Sourcefin and FNB Launch Purchase Order Finance Referral

In Short

Sourcefin has published its weekly brief for the week ending 17 August 2026. It highlights SME funding barriers raised at the Black Business Summit and says its FNB referral arrangement for purchase order financing is now live.

What Happened

In its latest weekly update, Sourcefin said the new referral arrangement with First National Bank is now available for businesses looking for purchase order financing.

Purchase order financing is a type of short term funding that helps a supplier pay for goods or production after it has received a confirmed customer order, but before it gets paid. It is often used when an SME has demand but does not have enough cash to fulfil the order.

The brief also reflects on conversations at the Black Business Summit, where speakers focused on why small businesses struggle to access finance even when support programmes exist. One recurring theme was feedback, lenders and development finance institutions were urged to explain rejections so founders can improve their next application. Another theme was that capital alone is not enough, and operational guidance also matters.

Sourcefin also pointed readers to other opportunities mentioned in the brief, including R897 million reportedly available to women owned enterprises through Imbali For Her and a list of eight open tenders.

Why It Matters

For South African SMMEs, purchase order funding can be the difference between winning a contract and failing to deliver. A referral channel with a major bank can reduce search costs for founders and speed up access to the right product, especially for SMEs that need working capital for inventory, logistics, or manufacturing.

The summit discussion also points to a bigger issue in SME finance, application outcomes are often opaque. More transparency on rejections can improve the quality of funding applications over time, and help founders understand what documents, cash flow history, or contract terms lenders want to see.

Finally, the focus on women owned enterprise funding and open tenders signals where near term demand may be, for founders who can execute on procurement opportunities quickly and can show proof of delivery.