-
Viewpoint: Open Banking Set to Drive Africa’s Financial Inclusion
The financial sector in Africa has already witnessed tremendous disruption driven by technologies such as mobile banking, which has played a major role in expanding financial inclusion.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Fintech Startup Remitly Raises $85M
Fintech startup Remitly has raised $85 million in a new round of funding, bumping its valuation up to $1.5 billion.
- Categories
- Finance
-
Combating Cybercrime in Emerging Economies: The Case for Regional Cybersecurity Centers to Protect the Finances of the Poor
Cybercrime is growing in emerging economies, threatening progress toward inclusive finance. And the poorest people tend to be the most at risk – and the least able to afford losing money. Though government and industry bodies have struggled to address the problem, David Medine at CGAP explains that solutions exist – including the formation of regional cybersecurity resource centers.
- Categories
- Finance, NextBillion Originals, Technology
-
GSMA Launches Mobile Money Interoperability Test Platform Driving Financial Inclusion in Africa
In Africa over 50.7 million new registered mobile money accounts were opened in 2019-20 alone, taking the total number of registered accounts in the region to 481 million. The total transaction volume and value for mobile money accounts during this period was 24 billion and $461 billion (up by 20% and 27%) respectively.
- Categories
- Technology
-
Avoiding the Downside of Instapay: Five Behavioral Science-Based Principles to Make Paycheck-on-Demand Benefit Low-Income Users
There are numerous apps and employers that allow employees to cash out their paychecks on demand, rather than waiting until their usual payday. But while this may seem like a dream come true for people who need quick cash to deal with financial distress, "instapay" also comes with tradeoffs. Analysts at Common Cents Lab discuss these downsides – and some behavioral science-based solutions.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
-
Press Release: Mastercard Partners With Tonik; Neobank to Accelerate Financial Inclusion for Filipinos
Mastercard announced today a new partnership agreement with Singapore-based tonik, a two-year-old startup which recently received a bank license in the Philippines. Mastercard will enable tonik to issue a range of electronic payments products that tap into Mastercard’s global network and extensive business intelligence when tonik launches operationally in the Philippines, later this year.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia
-
COVID-19 Isn’t Killing Cash. People Are Hoarding More of It
People appear to be bunkering cash amid the coronavirus outbreak, according to a study that seeks to debunk the notion that the pandemic was hastening the demise of paper money due to e-commerce or fears of infection.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
-
Viewpoint: Enhance Protection in Digital Financial Space
Over the past decade and half, digital innovations have transformed the financial sector in Kenya, generating significant benefits for consumers and the economy. As a result of the digital transformation, customers - many of whom were financially excluded or underserved - can now borrow loans, pay bills, transfer money and access their bank statements easily using their computer or mobile phone. This so-called financial inclusion miracle has mainly been driven by mobile money; as such, many of these digital financial services are based on M-Pesa, the revolutionary mobile money service launched in 2007 by Safaricom.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
Parent Organization
