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Inclusive Innovation: How Two Mobile Technology Startups are Changing the Game in Microfinance
Securing a bank loan is an onerous task for anyone. But for the 2.5 billion unbanked people worldwide, the obstacles can seem insurmountable. And microfinance and village savings groups both have significant limitations, particularly for people without a credit history. June Sugiyama of Vodafone Americas Foundation explains how two winners of the foundation's annual Wireless Innovation Project competition are overcoming these limitations through mobile technology.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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MyBucks Piloting Fintech in New Markets with Novel AI Credit Scoring
While MyBucks is currently listed on the Frankfurt Exchange, operating across Africa and Asia Pacific while at the same time actively promoting its portfolio at forums such as the European Microfinance Awards (2017 Financial Inclusion Award Winner) and at the American Banker Digital Banking Summit, it’s clear that their growth so too reflects the industry.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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Press release: SmartPesa announces ICO for new Blockchain solution that provides secure credit scoring data for SMEs
Accounting for 90% of companies, SMEs in emerging markets act as key drivers of economic development and generate nine out of 10 jobs. But 40% of these companies lack access to credit, creating an annual funding gap of $5.2 trillion. SmartPesa Credible is built using Blockchain technology to provide credible Know Your Customer (KYC) information, self-declared business data and cash flow statistics on a transparent, distributed and auditable platform.
- Categories
- Finance
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Cutting Edge Agriculture: How Artificial Intelligence, Satellites and Big Data are Transforming Farmers’ Access to Finance
There are many reasons for the $450 billion global agricultural finance gap. But much of the challenge stems from lenders' inability to monitor farmers' output, estimate their income and assess their risk of default, says Ruchit G Garg of Harvesting Inc. He explores how artificial intelligence and satellites are addressing that data imbalance, helping lenders reach many of the world’s 500 million smallholder farmers for the first time.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Technology, Telecommunications
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Press release: Experian: 78 percent of lenders believe alternative credit data improves financial inclusion
First-ever State of Alternative Credit Data report says lenders believe factoring in alternative credit data allows greater access to credit, consumers willing to provide additional information if it increases chances of approval or better terms
- Region
- North America
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Behavioural Nudges: Mildly Paternalistic or a Threat to Economic Justice for the Poor?
"Nudges” – ie: the use of behavioral science insights to steer human behavior – are increasingly seen as a cheap and effective way to achieve social goals. But according to social researcher Sally Brooks, there are some troubling questions about whether the use of nudges for business purposes is good for the poor. She explores the issue through the prism of digital financial inclusion in the era of fintech and big data.
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Vikram Pandit’s PE firm invests $100 million into financial inclusion credit card
Fair Square Financial has received a $100 million equity investment from the Orogen Group to fund a credit card designed for underserved U.S. consumer segments.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- North America
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Visa and FICO rewrite their playbooks to go after global unbanked
Across the globe, many different populations have distinct reasons for being unbanked. To reach these audiences, mainstream financial companies are discovering approaches that wouldn't be possible in the U.S.
- Categories
- Finance