TCB Joins Stanbic Bank on Ramani’s Financial Marketplace to Boost SMB Access to Credit in Tanzania

Ramani, a Y Combinator-backed supply chain financing platform headquartered in Tanzania, has expanded its Financial Marketplace through a strategic partnership with Tanzania Commercial Bank (TCB). This makes TCB the second capital partner on the platform, joining Stanbic Bank, to provide accessible financing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across key sectors.

Solving Africa’s SMB Credit Gap

Launched in June 2023, Ramani’s Financial Marketplace was built to address a chronic problem in African economies—credit access for SMBs. According to the World Bank (2024), more than 50% of small businesses in Tanzania cite limited access to credit as a major barrier to growth. Traditional banks often struggle to lend to these businesses due to manual processes that make underwriting and monitoring both costly and inefficient.

Ramani’s digital-first approach simplifies the entire lending process—from origination and underwriting to monitoring and collections. The platform leverages proprietary technology to make credit more accessible, scalable, and sustainable.

“Supply chain financing has long been the Achilles’ heel of SMB growth,” said Iain Usiri, CEO and Co-Founder of Ramani. “Our Financial Marketplace is helping businesses access capital, expand operations, and remain competitive.”

What the TCB Partnership Means

With TCB joining the platform, SMBs will benefit from:

• A broader selection of financing options
• Reduced lending fees
• Improved repayment terms
• Greater flexibility to scale across sectors like LPG, cement, and fuel distribution

According to TCB’s Chief Digital and Innovation Officer Jesse Jackson, “By improving access to scalable and affordable financing, Ramani is addressing the critical challenges that Tanzanian businesses face.”

This move also complements the ongoing support from Stanbic Bank, which joined the platform in 2024. Stanbic’s Fredrick Max, Head of Business & Commercial Banking, stated:

“The remarkable growth of Ramani’s Financial Marketplace is a testament to its vision and innovative approach… We remain dedicated to expanding this impact, leveraging innovation to empower even more businesses.”

Impressive Growth: $210M in Loans and Counting

Ramani has already facilitated over $210 million in cumulative loans, with an average loan size of $47,000. Within just a few months of launching the Financial Marketplace, the company disbursed $5 million, recording a 136% month-on-month growth.

As more businesses go digital, access to reliable credit becomes essential for inventory management, scaling operations, and sustaining competitiveness in an e-commerce-driven economy. Ramani’s platform is helping bridge this gap.

Strategic Transition to B2B Marketplace

Ramani is actively transitioning from a direct lender to a full B2B e-commerce platform, with a goal to complete this shift by mid-2025. This will enable even broader impact by allowing suppliers, distributors, and banks to interact more efficiently, powered by real-time data.

The platform already works with major Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) brands such as Coca-Cola, Diageo, and AbinBev, enabling micro-distribution centres (MDCs) to access working capital and financial services in a structured, data-informed manner.

Supporting Tanzania’s Digital Economy

This partnership between Ramani and Tanzania Commercial Bank arrives at a critical time, as East Africa continues to embrace digital transformation in commerce and finance. With a growing digital economy, streamlined credit solutions like Ramani’s are essential to support innovation and inclusive growth.

“We’re building the framework for a leading B2B Marketplace for SMBs across the continent,” Usiri said.