CGC Digital Archives - CGC Digital

Unlocking MSME Growth Through Digital Marketplace

CGC Editor — Thu, 21 May 2026 05:18:02 +0000

by Chin Sze Yuen, Head, Partnership & Marketing from CGC Digital

Malaysia’s Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) remain the backbone of Malaysia’s economic growth, innovation and employment. Yet as the financial ecosystem expands, the primary challenge has evolved. It is no longer a lack of financing, but fragmented access to it. While support is widely available across banks, fintech platforms, government agencies and advisory programmes, MSMEs often face a lack of clarity in navigating these options, resulting in uncertainty over where to begin and how to proceed.

This fragmentation extends beyond access points into how MSMEs operate. Sales, customer engagement and financial records are frequently distributed across multiple digital platforms, creating high levels of activity but limited coherence. Without a structured and consolidated business profile, even viable enterprises struggle to translate operational performance into credible financial evidence. This, in turn, affects financing outcomes, as financial institutions rely on clear visibility of revenue, records, and risk indicators when assessing applications.
Not only that, the underlying issue is therefore not capability, but confidence. MSMEs demonstrate strong market demand and growth potential, while financiers evaluate readiness through structured data and risk frameworks. Bridging this divide requires more than expanding funding availability. It requires strengthening how MSMEs present their businesses, ensuring they are easier to understand, assess and ultimately support.

At the recent Kre8tif East! Sabah 2026 hosted by Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC) and supported by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), CGC Digital shared that financing should not be viewed as the starting point of growth, but as the outcome of readiness. Sustainable business expansion depends on enterprises being visible, structured, traceable, protected, and prepared. This reframes the conversation from seeking financing alone to building the foundational capabilities that enable access to it.

In this context, digital marketplaces are emerging as critical enablers. Rather than functioning as standalone directories, they are evolving into integrated ecosystems that consolidate access to financing, knowledge, and business support. By unifying fragmented information into a structured journey, these platforms help MSMEs transition from complexity to clarity and from disconnected activity to guided progression.

“Digital marketplaces are evolving into key connectors within the MSME ecosystem, integrating financing, knowledge and support in a more holistic way,” said Chin Sze Yuen, Head of Partnerships and Marketing at CGC Digital. “As MSMEs continue to adopt digital solutions, the emphasis is shifting towards improving accessibility, enhancing clarity and enabling more confident decision-making for long-term growth.”
In response to these evolving needs, CGC Digital developed imSME, Malaysia’s first online MSME financing referral platform. Serving as a single-entry point, imSME connects businesses to more than 90 financing products across financial institutions and alternative financiers, enabling a structured process of discovery, matching and application. The platform also provides advisory support for unsuccessful applications, helping MSMEs identify gaps and strengthen readiness for future opportunities.

The impact of this integrated approach is evident. Since its launch, imSME has attracted over 3.18 million visitors, supported more than 143,600 MSMEs and facilitated RM628.6 million in approved financing. More importantly, it has transformed the financing journey from fragmented exploration into structured access, enabling MSMEs to make more informed decisions while strengthening overall business readiness.
By combining financing access with advisory support and ecosystem partnerships, CGC Digital is addressing not only the financing gap, but also the broader capability and readiness gaps that underpin sustainable MSME growth. This reflects a wider shift from product-centric solutions towards a journey-led model that supports businesses from early structuring through to expansion and scale.

As Malaysia’s MSME ecosystem continues to evolve, integrated digital financing platforms will play an increasingly important role in strengthening financial inclusion and economic resilience. By transforming fragmented access into structured and guided pathways, these ecosystems enable MSMEs to build confidence, improve readiness, and unlock sustainable growth at scale.

The post Unlocking MSME Growth Through Digital Marketplace appeared first on CGC Digital.

GXBank Expands MSME Financing with CGC Digital and Alternative Data Adoption

CGC Editor — Mon, 18 May 2026 09:16:04 +0000

PETALING JAYA, 18 May 2025 – GX Bank Berhad (GXBank) has enhanced its GX Business Banking suite, offering MSMEs a more flexible path to digital banking and financing. Supported by CGC Digital (the fintech arm of Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia), the Bank can offer higher financing limits of up to RM150,000. Additionally, GXBank also accepts personal bank statements for business account applications and credit assessments. These updates enable sole proprietors to build a verifiable business credit history while addressing Malaysia’s RM90 billion MSME credit gap¹.

