Failure is something that every company faces on their path to success. The emerging branchless banking industry has faced its fair share of challenges and even failures as providers around the world seek to serve new customers through new channels…
In 10 years of research on regulatory issues surrounding digital financial services (DFS), CGAP has identified the “basic regulatory enablers” that should be in place to create an environment for DFS to flourish. CGAP's Inclusive Markets Team is now…
This special series will explore the nature of pyramid schemes and how they effect consumer trust in formal financial services. Guest authors will analyze learning from global examples of financial crime and its lessons for financial inclusion…
For decades, donors have been devoting significant resources to microfinance and financial inclusion. Over $25 billion had been committed as of December 2011, according to the most recent CGAP funder survey. Largely as a result of such funding, in…
The most recent Findex found that of the world's 2 billion unbanked, 1.1 billion are women. Women face unique obstacles in accessing financial services, some of which result from regulations and policies meant to actuall promote financial inclusion…
This series on gender and finance will provide an overview of some of the key themes that affect the financial inclusion of women today. Featuring views from leading experts and practitioners, it will highlight the important role that financial…
India’s Ministry of Finance released the much awaited draft microfinance bill which is to be introduced in the country’s parliament shortly. This is a short series of commentary on the bill by a variety of experts from the region on what the bill…
Despite a number of challenges identified by operators and experts, the industry seems to be attracting more international remittance volumes, resulting in eventual financial inclusion benefits for the poor in developing countries. The total number…
Digital Finance “plus” is the use of mobile money and branchless banking to make basic, essential services and utilities - in energy, health, education, and water, for example - more accessible to people at the base of the economic pyramid. Here…
M-Shwari, a mobile savings and loan product established by CBA in Kenya, is taking the digital credit world by storm. Here is what we know so far about this innovative product.
In January 2013, the Smart Campaign launched the much-anticipated Client Protection Certification Program, an independent, third party evaluation to publicly recognize financial institutions that meet adequate standards of care in how they…
Access to financial services alone will not ensure poverty reduction or economic growth. With this in mind, there is a new appreciation for a market systems development approach to financial inclusion.
This series focuses on informal micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) featuring both CGAP and external contributors. Our goals are to draw attention to this huge underserved market segment, foster discussion around access to finance issues and…
Insurance coverage is dramatically expanding with millions of more low-income households accessing better services and innovative products. This series will share recent practices and emerging ideas that have advanced the field. Featuring key…
This blog series explores mobile merchant payments in developing markets, which have great potential but will require stronger value propositions to customers and merchants alike. In order to really take off, merchant payments will require the build…
This blog series explores the financial inclusion landscape of Pakistan and its linkages with the mobile money services industry. Based on the premise that mobile wallets have the potential to drive financial inclusion far beyond what traditional…
The increasing role of the private sector in serving the poor and financially excluded as well as advances in technology and new business models serving the bottom of the pyramid are strengthening the potential for advances in financial inclusion.…
Super platforms like Google, Facebook, and Ant Financial have been making inroads in financial services sectors around the world. In China, the rapid growth of Alipay and WeChat Pay has transformed the digital finance ecosystem. It now looks certain…
This series takes a closer look at a recent report from the United States Postal Service which states it might use its deep postal infrastructure to expand financial services to the poor. Contributors highlight key lessons from the developing world…
The CGAP Customers at the Center Financial Inclusion Research Fund, in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation, awarded funds to five organizations to power projects aimed at better understanding un- and under-banked customers. Freedom from…
