Taiwan has approximately 1.63 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of its economy. Against this backdrop, E.SUN Bank continues to lead Taiwan’s financial sector in SME financing and fraud prevention, supported by its long-standing focus on digital innovation, responsible lending and customer protection. The bank has built one of the strongest SME support infrastructures among private-sector institutions, blending long-term sector engagement with modern credit tools and advisory services. E.SUN’s recent achievements highlight this leadership. Its data-led credit evaluation framework and seamless digital lending journey earned Best Digital Credit Evaluation Initiative in Asia Pacific and Best SME Bank in Taiwan at The Asian Banker’s Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards 2025. Meanwhile, its next-generation E-SHIELD Anti-Fraud Blueprint — recognised as Best Anti-Fraud Consumer Initiative in Taiwan — reflects a comprehensive upgrade of customer protection standards amid rising market-wide fraud risks. Together, these milestones underscore E.SUN’s sector leadership in strengthening Taiwan’s financial ecosystem through innovation, prudent risk management and a sustained commitment to SME development. Data-led innovation reinforces E.SUN’s SME financing strength SMEs in Taiwan account for 98.9% of all enterprises, contribute 51.58% (NTD 28.6 trillion or $911.5 billion) to total sales and employ 80% (9.132 million people) of the island’s workforce. E.SUN’s strength in SME financing lies in its digital innovation and data-driven strategies. The bank has implemented a comprehensive digital credit evaluation system that enhances both efficiency and customer experience. By integrating advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), E.SUN has developed a platform that swiftly analyses large volumes of data to assess creditworthiness, streamlining the loan approval process. This approach accelerates decision-making and enables more inclusive evaluation by incorporating alternative data sources, extending credit to a broader range of customers. Real-time processing capabilities allow for immediate responses to applications, significantly improving both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. E.SUN’s SMart E-gate system, for example, optimises loan applications with automated credit checks and portfolio-wide risk analytics. By leveraging AI-powered credit assessments and supply chain financing, E.SUN has streamlined access to funding, ensuring that SMEs can secure capital with one of the most efficient approval processes in the market. In practice, applications that once took a week can now be approved in just days. As of September 2024, E.SUN’s SME loan balance reached NTD 598.1 billion ($19.1 billion), earning it the top position among private-sector banks in Taiwan for 16 consecutive years. This represents an increase of NTD 38.7 billion ($1.2 billion) from the end of 2023, achieving 9.9% growth, outperforming the Taiwan banking industry average of 5.49%. Driving SME growth through digital solutions and risk management E.SUN’s long-standing focus on SMEs is rooted in its understanding of the operational challenges local businesses face. The bank employs a collaborative model between its headquarters and branches, integrating resources from government, industry and academia to deliver comprehensive financial solutions. Its regional revitalisation initiatives and SME advisory services have helped thousands of local firms navigate supply chain disruptions and pivot into new markets. By integrating government credit guarantee schemes and industry partnerships into its SME offering, E.SUN has strengthened its role as a backbone for small businesses. This commitment has been recognised with 20 consecutive years of excellence awards from Taiwan’s SME Credit Guarantee Fund, highlighting the bank’s sustained leadership in SME financing and support. E.SUN also embeds sustainability into its SME business, linking borrowers to green loans and environmental, social and governance (ESG) advisory, which reinforces its role as a pillar for Taiwan’s enterprise ecosystem. The bank has distinguished itself as a leader in SME banking through cutting-edge digital solutions, efficient risk management and a deep commitment to business growth. Its digital-first approach enables SMEs to manage finances seamlessly through automated loan applications, real-time credit monitoring and integrated financial tools. E-SHIELD Anti-Fraud Blueprint guards against escalating financial fraud To combat the surge in financial fraud cases across Taiwan, E.SUN has launched the E-SHIELD Anti-Fraud Blueprint, a comprehensive programme that blends advanced technology with cross-sector collaboration. Through this initiative, the bank has built one of the Taiwanese market’s most sophisticated anti-fraud systems. E-SHIELD integrates proprietary AI-powered models—including Sentinel for behavioural monitoring, and the E.SUN Intelligent Fraud Prevention System (iEFPS), which automates credit card fraud detection—with customer-facing tools such as app-based controls, telecom verification and real-time interactive alerts. Together, these components create a robust defence framework that safeguards customers without disrupting legitimate transactions. Since launching E-SHIELD, E.SUN has reported a substantial reduction in fraud and compromised accounts. By late 2024, the bank had “achieved a significant surge in intercepted fraud value while reducing watch-listed accounts below industry averages,” according to Sarah Chen, deputy chief financial officer of E.SUN. These results reinforce customer trust and contribute to broader financial system safety. Overall, the three awards collectively underscore E.SUN Bank’s status as a leading innovator in Taiwan’s financial sector. Across digital lending, SME finance and fraud prevention, the bank pairs technological innovation with its commitment to supporting SME growth and promoting finance for good — shaping Taiwan’s banking standards for years to come. Contact details: E.SUN Bank https://www.esunbank.com/en/business/small-business