“Sole proprietors are the lifeblood of Malaysia’s economy, yet remain underserved. Since the launch of GX Business Banking, our data-driven underwriting has led to over a thousand GX FlexiLoan users and approximately 70% loan usage rate across our business banking portfolio,” says Kaushik Chowdhury, CEO of GXBank. “In just 30 days, our partnership with CGC Digital has seen over RM3.3 million in loan approvals – bridging the credit history gap through alternative data and digital guarantees. We are now further lowering barriers by accepting personal bank statements as income verification to help more entrepreneurs scale.”

Tailored Support – The CGC Digital Partnership

The collaboration with CGC Digital introduces a digital-first guarantee that serves as the structural backbone for higher approved limits. With more than half of customers opting-in organically, this high early adoption rate underscores the clear demand for scalable credit as MSMEs move beyond micro-financing towards business expansion.

“The future of MSME financing will not be built on collateral alone, it will be shaped by how effectively we understand businesses in the digital economy,” says Yushida Husin, CEO of CGC Digital. “This collaboration with GXBank reflects our commitment to advancing more inclusive and forward-looking financing models. By integrating guarantee support within digital banking ecosystems, we are enabling financial institutions to serve segments that have traditionally been underserved, while giving MSMEs a more equitable pathway to access growth capital.”

Reducing Barrier to Entry via Personal Bank Statements

Complementing the partnership, GXBank now accepts personal bank statements for both business account registration and loan application. This move acknowledges the reality for the 70% of sole proprietors within the region who currently manage business expenses through personal accounts².

This feature serves as a transition tool, moving entrepreneurs away from the complexities of commingled personal and business finances. By providing a direct path to a formal business operating account, GXBank enables independent businesses to leverage their personal track record into a verifiable business credit history.

About GX Business Banking

Since its launch in Q4 2025, GX Business Banking has become the operational foundation for a diverse range of Malaysian entrepreneurs – primarily across the retail, food & beverage, and manufacturing sectors. The product is a partner in the growth journey, with seamless digital onboarding offering 2.5% p.a. daily interest on business deposits with zero monthly fees. By providing a revolving credit line – where interest is only paid on the amount utilised – the Bank ensures that capital remains a tool for expansion. Through these enhancements, GXBank continues to ensure the ~40% GDP contribution of MSMEs becomes a launchpad for national prosperity.

For more information on GX Business banking, click HERE.

About CGC Digital

CGC Digital is a FinTech company, established as the digital arm of Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad. Registered in July 2022, our primary goal is to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by creating a simpler and more seamless financing experience in the digital ecosystem.

For more information about CGC Digital, please visit www.cgcdigital.com.my.

About GXBank

GX Bank Berhad (GXBank) is a member of Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia. Regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia and protected by PIDM up to RM250,000 for each depositor – GXBank is Malaysia’s first digital bank now serving over a million Malaysians. With a majority-Malaysian workforce from the finance and technology sectors, the bank aims to disrupt the current banking industry with customised innovative solutions that empower Malaysians to be financially resilient and support their financial goals.

GXBank is a subsidiary of GXS Bank Pte. Ltd., the digital bank joint venture between Grab Holdings Limited and Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel). GXBank is also owned by a consortium of other Malaysian investors, including Kuok Group.

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Financing: Solving the gig credit conundrum

CGC Editor — Mon, 11 May 2026 08:58:07 +0000

By Vanessa Gomes

This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on May 11, 2026 – May 17, 2026

Link to article: Financing: Solving the gig credit conundrum

For the 1.2 million gig workers in Malaysia, social mobility remains a challenge, especially since this group lacks visibility in the eyes of traditional financial institutions. Without regular pay slips or a predictable income stream, the “probability of default” models used by commercial banks often flag gig workers as high risk, regardless of their actual earnings.

Parliament passed the Gig Workers Act 2025, which came into full effect on March 31 this year, mandating that gig workers have the right to request and receive pay slips or income statements from hiring entities.

While the act is a first step towards formalising the gig segment, CGC Digital Sdn Bhd, the digital arm of Credit Guarantee Corp Malaysia Bhd (CGC), says it is working to build a more cohesive financial ecosystem for the growing gig workforce.

