Axiology and SME Bank Announce Strategic Partnership to Innovate Capital Markets
- Julija Mačiulskė
- 14 hours ago
- 2 min read
Axiology and SME Bank aim to explore new opportunities in the issuance and settlement of digital financial instruments. The collaboration will focus on unlocking new funding avenues for SMEs and enhancing operational synergies in the evolving digital economy.
The partnership allows SME Bank’s corporate clients to access capital markets through Axiology’s innovative infrastructure. SME Bank focuses on funding for small and medium-sized enterprises, which make up 99% of European businesses. While licenced in Lithuania, SME Bank currently scaling its business across Europe and the challenge of accessing capital markets is shared across the whole continent, with high costs and complex requirements preventing most SMEs from participating.
By working with Axiology, SME Bank can support its expansion to EU countries without the need to partner with multiple central securities depositories. Axiology’s infrastructure operates across the entire European Economic Area, enabling a seamless and scalable approach to SME funding through capital markets. Together, the two companies aim to remove structural barriers and open new growth opportunities for SMEs across the region.
“The partnership with SME Bank is a meaningful step towards reinventing Europe’s costly and fragmented capital markets,” said Marius Jurgilas, CEO of Axiology. “By working together, we are breaking down these barriers and opening pathways that enable SMEs to grow and thrive.”
“For us at SME Bank this partnership is at the very core of our mission to have more possibilities to empower SMEs across Europe,” said Vaidotas Cucėnas, Chief Operating Officer and the Management Board member of SME Bank. “By creating new easier and cheaper access to capital markets for SMEs, we are adding another highway towards finances alongside our current banking products range. At the same time we are giving SMEs the tools they need to unlock their full potential and contribute to the economic vitality of the entire region.”
Enabling bond issuance gives SMEs access to capital markets beyond traditional loans, opening alternative financing routes that strengthen credibility and build investor trust. Bonds can be more appealing to institutional investors and, with the option of a trustee role, offer additional security for all parties. Through their partnership, Axiology and SME Bank make these advantages more accessible to SMEs.
The partnership lays the foundation for future initiatives aimed at broadening SME access to capital markets across Europe. By combining Axiology’s infrastructure with SME Bank’s reach, the two companies are positioned to contribute to a more inclusive and efficient financial ecosystem for small and medium-sized enterprises.
About Axiology:
Axiology delivers integrated capital markets infrastructure for the issuance, custody, trading, and settlement of securities using distributed ledger technology (DLT). By consolidating these functions, it reduces reliance on intermediaries, lowers costs, and streamlines fixed-income issuance, while functioning as a cross-border CSD to address Europe’s capital market fragmentation.
About SME Bank:
SME Bank is the first digital bank in Lithuania dedicated to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), rapidly expanding its activities and continuing to implement innovative solutions tailored specifically to the needs of this sector. The bank offers fast, efficient and convenient financial services that allow SMEs to focus on their growth and development. Our goal is to become a reliable partner for every small and medium-sized business, providing not only banking services, but also individual financing solutions.
