Şekerbank supports production with "My Tradesman Loan".

Targeting to be one of the top 10 private banks of turkey in 2010, Şekerbank developed a new product for the microenterprise loan portfolio which it has defined as the most important service area in its business plan. The name of the product developed around the Anatolian Banking theme and the advertisement campaign of which started on January 18 is My Tradesman Loan.

With this loan model developed for the needs of tradesmen and small-sized enterprises that cannot benefit from the banking services sufficiently, Şekerbank supports production instead of consumption as a difference from the conventional retail loans. The bank brings My Tradesman Loan to its customers through an expert sales team trained specially and gives one-to-one service. The purpose is to increase the tradesmen’s share of the national income and minimize the income disparity among the segments.

Stating that they target to become the number one bank for the tradesmen and the microenterprises with "My Tradesman Loan", Şekerbank Executive Vice President Orhan Karakaş says that they have planned to achieve a microloan portfolio of TRY 100 million in 2008 with "My Tradesman Loan".

Pursuant to its business plan for 2007-2010, Şekerbank targets to grow mostly in the microloans area directed towards SMEs and tradesmen with the Anatolian banking theme. Intending to introduce modern banking to tradesmen as well as the middle and large-scaled customers, Şekerbank has been concretizing its Anatolian banking discourse with "My Tradesman Loan" it has developed for the microenterprises and tradesmen.

Şekerbank's business plan targeting the microenterprises has attracted attentions in the international platform as well, and the bank took out loan from IFC (International Finance Corporation) in 2007 to use in this area.

My Tradesman Loan allows applying without security up to TRY 4 thousand while creating an opportunity to use loan between TRY 500 and TRY 30 thousand with different maturity applications up to 7 years. Şekerbank targets to increase the share of tradesmen and small-sized enterprises in the total customer portfolio to 20 percent in 2008.

Stating that they want those who want to develop their businesses but cannot have time for the banking procedures to come to Şekerbank and get loan, Şekerbank Executive Vice President Orhan Karakaş says, "We believe that this approach, which we have designed for the segment who cannot get the financial service they need through the classical banking understanding, will contribute to national development as well. My Tradesman Loan is a product compatible with the establishment philosophy, the Anatolian banking concept, and the mission of Şekerbank. With this loan made available to encourage every segment to produce in the present day when the import-based consumption has been increasing rapidly, our target is to increase our tradesmen's share of the national income and minimize the income disparity among the segments. We believe that we will be the number-one bank for the tradesmen and the small-sized enterprises with our services and products. We target that the amount to be made available in My Tradesman Loan will reach TRY 100 million as of the end of 2008."

Şekerbank brings loan to tradesman

Those who want to utilize My Tradesman Loan will be able to get information and apply for the loan in the Şekerbank branches all around Turkey. Besides, Şekerbank make available My Tradesman Loan by visiting its customers personally through the agency of specially trained sales representatives in its 33 branches. The sales representatives who present the service face to face following a training that lasts 3 months on average visit the tradesmen of their regions and get to know them from every aspect. This project that started in the year 2007 is being given in 33 branches of Şekerbank at present. It is targeted to increase the number of branches where the project is applied to 50 in the 2008 Q1 and to 150 at the end of 2008.