Mastercard Impact Fund partners Akbank and ADB to expand MSME finance in Türkiye

The Mastercard Impact Fund (MIF), administered by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, announced a partnership with Akbank T.A.Ş. to expand access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Türkiye, with a strong focus on women-owned businesses and enterprises in earthquake affected provinces and regions prioritised under an inclusive growth approach. This program also involves a longer-term financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Mastercard Impact Fund co-investment is aligned with ADB's $100 million credit facility for Akbank. This program will further enhance Akbank's ability to increase lending to women-owned MSMEs and strengthen its Transformational Academy to offer a broader suite of non-financial support and services to women-owned MSMEs.

In his statement, Akbank CEO Kaan Gür noted: “At Akbank, inclusive banking is at the heart of our strategy, and women entrepreneurs and women-led SMEs are among our top priority segments. Over the past years, we have doubled our customer base and increased our cash loan portfolio eightfold, demonstrating our strong commitment in this area. We support women-led SMEs not only with dedicated financing—through both international funding partnerships and our own resources—but also with capacity-building programs, trainings, and one-to-one mentoring that help them grow their businesses and create sustainable employment. With our collaboration with ADB and Mastercard, we will further diversify our products and services and expand our reach to even more women-led SMEs across Türkiye”

Established in 2022, Akbank Transformation Academy has reached over 21,000 commercial business through its programs designed for SME’s and entrepreneurial women, offering training across diverse areas such as foreign trade, digital marketing, e-commerce and sustainability. Akbank’s Transformation Academy will deliver a robust program of capacity building, sustained guidance and business support for women entrepreneurs. Informed by a gender needs assessment, the academy will help women MSMEs build financial, operational and digital capabilities that enhance their competitiveness. Through the grant, Akbank will drive tailored training, mentorship networks, industry engagement and targeted incubation support that position women-owned businesses to enter and grow within domestic and export value chains.

Jon Huntsman, Vice Chairman and President Strategic Growth, Mastercard said, “Türkiye is at a digital and economic inflection point, and Mastercard is committed to supporting its national priorities through strong local partnerships. Our collaboration with Akbank and the Asian Development Bank expands access to capital for small businesses—especially women-owned enterprises—empowering entrepreneurs to drive growth and resilience across the country. By combining global expertise with deep local alignment, we’re helping foster innovation, financial health, and sustainable progress for Türkiye’s economy and its people.”

Mastercard Eastern Europe Division President Yasemin Bedir added, “Women-owned micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises are a critical segment that needs greater access to services. By combining targeted lending with structured support and driving their digital transformation, we can expand access to finance, strengthen small businesses, and reinforce overall market stability. Empowering women-owned enterprises with digital tools and capabilities not only accelerates their growth but also delivers long-term value for entrepreneurs and the broader economy. “

“Improving financial access for women-owned MSMEs in Türkiye will enable more women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses, deepen their role in local value chains, and enhance overall economic resilience — helping ensure that growth is shared more widely across communities,” said Isabel Chatterton, Director General, Private Sector Operations Department of Asian Development Bank.

The partnership is designed to show that combining lending with structured support can shift outcomes for women-owned MSMEs at scale, reflecting a shared commitment to deliver inclusive growth and strengthen the resilience of small businesses across Türkiye.

Re-disseminated by Wealth and Society