Commercial Bank Managing Director/Group CEO S. Renganathan and Chief Operating Officer Sanath Manatunge launch webpage of Anagi Women’s Banking at the official launch ceremony and receive their Anagi badges, which affirm support for Women’s Banking

Commercial Bank of Ceylon has unveiled Anagi Women’s Banking with a new loan scheme under an expanded portfolio of initiatives designed exclusively to support the aspirations of women.

The Anagi Women’s Banking portfolio just unveiled by Sri Lanka’s benchmark private bank will comprise of the existing Anagi Women’s Savings Account and the new loan product – Anagi Business Loan for Women Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (WSME) and will introduce many more new products and services in the future, the bank said.

The portfolio was designed in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – under the IFC-DFAT Women in Work programme – using its expertise in increasing access to finance for women – an important but under-served segment.

The bank said it would introduce other products and non-financial benefits under the Anagi Women’s Banking portfolio in the future, geared towards the empowerment of women and to help expand their financial horizons. 
The Anagi Business Loan for Women Small and Medium Entrepreneurs provides female entrepreneurs with loans for working capital or investment purposes. Available exclusively for female business owners and businesses with female business partners or directors, this scheme enables applicants to receive loans from Rs.2 million to Rs.250 million at competitive interest rates and with flexible grace periods.

Commenting on this initiative, Commercial Bank Managing Director/Group Chief Executive Officer S. Renganathan said, “The launch of Anagi Women’s Banking is part of a continuously expanding effort to empower women who make up more than half of the population in Sri Lanka and are an intrinsic part of the economy. They deserve recognition, attention and financial support in order for us to experience inclusive economic progress in the country.”

Remarking on this innovative product, IFC Sri Lanka and Maldives Acting Country Manager Victor Antonypillai said, “Investing in women entrepreneurs is essential for economic growth. In Sri Lanka, a quarter of the one million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are owned by women – making it a critical market segment. The launch of Anagi Women’s Banking initiative with Commercial Bank of Ceylon – one of IFC’s longstanding partners in Sri Lanka – will help strengthen access to finance for women-owned SMEs and help them sustain and grow, overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic.”