-
U.S. Consumer Watchdog Unveils Plans to Regulate Payday Loans
The U.S. consumer financial watchdog on Thursday outlined its plans for cracking down on the payday lending industry and ensuring that borrowers can repay their loans.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Tags
- lending, microfinance, regulations
-
85% of Kenyans Have Adopted Electronic Payment Products, Says MasterCard Study
Eighty five percent of Kenyans have adopted electronic payment products including bank accounts, mobile phone, prepaid cards or other payment products, according to a new study by MasterCard.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
India’s SKS Microfinance: Back From the Brink
SKS Microfinance Ltd, one of the largest microfinance companies in India, was a model for many other firms in the sector. Established by financial services professionals, the company was once considered the answer to India’s financial exclusion problem. While SKS has been through its fair share of struggles in the last four years, things are starting to look better for India’s only listed microfinance company.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
-
Funding for Financial Inclusion Rises to $31 Billion in 2013
Global investment in affordable financial services for the poor has risen by an average seven percent per year since 2011, a World Bank think tank said in a survey released on Wednesday.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
-
India’s Illicit Moneylenders Aren’t Going Away
Three bank branches stand across the street from Ajay Kumar Jaswal’s vegetable stand. But their loan officers shun his small business, forcing him to pay up to 20% quarterly interest to an illegal moneylender for the roughly $160 he needs as working capital.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
-
10,000 Flat-Pack IKEA Shelters for Iraqi Displaced
The UN refugee agency has placed an order for 10,000 flat-pack refugee shelters designed by a social enterprise arm of furniture giant IKEA, with first delivery planned within months to camps across Iraq, where some 2.5 million people have been displaced by conflict.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
- Tags
- philanthropy
-
Nigerian Tycoon Shortlists 167 Kenyan Start-Ups for Funding
Nigerian billionaire businessman and philanthropist Tony Elumelu has selected 167 Kenyan entrepreneurs to benefit from his Sh9.2 billion start-up fund targeting 10,000 enterprises across Africa.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- impact investing
-
Artoo IT Solutions Raises Rs 3.1 crore Series A Funds From Accion Venture Lab, Artha Initiative
Bengaluru-based Artoo IT Solutions, which has developed a financial customer relationship management solution for the financial sector, has raised $500,000 (Rs 3.1 crore) in Series A round of funding from Accion Venture Labs and Switzerland-based Rianta Capital Zurich's Artha Initiative.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.