National Bank of Egypt Strengthens Financial Inclusion and Women Empowerment Strategy, Says SME CEO
Nader Saad, CEO of Small and Medium Enterprises at the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), reaffirmed the bank’s leading role in promoting financial inclusion, women empowerment, and the growth of the SME sector, through an integrated strategy that combines financing, capacity building, and financial literacy.
Saad stated that NBE currently serves around 22 million customers, representing approximately 38% of Egypt’s total banking customer base, highlighting the bank’s pivotal role in expanding access to formal financial services and supporting national financial inclusion objectives.
He noted that women account for nearly 40% of the bank’s customer base, underscoring NBE’s firm belief that women’s economic empowerment is a cornerstone of sustainable economic development. Saad emphasized that empowering women is no longer solely a social goal, but a direct investment in national economic growth.
He added that over the past few years, the bank has successfully reached more than 3 million beneficiaries through diverse financial literacy programs and initiatives, as part of a comprehensive vision that prioritizes financial awareness alongside access to finance.
Regarding the SME sector, Saad revealed that NBE provides financing to more than 150,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, with a significant share owned or led by women entrepreneurs, supporting real economic growth and sustainable job creation. He also highlighted that women represented over 50% of beneficiaries of the bank’s non-financial services, reflecting an integrated model that links financing with training and capacity building.