NDB Bank Partners with Hatch and NCGI to Empower Startups with Collateral-Free Business Loans

NDB Bank, in collaboration with the National Credit Guarantee Institution Limited (NCGI) and Hatch Works, recently hosted a focused awareness session at Hatch Innovation Hub in Colombo to introduce Sri Lankan startups to the benefits of the NCGI-backed loan guarantee facility. This initiative marked a significant step in expanding access to finance for emerging entrepreneurs, particularly in the IT and technology sectors.

The session was attended by over 40 startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with representation spanning diverse industries including agriculture, manufacturing, digital solutions, and services. The key objective was to shed light on the National Credit Guarantee mechanism—an empowering facility that enables entrepreneurs to access business loans without the need for traditional collateral. Once a business is backed by the NCGI guarantee, the guarantee itself serves as the security for the loan, significantly improving access to finance for early-stage businesses.

Representing NDB Bank at the session were Nilendra Vithanage, Chief Manager and Zonal Head – Business Banking, and Sudesh Fernando, Senior Manager – SME Refinance. The National Credit Guarantee Institution was represented by Jude Fernando, Chief Executive Officer, and Himansu Wickramasinghe, Head of Guarantee Administration. Hatch was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Mevan Peiries.

As a pioneer in financial inclusion and SME empowerment, NDB Bank is committed to supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of their growth journey. The Bank has remained steadfast in its mission to provide tailored financial solutions that meet the unique challenges of startups, particularly in fast-growing innovation-led sectors like IT. With the support of NCGI and forward-thinking incubators such as Hatch, NDB is expanding its reach to foster the next generation of Sri Lankan entrepreneurs who are set to shape the country’s economic future.

Commenting on the initiative, Nilendra Vithanage of NDB Bank noted, “Our partnership with NCGI and Hatch is a reflection of our unwavering belief in the potential of Sri Lankan startups. We understand that access to finance remains a key barrier for many new businesses, especially those without traditional assets or collateral. The NCGI guarantee transforms this dynamic, and we are proud to be enabling access to opportunity.”

This collaboration between NDB, NCGI, and Hatch is expected to continue in the months ahead, with plans to extend further knowledge-sharing sessions and financial accessibility programs to entrepreneurial communities across the island. Together, these institutions are building a more inclusive startup ecosystem, one where innovation is supported, and financial solutions are accessible, secure, and sustainable.

NDB Bank is the fourth-largest listed commercial bank in Sri Lanka. The Bank was awarded Domestic Retail Bank of the Year - Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Domestic Project Finance Bank of the Year by Asian Banking and Finance Magazine (Singapore) Awards 2024, and was named Sri Lanka’s Best Bank for Corporates at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2024. NDB is the parent company of the NDB Group, comprising capital market subsidiary companies, together forming a unique banking and capital market services group. The Bank is committed to empowering the nation and its people through meaningful financial and advisory services powered by digital banking solutions.