-
One of UK’s biggest banks is going digital in Africa for a share of the mobile money market
UK bank, Standard Chartered, is making a play for the mobile financial services market in Côte d’Ivoire—where it has no physical presence—with the the launch of its first digital-only retail bank. The bank will offer digital services allowing users make transfers and pay bills.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
The Demonetization Crisis May Be Over, but the Time for Tech Upgrades in Indian Microfinance Is Now
India's 2016 banknote demonetization sent shockwaves through the country's microfinance sector, causing MFIs to write off US$ 1.1 billion in bad loans. In response, cash-dependent MFIs stepped up investment in fintech – but now that the crisis has passed, so perhaps has their sense of urgency. Elliot Rosenberg of Awaaz.De argues that the need to embrace tech is as strong as ever.
- Categories
- Finance, Investing, Technology
-
Initiative aims for cross-border interconnectivity of mobile wallets in Southeast Asia, India
Singtel will start with Thailand’s largest mobile operator, AIS. The Group plans to progressively expand this service from the second half of 2018 to other regional associates, which include Airtel in India, Globe in Philippines and Telkomsel in Indonesia.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- fintech
-
Press release: Inclusivity solutions brings digital insurance to East Africa through partnerships with Equitel Kenya and Airtel-Tigo Rwanda
Equitel’s Riziki Cover and Airtel–Tigo’s Ingoboka Cash, offer subscribers hospital cash cover to individuals and families who are hospitalised. The offers are being extended as both a free loyalty cover as well as an optional, higher value premium cover. Pivotal to the development of these initiatives was Inclusivity Solutions strategic partnership with Reinsurance Group of America (NYSE:RGA), who is serving as the lead reinsurer for both products.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Egypt on the Precipice: Can Fintech Pave the Way for a More Inclusive Financial System?
Financial inclusion in Egypt has persistently lagged behind similar economies for decades. But the country now has all the hallmarks of a market ready to leapfrog: a young population, an enthusiastic embrace of social media, and more mobile subscriptions (110 million) than its population. Sarah Willis of MetLife Foundation and Mayada El-Zoghbi of CGAP lay out four criteria that Egypt must meet to bring meaningful financial services to its low-income communities.
- Categories
- Finance
-
MIT, Mastercard Foundation Launch Prize for Financial Inclusion in Africa
The Legatum Centre for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in association with the Mastercard Foundation, Wednesday announced the launch of the 2018 edition of the pan-African Zambezi Prize for Innovation in Financial Inclusion.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Gap Inc. Sets New Goal For Apparel Suppliers To Pay Garment Workers Digitally By 2020
More than 60 percent of Gap Inc.’s supplier factories already provide digital payments methods, such as online transfers to bank accounts or mobile wallets. The new goal will help scale this progress across the company’s global supply chain and positively impact the lives of more than one million garment workers.
- Categories
- Finance
-
Ghanaians to make int’l payments with mobile money as MTN partners Google
The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Ghana Ebenezer Asante has revealed that subscribers of MTN mobile money can now pay for any transaction across the world through the Google platform.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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.