Entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in an emerging economy like Mexico’s by creating jobs and playing an integral role within supply chains. However, sustaining their growth calls for new banking models that go beyond financing alone. Banco Santander offers an innovative range of services that will play a key role in helping this segment unlock its full potential over the medium term.
Mexico is experiencing a surge in entrepreneurial activity. According to official figures, the number of SMEs in the country has practically doubled in the last 20 years. Today, Mexican SMEs account for more than 70% of formal employment and contribute 54% of GDP, cementing their role as the backbone of the national economy while retaining significant potential for further growth, provided the right conditions are in place.
Unlike the entrepreneurs who emerged before the pandemic, today’s Mexican SME owners need an entire support ecosystem that extends well beyond traditional bank lending. That was the central finding of a major Banco Santander study of local SMEs, which led to the design of a comprehensive solution tailored to their needs. This model goes beyond providing fresh, competitively priced financing by also offering digital connectivity, globally focused training, and close collaboration between banks and other players. A comprehensive plan with a single purpose: To take the Mexican entrepreneur to the next level.
The study found that while SMEs are generally able to service bank loans, their chances of succeeding and continuing to grow beyond their third year increase significantly when the business owner has access to training, modern business management tools, reliable digital connectivity and coordinated support from a range of partners.
2026: the year of SMEs and entrepreneurs for Santander Mexico
With this vision in mind, Banco Santander has declared 2026 the Year of SMEs and Entrepreneurs in Mexico. This is more than just rherotic. It represents a fundamental rethink of the bank’s end-to-end proposition for a segment that promises to become a key driver of an economy facing significant challenges and an uncertain environment.
To succeed, the bank has developed a unique value proposition that combines the financing that many businesses need with online and in-person training on topics such as business management, how to expand into international markets, and how to lead teams effectively. This training broadens horizons and helps owners professionalise their businesses, so that their business skills match their drive and ambition.
Santander has also forged partnerships with other organisations and government authorities to provide SMEs with comprehensive solutions. These include, for example, access to reliable internet connectivity in a country where high-speed coverage is typically confined to major cities, with only limited coverage elsewhere. Businesses also receive support with digital transformation, automated business management tools, advisory services and ongoing guidance. These resources can make the difference between an entrepreneur who is able to compete on equal terms with larger companies and one who, despite having innovative ideas, lacks the tools needed to succeed. When small business owners feel that this gap is narrowing because they have access to similar resources, their potential increases dramatically.
In 2026 alone, around 40,000 entrepreneurs are expected to benefit from this model, yet the ambition goes much further. The ultimate goal is to reshape the environment in which Mexican entrepreneurs operate and bring about lasting change in a sector that has the potential to drive national progress, making entrepreneurship less a matter of chance and increasingly one of opportunity, professionalism and inclusion.