CGC Digital’s strategy centres on closing the gap in how financiers understand new earning models. Last year, it launched imGIG, a platform that targets three recurring challenges faced by gig workers — irregular income, lack of financial protection and difficulty accessing finance.

Sign-ups came in quickly, pointing to a workforce that is digitally savvy but underserved in key areas of support. While delivery riders make up a large share of the registrants, the data also show a significant number of contract-based professionals in IT and professional services.

“Over the past few years, as we see this segment grow … there really is limited institutional understanding in terms of how this segment actually earns, manages cash flow and interacts with financial services,” explains CEO Yushida Husin, adding that imGIG was designed to understand work patterns and financial behaviours at the ecosystem level.

“Hence, when we want to curate products, it’s really a different journey because the ‘rider’ persona is very much different from the professional services and IT services persona,” she says.

CGC is 78.65% owned by Bank Negara Malaysia and 21.35% by commercial banks in the country. Its fintech arm, CGC Digital, is mandated to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and gig workers through digital solutions. Its stated goal is bankability, as the lack of a banking history or a stable employment record has kept gig workers invisible to financiers.

“In the past, pay slips were basically a proxy to your income and your outflow. In the gig world, this proxy is broken,” says Yushida.

“We want to provide digital solutions that will benefit this segment, whether it is from an educational or financial literacy angle. When the data and credit assessment is possible and makes sense [to service this segment], we will work with financiers to provide financing for them. It’s just the starting point for us.”

To address the gap, CGC Digital is turning to alternative data — transaction volumes, sales records and utility data — to build a more accurate picture of a worker’s financial health. Yushida says CGC Digital currently works with a range of financiers, from banks to fintech companies, and is improving collaboration between them to offer solutions to gig workers.

The challenge, she says, is that different platforms and gig workers operate differently, and catering to this diversity requires deeper understanding.

“Some gig workers are okay where they are but some open their own companies and have their own structures within it. And interestingly, professional services form quite a major segment, not just riders. So, in terms of documentation, for example, how do you communicate it to the worker?”

CGC Digital plans to roll out a minimum viable product this year and is still shaping it based on feedback from its platform partners. Yushida says the company is in talks with several platform operators that are working on financial solutions for gig workers.

“The industry needs an outfit that can connect the dots, so we thought that we could get the ball rolling through collaboration and integrating multiple parts of the ecosystem, which includes working with players, financiers and others in the system,” she says.

“To nail down what the solution is, we are working with partners but it’s a phased approach. Definitely by this year, we want to see something that is meaningful for those who have registered. I cannot solve the whole thing on my own because everybody holds different parts of the puzzle.”

Technology, enables better financial products and solutions

Yushida says there are data points within gig platforms that can be used to curate a worker’s and a business’ financial profile, such as transaction volume and sales. Essentially, from a financial perspective, it takes more than a single data point to prove a person’s creditworthiness.

“Some fintech players are testing the viability of other data points, like platform data and utility data. The credit assessment to determine the creditworthiness of gig workers is still quite challenging, even for ourselves, when we work with financiers as the guarantee front,” she says.

Technology is central to that effort. Yushida says artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are needed to interpret the large volume of “thin-file” data points generated by gig activities, with patterns analysed to support modelling.

“Probability of default is important but, to get to that, AI and machine learning are very important to come up with a model that works,” she explains.

“For the riders, one model might fit. For the drivers, another model might fit. This is where we need to make sense of the data and develop models using different statistical techniques.”

With model governance, bias monitoring and explainability controls in place, CGC Digital aims to shorten the data-sifting process and develop standardised algorithms to use with financing partners.

For now, Yushida says the path ahead is not fixed as CGC Digital will be working with different ecosystem partners that must cater to different needs.

Gig Workers Act a good first step, but more needed to support financing

While some views the Gig Workers Act 2025 as the final answer to worker protection, Yushida sees it as a starting point and a useful proxy for financial discipline. She says the act’s provision on the right to request a pay slip is particularly significant for credit assessment.

“Pay slips are a good start because that gives financiers a clearer, more consistent starting point,” Yushida notes. However, she adds that it will not be the sole factor in determining credit worthiness and financiers will still look at income patterns and commitments over time.

Similarly, the mandatory Social Security Organisation (Socso) contributions under the act provide a new data point.

“Socso participation shows a worker’s financial discipline and also the consistency of their payments. This also allows industry players like CGC Digital to build the financial muscle needed for long-term sustainability,” she explains.

