The event, held at MB's headquarters, attracted numerous business clients. Attendees had the opportunity to meet and interact directly with world number one pickleball player Anna Leigh Waters, take souvenir photos, and get autographs on jerseys, rackets, and other personal items.

Business representatives interact with Anna Leigh Waters at Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank headquarters on the afternoon of 31/3. Photo: MB

Vu Thanh Trung, Vice Chairman of MB's Board of Directors, stated that the bank currently serves over 400,000 SME clients. He emphasized that this event is a privilege offered by MB to strengthen engagement with the small and medium-sized business community. "We will continue to offer unique experiences, thereby contributing to the further development of the business community in the coming period", he said.

An MB representative explained that selecting pickleball as the event's highlight was a deliberate choice. In recent years, the sport has gained popularity among business professionals due to its high connectivity, accessibility, and demand for agility, strategic thinking, and coordination.

"Since the MB Vietnam Cup 2025 season, MB has received significant appreciation and support from clients and the pickleball community", an MB representative shared. "This motivated us to invite top international stars to interact with businesses and deliver impressive tournaments for fans."

MB bank leadership presents Anna Leigh Waters with a souvenir during the interaction on the afternoon of 31/3. Photo: MB

During the event, Anna Leigh Waters noted many similarities between sports and business, particularly regarding speed, precision, and critical decision-making. "On the court, you need to react very quickly but still be accurate enough to make a difference. I think that's quite similar in business, where every decision needs to be made at the right time", she said.

Building on this perspective, an MB representative emphasized the growing importance of speed for businesses, especially SMEs. In a rapidly changing market, small and medium-sized businesses require not only capital but also timely funding to seize opportunities. MB is focusing on reducing processing times, simplifying procedures, and increasing the speed of capital allocation for these clients, thereby affirming its top 1 position in SME lending.

Guests ask Anna Leigh Waters for autographs at the event. Photo: MB

During the interaction, a bank representative presented Anna with a traditional conical hat (non la) as a welcoming gift, introducing Vietnamese culture to the American player. Guests then moved to the main stage area for souvenir photos and autographs.

The event also drew a large attendance from the pickleball community, key opinion leaders (KOLs), and fans. Following the formal session, business representatives and fans joined the athlete on the court for further sports interaction.

Anna Leigh Waters interacts and plays with business representatives and fans. Photo: MB

Through this activity, MB continues to expand its programs for SME clients, integrating financial services with networking experiences. The bank anticipates these events will foster more opportunities for interaction and cooperation within the small and medium-sized business segment.

Hai Long