A collaboration today between Maybank, the leading financial group and one of the worlds leading IT companies, Intel will offer small and medium enterprises (SMEs) more affordable financing facility as well as a wider range of information and communication technology (ICT) products and solutions.

Encik Muhamad Umar Swift, Executive Vice President and Head of Enterprise Financial Services Group of Maybank said that Maybank has been appointed as financial provider for Intel’s small medium enterprise initiatives.

Intel will work with Microsofit, Cisco, Linksys, TmNet and others will promote awareness to enhance ICT adoption and application by SMEs.

“Through this collaboration, Maybank will be providing two types of financing for SMEs, our enhanced Maybank ITplus package and the Maybankard EzyPay Scheme for Maybankard Credit Card holders for IT purchases above RM15,000 and below RM15,000 respectively,” said Encik Umar.

Maybank IT Plus is a facility specially, designed to cater to the IT financing needs of the SMEs. Supported by Credit Guarantee Corporation, the facility enables SMEs to make smaller purchases starting from RM15,000 to a maximum RM500,000. SMEs can obtain up to 80% financing and the borrowing rate for those eligible for the Government Aided Loan Schemes is at 5% while others are pegged at BLR + 1.5% to 2.0%. The tenure of the payments is three years.

The Maybankard EzyPay Scheme is an exclusive interest free installment scheme for Maybankard Credit Cardholders and available for purchases of a minimum of RM1,000 to a maximum of RM15,000. The repayment installment tenure is 12 and 18 months period at zero interest.

Encik Umar also said that Maybank’s collaboration with Intel and other ICT solutions providers will empower SMEs to boost their business.

“Our collaboration with ICT specialists provides a win-win opportunity with SMEs to enable them to continue to acquire quality products and superior services from the ‘best-of-the-breed’ IT Solutions Providers and quality solutions at a fair price. This is in line with the call by the government and the respective NGOs for more financing options to aid SMEs in their efforts to adopt ICT solutions,” added Encik Umar.

"Investing in technology can help SMEs improve customer service, enhance productivity, facilitate new business development efforts, and drive greater competitiveness," said Mr Kok Hon Loong, regional manager, Public Sector, Intel Asia Pacific. "Intel is committed to advance IT integration among SMEs in Malaysia. Collaborating with Maybank will help Malaysian SMEs expand their business and position themselves for growth in today's global economy."

Those who wish to obtain further information of the IT Plus financing package and Maybankard EzyPay facility can do so at any Maybank branch nationwide, or its 38 Business Centres as well as through the electronic channels at www.maybank2u.com and www.maybank2e.net.