CGC Digital does not plan to compete with platform operators such as Grab or Lalamove, Yushida says. Instead, it sees its role as coordinating across the ecosystem. “I cannot solve the whole ecosystem because everybody holds different parts of the puzzle. The company’s role is to connect the dots between fintech players, financiers and the gig platforms themselves.”

One of the most complex challenges in this orchestration is data, specifically data portability, security and consent. For an ecosystem to work, a worker’s data must be able to move securely from a delivery platform to a credit assessment tool and finally to a bank, all while remaining compliant with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and Bank Negara Malaysia’s Risk Management in Technology (RMIT) standards.

“The data owner must [give consent] before [the data is transferred] from one institution to another,” Yushida says.

Yushida also points to the concept of a gig identity, which is a centralised, portable digital profile that lets a worker carry their credit reputation from one platform to another.

As CGC Digital prepares to roll out its products this year, Yushida says the younger generation is already moving away from the “one employer for life” model, choosing instead to “work for a few masters” across multiple digital outfits.

“Now is the time to actually crack the code. The gig economy is no longer a peripheral side hustle but a major pillar of the future Malaysian economy,” she says.

CGC Digital says it is combining the new legal framework under the Gig Workers Act with AI-based credit assessment in a bid to ensure that workers who choose flexibility are not cut off from financial services.

“At least, we’re moving somewhere,” Yushida says.

The post Financing: Solving the gig credit conundrum appeared first on CGC Digital.

Penang Nasi Campur Entrepreneur Grows Her Business with imSME by CGC Digital

CGC Editor — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 02:21:51 +0000

Iza Fazlina Binti Mohd Nor, a Malaysian entrepreneur from Georgetown, Penang, has been running her small food business for six years. From humble beginnings, her journey reflects the determination and resilience of Malaysia’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). With the support of imSME, a digital platform by CGC Digital Malaysia that provides financing and business solutions to help MSMEs grow, she has been able to explore new ways to strengthen and expand her business.

Nasi Campur Kak Iza has grown over the years from the goal of serving the community.

Building a Business from the Ground Up

Puan Iza started Nasi Campur Kak Iza to serve hearty, home-style dishes to her community. Like many small entrepreneurs, she faced daily challenges, from managing operations and attracting customers to maintaining a steady income.

“Running a small business comes with its challenges, but it also teaches you to stay determined and keep improving,” she said.

Her dedication to quality and service has helped her steadily grow a loyal customer base over the years.

Discovering Support Through imSME

Puan Iza first came across imSME through an online advertisement. The platform, developed by CGC Digital, offers digital solutions including financing, digital guarantees, and insurance—designed to help MSMEs strengthen and grow their businesses.

As a small business owner, she often found it challenging to secure the right support to expand her operations. Through the imSME platform, she was able to explore solutions suited to her business needs and explore financing options designed for MSMEs.

While exploring the platform, she also noticed the imSME VIP Umrah Campaign, which encouraged her to engage further with the platform’s offerings.

“The campaign encouraged me to explore imSME further and showed me new ways to grow my business,” she shared.

Customers flocking to Nasi Campur Kak Iza.

A Meaningful Opportunity

Being selected as one of the campaign winners meant more than a prize. For Puan Iza, it represented a second chance to fulfil a spiritual aspiration she had long hoped for.

“I had previously tried to perform Umrah but was unable to, so this opportunity means so much to me,” she said.

The winners of the imSME Umrah Campaign 2025.

Inspiring Others

Through her journey, Puan Iza hopes to inspire other entrepreneurs to remain resilient and take advantage of opportunities that can support their business growth.

Through imSME, CGC Digital Malaysia continues to empower the country’s MSME community by providing digital financing and business solutions tailored to their needs.

If you, like Puan Iza, want to explore financing solutions and support for your business, visit (https://imsme.com.my) today and register for free to discover how the platform can help your business grow.

The post Penang Nasi Campur Entrepreneur Grows Her Business with imSME by CGC Digital appeared first on CGC Digital.

CapBay and CGC Digital Bridge the MSME Financing Gap with First Dual-Facility Guarantee Scheme Rollout

CGC Editor — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:58:52 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 APRIL 2026 – Bay Smart Capital Ventures Sdn. Bhd. (CapBay), a leading Malaysian fintech company providing a Supply Chain Finance and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) financing platform, together with CGC Digital Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned subsidiary and the digital arm of CGC Malaysia that provides credit guarantee services through an innovative ecosystem, have announced a strategic partnership to launch a new Digital Guarantee Scheme designed to provide robust capital support to unserved and underserved Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Malaysia.

