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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of emerging economies. In many regions, they create jobs, drive innovation, and stimulate local economies. Despite their significant contributions to GDP and employment, SMEs in emerging markets remain underserved by traditional banking.
Cross-border payment hub, Tranglo , has expanded its footprint in Africa, now supporting payouts in Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Senegal, and Zambia as it continues to aim to boost financial inclusion by providing efficient, affordable cross-border payment solutions to the region. In 2023, remittances accounted for nearly 1.5
T hese Singapore digital banks are reshaping the sector by targeting underserved segments, driving innovation, and intensifying competition. GXS Bank , a partnership between Grab and Singtel, focuses on financial inclusivity for underserved groups, such as gig economy workers and young professionals.
The regions strong fundamentals, coupled with a growing digital economy, promise continued growth and innovation in the coming years, a new report by Royal Park Partners (RPP), a fintech-focused corporate finance advisory firm, says. These platforms are bridging credit gaps, playing a crucial role in the supporting local economies.
This strategic milestone underscores Mastercards commitment to supporting the country’s growing digital economy by providing innovative financial products and services tailored to the market. This strategic expansion reinforces Mastercards dedication to driving a sustainable digital economy that creates lasting benefits across Africa.
Xavier Segura, general partner, Morgan Creek Digital Xavier Segura , general partner, Morgan Creek Digital added: “As Latin America’s Web3 startup ecosystem continues to evolve and mature, we are looking forward to supporting the founders that have joined the programme.” The selected teams were chosen from applications across the region.
Gabriel Swanepoel , country manager at Mastercard Southern Africa Gabriel Swanepoel , country manager at Mastercard Southern Africa, commented: “Our collaboration with Paymentology continues to evolve, driven by a shared vision of fostering an accessible digital economy.
Undoubtedly, fintech and payments will continue to serve as pivotal forces shaping the financial landscape, but what trends will define the market next year? Jeff Parker, CEO, says, “Digital payments will continue to grow rapidly, with mobile wallets expected to reach 4.8
Today, we process over one billion transactions monthly, with total payment volume exceeding $22billion; enabling businesses and individuals in Nigeria to digitise their operations and thrive in its rapidly evolving economy. Fuelling local economies and boosting national GDP has significant benefits for all. Great question.
The region has become a hotbed for embedded finance, thanks to its mobile-first economy and digitally savvy population. Open banking and APIs will continue to drive innovation, enabling even more seamless integration of financial services. Southeast Asia Is Blooming With Options Let’s start somewhere close to heart, Southeast Asia.
The latest to do so is PayJoy , the financial service provider to the underserved in emerging markets, as it reveals how smartphones are enabling working mothers in Mexico to have financial stability. Were committed to supporting the women who are often overlooked by traditional financial services, continued Barrantes.
Senegal is one of many countries across the Middle East and Africa trying to diversify its economy and future-proof itself by hosting financial inclusion by employing fintech solutions. Historically, Senegals economy has centred around agriculture, particularly peanuts.
Unlike GenAI, which operates within predefined parameters, Agentic AI systems possess the capability to make independent decisions, learn from real-time data, and autonomously execute complex tasks without continuous human oversight. People no longer want to just be handed tools to manage their money.
Frequently we hear talk about how startups are only catering to wealthier individuals in developed economies, or even the 1% (and sometimes, that’s true). However, there are many startups in the CB Insights database who are targeting underserved populations with healthcare, … Continued.
Unlike traditional banks and financial service providers, which are often constrained by legacy systems and processes, fintechs are often more flexible – enabling them to quickly build solutions that better support underserved communities. Its an industry of collaboration and partnership between fintechs and traditional banks.
According to Nikkei Asia , this move is part of a strategic effort to establish a significant presence in regions currently underserved by major digital asset platforms. With a daily trading volume of US$44.5 Looking ahead, Bitkub is exploring potential dual listings in international markets such as Hong Kong or the U.S.
As a result, DeFi is gaining traction rapidly due to its ability to provide financial services to those who have been historically underserved by conventional banking systems. Potential for Financial Inclusion: Bridging the Gap DeFi holds immense promise for fostering financial inclusion by providing services to underserved populations.
Despite its political unrest and economic challenges, Myanmar has shown significant progress in the fintech sector, bringing financial services to underserved populations. Agriculture, however, remains the largest contributor to the economy, accounting for nearly half of the GDP and employing two-thirds of the labour force.
4 Fintech Unicorns in Hong Kong Hong Kong continues to cement its role as a fintech powerhouse in Asia, blending its strong regulatory framework with an innovation-friendly environment. Its goal is to help grow Indonesias digital economy by enabling seamless transactions for everyone. Micro Connect Valuation: $1.7 Dana Valuation: $1.3
It is becoming infrastructure, embedded, intelligent, and indispensable to the digital economy. This flexibility opens doors to underserved segments that were previously priced out of traditional enterprise software. Global expansion will continue, particularly in emerging markets where mobile and SaaS adoption is accelerating.
million active customers and more than 79,000 merchants across the United States, Australia and New Zealand,1 Zip continues to promote financial inclusion by making everyday spending, cash flow management, budgeting – and the ability to cover unexpected expenses – accessible.
