KUALA LUMPUR: United Overseas Bank (UOB) has been named the World’s Best Bank for SMEs at the Euromoney Global Awards for Excellence 2021.

       “The latest win follows from other key SME awards the bank has won including the Best SME Bank in Singapore and Asia Pacific at The Asian Banker’s Excellence in Retail Financial Services International Awards in June this year,” United Overseas Bank (M) Bhd (UOB Malaysia) said in a statement Thursday.

       In March 2020, UOB Malaysia launched a Covid-19 Relief Assistance Programme to provide immediate support to customers in Malaysia financially impacted by the pandemic.

       “To date, UOB has helped more than 20,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region keep their businesses running.

       “In Malaysia, the bank has provided relief assistance in various forms of financial repayment moratoriums and targeted repayment assistance to more than 3,600 SMEs,” UOB Malaysia said.

       Deputy chairman and chief executive office Wee Ee Cheong said: “We understand the distinct challenges that SMEs face when navigating the disruptions caused by the pandemic and stand right by our customers to help them weather the crisis.

       “In addition to relief support, we are also helping our SME customers transform their business digitally, seize cross-border opportunities and advance responsibly for long-term growth.”

       Wee said the Euromoney World’s Best Bank for SMEs award was testament to UOB’s continued efforts in understanding the needs of its SME customers and keeping that at the core of the solutions and services it offers.

       “We are committed in supporting our SME customers throughout economic and market cycles and to working with them to build more resilient and sustainable businesses,” he added.