At its core, CGC Digital provides innovative guarantees that act as powerful risk mitigants. Through a strategic risk-sharing mechanism, this collaboration directly benefits MSMEs by lowering the financing costs through more competitive rates and empowering those lacking traditional collateral to secure essential funding. Complementing this, CapBay utilises proprietary AI-driven credit assessments to drastically reduce evaluation times, delivering capital to local MSMEs with unprecedented speed. This synergy creates a transformative ecosystem for local businesses. Notably, it marks the scheme’s first dual-facility rollout, offering both Islamic and Conventional avenues to ensure comprehensive market inclusion, leaving no viable enterprise behind.

Building on CapBay’s proven record of facilitating over RM5.4 billion for more than 2,500 SMEs, this collaboration unlocks capital from new institutional and retail investors on CapBay’s P2P platform. Backed by CGC Digital’s guarantee, this added assurance enhances the credit profile of underserved MSMEs, enabling access to financing that may otherwise be out of reach. By facilitating more inclusive risk-sharing, this partnership encourages greater participation from financing partners while supporting more favourable terms, including a reduced interest rate ceiling, effectively advancing CGC Digital’s mandate to expand financial accessibility. This rollout targets businesses with at least 51% Malaysian ownership, offering flexible capital from RM50,000 to RM500,000 with tenures of up to 60 months to drive operational growth.

“We are proud to partner with CGC Digital to make capital widely accessible to SMEs hindered by the lengthy approval processes of traditional avenues. By leveraging CapBay’s AI-driven credit assessment, we can offer seamless, rapid digital financing to serve the ‘missing middle’, viable enterprises that are often overlooked. Backed by CGC Digital’s guarantee, this strategic allocation represents our shared commitment to injecting vital liquidity into the MSME landscape so grassroots businesses can thrive in a modern economy,” said Ang Xing Xian, Co-Founder and CEO of CapBay.

From left to right: Mr. Ang Xing Xian, Co-founder and Group CEO, CapBay and Ms. Yushida Husin, CEO, CGC Digital

Yushida Husin, CEO of CGC Digital, added, “CGC Digital is committed to innovation that drives financial inclusion. Our collaboration with CapBay enables us to leverage data-driven insights to more effectively bridge the financing gap for MSMEs. By offering a guarantee scheme that accommodates both Shariah-compliant and conventional needs, we are not only providing a safety net for financiers but also opening doors for small businesses to scale. This initiative aligns with our mandate to empower the underserved with the financial tools necessary for sustainable growth.”

In line with their shared vision, CapBay and CGC Digital see this collaboration as a catalyst for a more equitable economic landscape, directly supporting the aspirations of the MADANI Economy framework and the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13). By combining innovative fintech solutions with reliable credit guarantees, both parties are committed to overcoming funding barriers, driving the digital transformation of the broader MSME landscape, and building a resilient, sustainable, and globally competitive sector.

About CGC Digital

For more information about CGC Digital, please visit www.cgcdigital.com.my.

About CapBay

CapBay is an award-winning Multi-Bank Supply Chain Finance and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Financing platform that enables SMEs to unlock cash flow trapped in their supply chains through innovative financing solutions. Using a proprietary credit-decisioning model, CapBay connects businesses of all sizes to banks and investors, facilitating access to high-quality financing opportunities. The company is regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC).

Since its launch in 2017, CapBay Group has disbursed over RM5.4 billion through more than 40,000 financing notes, supporting over 2,500 SMEs. Recognized as a leader in Supply Chain Finance, CapBay has been named among CNBC and Statista’s World’s Top Fintech Companies (2023–2025), Fortune’s Fintech Innovators Asia 2024, and the FT High-Growth Companies Asia-Pacific (2024–2025).

CapBay has also received multiple industry awards, including The Asset Triple A Sustainable Finance Awards 2026 for Best Social Loan (SME) in partnership with HSBC, The Asset Triple A Digital Awards for Fintech Startup of the Year, and The Asian Banker’s recognition as the Best Fintech Platform – Digital Supply Chain Finance in Asia-Pacific.

For more information, visit www.capbay.com.

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