This deal reinforces our commitment to support new economy businesses as they move along the different growth stages and expand across the region.” This financial support is instrumental in propelling our continuous efforts to meet the unique financial requirements of underserved communities across Southeast Asia.”
This collaboration aims to build a more financially sustainable creator economy. Leveraging Accelerated Payments funding solutions, inflverse has developed a proprietary platform that is revolutionising payments within the creator economy.
A leading multinational bank, Access Bank Group , has today launched an innovative solution in collaboration with Mastercard to expand access to cross-border payments and remittances to and from the continent, bringing Africa closer to the global economy. In 2024, remittance flows to the region are projected to increase by 2.5%.
Beginning in Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria, Mastercard and KaiOS will deliver affordable payment acceptance devices and stimulate the growth of a more inclusive, connected global economy. This, in turn, makes it harder for these businesses to meaningfully participate in the digital economy and limits inclusive growth.
Paytech can bring people together Briana Marbury, CEO at the Interledger Foundation The reason many leave countries with developing or uncertain economies is to find a way to make more money to help their families back home. “Access to fair credit isnt just a convenience; its a necessity.
The SME sector accounts for 94% of the total number of companies operating in the UAE, according to the Ministry of Economy. The holistic and expansive nature of our product offering has helped us continue to grow sustainably. We’ve been in the market for a while now, and are incredibly proud of what our team has achieved.
Tranglo , a leading cross-border payment hub, continues its expansion across Africa with the addition of 10 new payout countries: Benin, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Rwanda, and Tanzania. With the latest expansion, Tranglo now supports payouts to 25 African countries.
Tap Pay is not just a feature; it’s a key part of our efforts to cultivate a more inclusive, cashless society and a documented economy. We will continue to lead the way in transforming Pakistan’s financial services landscape and paving the way for the widespread adoption of digital payments.” ” J.K.
This year, digital payments and lending continued to lead the sector’s growth, accounting for over 90% of the total DFS revenue. This growth was driven by digital banks entering the space and expanding lending to underserved customers through the use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI).
The focus: Growing the network while providing an optimized payments experience to meet the financial needs of Americans Leonhard: Our goal is to continue that trajectory and surpass $1 trillion in transaction volume by the next edition of The Quarterly Review. Our engineers work nonstop to ensure that we have a strong and resilient platform.
Yet, despite these challenges, the fintech industry continues to innovate and adapt, seeking new avenues for growth and development. The research points out that this diversity in views reflects the sector’s resilience, with many firms identifying opportunities for expansion, especially into underserved markets.
The report, Advancing Economic Inclusion—Empowering Underserved Communities with Fintech , highlights the innovative products and services revolutionizing the way commerce is conducted through safe, secure, convenient, and rewarding solutions.
Having originally launched in Mexico in February 2024, inDrive Money improves financial inclusion for gig economy workers. This is particularly impactful as freelancers have traditionally been underserved in Latin America, and Colombia is no different. This will depend on their activity on the inDrive app.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped industries and economies worldwide. As of 2024, it is clear that the changes initiated during the pandemic are not just temporary adjustments but enduring shifts that continue to define the industry’s trajectory. in 2020, reaching $4.28 Subscription-based companies grew revenue by 11.6%
The relationship will help Commerce Bank in its transformation to a more digital way of doing business, as the world continues to embrace digital technology in the wake of the pandemic. In this digital-first economy, AI is a critical component of their digital transformation.”.
Finance reported. “Many small businesses will continue to struggle in the weeks and months to come,” Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) told Yahoo. Congress must once again act urgently to support our most vulnerable small businesses through this crisis, so our economy can recover as quickly as possible after the pandemic.”.
They are proportionally comfortable using gig economy services that provide these things, with about a third of millennials working some sort of gig position themselves. This generation also loves to travel, and many delay starting families (or forego it altogether) to continue exploring the world or otherwise pursue self-fulfillment.
With their growing economies and youthful populations, these regions present significant opportunities. Consequently, Kenya witnessed a surge in mobile payment adoption, improving financial access for underserved populations. The governments continuous support has ensured sustained growth.
But while the economy in general is expected to boom, many small businesses are still in recovery mode. Of course, many firms opted to apply for fully forgivable PPP loans instead of traditional loans, seeing as the second round of PPP had funds earmarked for underserved small businesses. They might even be the next Chobani. ) .
Bookkeeper360 embodies this culture, and we could not be more excited to continue helping small and family-owned businesses, excel with Bookkeeper360’s solutions.”. “Enabling small businesses to have the tools to succeed has been at the forefront of companies we look to invest in,” said Judson Ain in the release.
These virtual events became vital for maintaining business continuity, serving as a means for internal meetings and connecting with clients and audiences. Post-COVID-19, webinars continue to thrive, owing to their versatility, accessibility, affordability and effectiveness in engaging and educating audiences in an increasingly digital world.
Whether youre an entrepreneur, investor, policymaker, or simply curious, this guide offers a clear, structured overview of the fintech sector as it continues to evolve. Financial Inclusion Fintech improves access to credit, savings, and insurance in underserved markets. Artificial intelligence will play a greater role.
At Mastercard, our commitment to playing a pivotal role in the country’s dynamic fintech ecosystem remains steadfast, as we continue to provide access to our expertise, network, and cutting-edge technologies to accelerate growth and meet evolving customer demands.”
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