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Maintaining a Critical Link To Last-Mile Customers: Challenges and Opportunities Facing Financial Service Agents During COVID-19
Agents are a critical last-mile link to financial services for lower-income households and micro- and small enterprises. But as the COVID-19 crisis has spread globally, it has had a profound effect on how agents operate, introducing new restrictions – and new responsibilities. Nisha Singh and James Robinson at Itad explore the findings from a recent report that highlights key strategies for building and managing high-performing agent networks despite the challenges of the pandemic.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
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The Game-Changing Potential of a Regulatory Sandbox: Why Creating a Safe Space for Digital Innovation Is a Necessity for Financial Inclusion in Bangladesh
While Bangladesh has made notable progress in accelerating financial inclusion, around 50% of Bangladeshis still remain unbanked. As Jakirul Islam at Bank Asia points out, this highlights a need for more technological disruption – and more regulatory innovation. He explores the potential of a “regulatory sandbox” approach, in which the government provides a safe harbor for businesses to test inventive new products, services and business models.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Finance, Technology
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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
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The Future of Microfinance: An Interview With Ira W. Lieberman
Though its profile is somewhat lower than in its heyday, microfinance remains a relevant player in the development sector, supporting some 200 million people worldwide. A new book, “The Future of Microfinance,” contemplates the industry's tumultuous evolution and future development. NextBillion spoke with Ira W. Lieberman, a co-editor of the book, to discuss its thought-provoking insights.
- Categories
- Finance, NextBillion Originals
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Analysis: Africa’s Mobile Banking Will Be Redefined by Social Media
The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a race among African Banks to become fully digital as consumers increasingly demand more personalised service across multiple channels.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Analysis: 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
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As Users Game the System, Telcos/Banks Rue ‘Mobile Money Freebie’ in Kenya
The date was March 16, 2020, and cases of the novel coronavirus had just begun to spike in Kenya. Following recommendations from the government urging less use of cash as a precaution against the virus, Kenyan banks and mobile money platforms had been forced to become generous, sort of.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Kenya Is Doubling Down on Regulating Mobile Loan Apps to Combat Predatory Lending
The country’s central bank is proposing new laws to regulate monthly interest rates levied on loans by digital lenders in a bid to stamp out what it deems predatory practices.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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