Tanzanian Commercial Bank Integrates into Ramani's $210 Million Financial Marketplace for Enhanced Small and Medium-Sized Business Loaning
In a significant move to support the growth of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Tanzania, Tanzania Commercial Bank (TCB) has partnered with supply chain financing startup Ramani.
The partnership, which was announced recently, is focused on TCB's Financial Marketplace, a platform designed to offer loans to SMBs in Tanzania. TCB is the second capital partner, following Stanbic Bank's partnership in 2024.
According to data from the World Bank, over 50% of Tanzanian small businesses cite limited financing as a key barrier to growth. However, the TCB-Ramani partnership aims to address this issue, as the Marketplace has shown a 136% month-on-month growth.
Iain Usiri, CEO & Co-Founder of Ramani, stated that the partnership strengthens their mission to redefine financing for African businesses. Ramani, known for its digital mapping and data services, could enhance TCB’s lending decisions through better data on property and business assets, mitigating risk and enabling more inclusive credit offerings.
As of the partnership, $210M+ in total loans have been facilitated through Ramani's Marketplace. The average loan size is $47,000, and SMBs in key sectors like FMCG, LPG, cement, and fuel now have more financing options, better terms, and lower fees.
The Marketplace digitizes the loan process, making it easier and cheaper for banks to underwrite and manage credit. It replaces traditional, paper-based lending with a fully digital process for origination, underwriting, monitoring, and collections.
Jesse Jackson, Chief Digital & Innovation Officer at TCB, said that the partnership addresses critical challenges faced by Tanzanian businesses and is key to financial inclusion and economic progress. The Marketplace supports MDCs working with top brands like Coca-Cola, Diageo, and AbinBev.
Looking ahead, Ramani aims to transition from direct lending to a full-scale B2B e-commerce platform by mid-2025, further integrating financing with digital trade to accelerate SMB growth across East Africa. This shift could potentially open up new opportunities for SMBs and further boost economic growth in the region.
While direct information on the specific impact of this partnership on credit access for SMBs in Tanzania is not yet available, common trends in similar bank-fintech collaborations in Tanzania suggest that such partnerships typically improve SMBs' access to credit by leveraging technology for better credit assessments, faster loan processing, and tailored financial products.
For precise and updated insights, checking recent press releases from Tanzania Commercial Bank or Ramani, or authoritative local financial news sources, would be necessary.
[1] "CRDB Bank and NMB Bank partnerships for SMB financing in Tanzania" - Google Search Results, [accessed 2025-03-01] [3] "TCB's partnership with Ramani and its impact on SMB financing in Tanzania" - Google Search Results, [accessed 2025-03-01]
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