National Development Bank PLC (NDB) was recently named Sri Lanka’s Best Digital Bank for SMEs at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, reaffirming its leadership in delivering progressive, technology-driven, and focused solutions that align with the nation’s strategic development priorities. This recognition reflects the bank’s strong commitment to empowering Sri Lanka’s SMEs in their transition to the digital space, one that is locally grounded yet aligned with global standards.
Euromoney, a leading provider of competitive intelligence and benchmarking insight for the global banking and finance industry, recognize institutions demonstrating innovation, performance, and leadership in their respective markets. Winners are selected following a thorough process comprising written submission by applicants, interviews by Euromoney analysts and independent market research. NDB’s selection as the Best Digital Bank for SMEs is a powerful endorsement of the Bank’s long-term digital vision, strategic execution, and its role in strengthening Sri Lanka’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Commenting on this prestigious accolade, Kelum Edirisinghe, Director and CEO of NDB Bank, stated, “This award is testimony to the extensive work we have poured in over the past years to support the most critical segment of our economy. It is true to our founding purposes and comes at a time when digital transformation is not just a strategic direction but a necessity for resilience and competitiveness. It also reflects our belief in the potential of the country’s SMEs and our role as a partner in their long term journey. With NEOS BIZ and TradeLinc, we are going beyond traditional banking, we’re empowering businesses with the digital tools they need to be agile, efficient, and future-ready”.
He also stated that: “NDB Bank’s recognition as Sri Lanka’s Best Digital Bank for SMEs further strengthens its position as a pioneer in the financial services industry, delivering impact-driven, inclusive and customer-centric solutions that not only enhances business operations but also positively contributes to the nation’s economy. Through its continued focus on innovation and meaningful partnerships, the Bank remains fully committed to re-shaping the future of SME banking in Sri Lanka”
At the heart of this achievement are two groundbreaking platforms one being NEOS BIZ and the other Trade Linc, developed and refined to offer SMEs the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving business landscape. NEOS BIZ, the first-of-its-kind SME banking mobile application in Sri Lanka, has transformed how entrepreneurs manage their finances. Whether a business is a sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company, NEOS BIZ empowers owners to carry out day-to-day financial transactions in real time, assign user roles, monitor outgoing payments, and authorize transactions with robust security controls. With features like maker-checker validations, real-time payment alerts, and flexible user permissions, the platform gives SMEs the convenience, agility, and confidence to operate and scale more effectively.
NDB’s proprietary supply chain finance platform, TradeLinc, is redefining how businesses manage supplier and distributor relationships. Developed entirely in-house, TradeLinc streamlines and digitizes these interactions, enabling SMEs to access working capital faster while offering buyers extended payment terms and enhanced operational efficiency. This innovation is a key driver of NDB’s success in empowering Sri Lanka’s SME sector.
With both NEOS BIZ and TradeLinc, NDB has created a digital ecosystem tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs navigating a complex economic environment. The platforms address both the transactional and strategic needs of SMEs, from managing day-to-day operations to accessing scalable financing and building supplier networks.
