imSME FAQ

1. What is imSME?

imSME is Malaysia’s 1st SME Financing/Loan Referral Platform, powered by CGC. The platform matches business financing needs of entrepreneurs to suitable financing/loan offered by participating bank(s). The acronym ‘mSME’ in imSME represents micro, small and medium sized enterprises commonly known as SMEs in Malaysia.

2. Who is the target audience for imSME?

Malaysian SMEs as defined below:

Sectors

Micro

Small

Medium

Manufacturing

Annual Sales Turnover is less than RM300,000
OR
Number of Full Time Employees is less than 5

Annual Sales Turnover is from RM300,000 to less than RM15 million
OR
Number of Full Time Employees is from 5 to less than 75

Annual Sales Turnover is from RM15 million to less than RM50 million
OR
Number of Full Time Employees is from 75 to less than 200

Services and Other Sectors

Annual Sales Turnover is less than RM300,000
OR
Number of Full Time Employees is less than 5

Annual Sales Turnover from RM300,000 to less than RM3 million
OR
Number of Full Time Employees is from 5 to less than 30

Annual Sales Turnover is from RM3 million to less than RM20 million
OR
Number of Full Time Employees from 30 to less than 75

Note:

If a business fulfills either one criteria across the different sizes of operation, then the smaller size will be applicable. For example, if a firm’s sales turnover falls under microenterprise but employment falls under small, the business will be deemed as a microenterprise.

3. Is imSME accessible via any devices or gadgets?

Yes, imSME can be accessed using any devices that are connected to WiFi or mobile data via web browser e.g. Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and etc.

4. Is the website available 24 hours?

Yes, the website is available 24/7. However, product matching service is not available from 5am to 7am daily due to scheduled maintenance works.

5. What is One-Time Password (OTP)?

OTP is a one-time valid login password. SMEs are required to key-in the OTP during registration. OTP will be sent to the mobile number as registered in imSME.

6. How to apply for a financing/loan referral via imSME?

Four (4) simple steps to apply via imSME:

a)     Step 1: Key-in Financing Requirement(s)

b)     Step 2: Share Your Business Details

c)     Step 3: Register / Log in

d)     Step 4: Compare and Choose

Click here to apply now or watch this video  to understand more.

7. What is the required information to receive a match for a financing/loan via imSME?

Personal and business information which include business name, business registration number, business financial information and name of owner/partners/shareholders/directors is required when you apply for a financing/loan via imSME.

8. Why imSME requires personal information of owner, partner, shareholders and/or directors for business financing/loan matching?

The personal information is required to verify and ensure that the applicant is legitimate and a genuine owner, partner, shareholder and/or director of the company.

9. What are the products offered via imSME?

Unsecured Financing/Loan.

10. What is the next step after choosing the preferred financing/loan?

The corresponding bank(s) (based on the chosen financing/loan(s)) will contact the SMEs within two (2) working days.

11. Is there an instant approval on the financing/loan application?

Instant approval on financing/loan application is subject to the terms and conditions by the banks as per their respective ‘Know Your Customer’ policy.

12. How do SMEs monitor the financing/loan referral status?

SMEs can log in to imSME to monitor the status from their account dashboard.

13. What is the average turnaround time (TAT) for distribution of financing/loan?

The average turnaround time (TAT) will be displayed in the product matching page. The TAT refers to the point of financing/loan application with completed documents that have been submitted to the banks, up to the financing/loan disbursement stage. It varies for each financing/loan products that are offered by the banks.

14. What if there is no matching financing/loan for the SME?

Our imSME Financial Advisory Team will contact the related SME to assist and provide guidance.
More information on imSME Financial Advisory Team at https://imsme.com.my/portal/financial-advisory/ 

15. What could be the factor(s) for ‘No Match’ of financing/loan?

‘No Match’ is possible due to unavailability of suitable products to match the business needs of the SMEs by the participating banks.

16. Are there any charges/fees to use imSME services?

There is NO charges/fees to use imSME.

17. How many times can the SME apply for a financing/loan via imSME?

NO restriction or limitation on the number of submissions via imSME.  The SMEs can submit multiple applications via an existing user profile.

18. What type of business is eligible to apply for financing/loan via imSME?

Five (5) types of businesses are eligible to apply for financing/loan via imSME as following:

Business

Definition

Sole Proprietorship

Business is wholly-owned by a single trader/ owner.

Partnership

Business is owned by two or more persons but not exceeding 20 persons.

Limited Liability Partnership

Business which has hybrid characteristics between conventional partnership and a company. Its special features are that of a conventional partnership in terms of the flexibility in its administration and a company in terms of the limited liability status conferred to its partners.

Sendirian Berhad (Sdn Bhd)

A company may be incorporated by or have only one member and that single member can also be the sole director of the company.

Individual (with business license from Local Council)

Business is licensed by the legislation and administered by various government agencies, statutory bodies and local authorities.

19. What types of business industries/sectors eligible to apply for a financing/loan via imSME?

All SMEs are encouraged to use imSME services especially those from the following:

Type of Industries/Sectors

Related Business activities

Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing

Crops and animal production, forestry and logging, fishing and aquaculture, etc.

Construction

Construction of buildings, civil engineering, specialised construction activities, etc.

Electricity, Gas & Water

Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, water collection, treatment and supply, sewerage, waste collection, treatment and disposal activities; materials recovery, remediation activities and other waste management services, etc.

Financing, Insurance, Real Estate & Business Services

Financial service activities, insurance/ takaful, reinsurance/ retakaful and pension funding, activities auxiliary to financial service and real estate services, etc.

Manufacturing

Manufacture of food products, beverages, textiles, electrical equipment, furniture etc.

Mining & Quarrying

Mining of coal and lignite, extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas, mining of metal ores, mining support service activities, etc.

Other Services

Any other services that are deemed to be lawful business activities, etc.

Transport, Storage & Communications

Water transport, land transport and transport via pipelines, air transport, warehousing and support activities for transportation, postal and courier activities, etc.

Wholesale & Retail Trade & Restaurants & Hotels

Wholesale trade, retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, etc.

20. How to reset the password?

Click ‘Forget Password’ at the Log in / Register page and complete the required information to reset.

21. How do SMEs re-activate an account which has been banned?

To re-active a banned account, contact the imSME Client Service Centre at 03-7880 0088 or e-mail at  [email protected]

22. Who is the contact for imSME related assistance?

SMEs can interact with our Chatbot iDA (imSME Digital Assistant) for general enquires or contact the imSME Client Service Centre at 03-7880 0088 on working days (Monday – Friday) from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.  Alternatively, e-mail at  [email protected]  for assistance.

23. What is the function of imSME Chatbot?

imSME Chatbot or commonly known as iDA (imSME Digital Assistant) is an interactive agent that answers general enquiries on imSME. Click on the Chatbot icon (at the bottom right) to start your conversation with iDA.