committed to scaling up its SME banking capabilities in Singapore. The bank previously announced its strategy to scale-up its SME business and increase its share in the market to 15 percent by 2021.
Since then, it has launched a number of products and initiatives for SMEs, including the online banking platform HSBCnet, Green Loans, the «Pioneer» programme for fast growing businesses, international business banking, and a not-for-profit proposition.
HSBC said that Singapore’s SMEs are doubling down on their international connectivity and prioritizing resilience in their supply chains, with 87 percent planning to expand their international business, citing a survey conducted among local businesses with annual revenue between S$5 million and S$100 million.
Drawing on HSBC’s deep digital expertise and wide global network, we are helping SMEs to build resilience and trust within their global supply chains whilst making everyday banking easier, Ng said.