Financial Inclusion

The financial services industry has much to contribute to the UN and World Bank goal of full financial inclusion by 2020. This group will focus on industry contributions, ideas, barriers and enablers.

Steve Haley Director of Market Development and Partnerships at Mojaloop Foundation

What is an Inclusive and Instant Payment System (IIPS)?

What’s in a Name? RTP vs RTRP vs IPS vs Faster Payments One of the fun things about working on a global trend is watching the alphabet soup of acronyms and buzzwords diverge and converge. The US and UK are largely still using the term “faster payments,” and you hear that from international financial institutions like the World Bank. The rest of the...

25 August 2023 /payments /inclusion

Maysam Rizvi CEO at Elifinty

Why the FCA’s Consumer Duty Regulations Will Create a New Opportunity for Fintech

The FCA’s new consumer duty regulations, coming into force on the 27th of July, require firms to deliver good outcomes for retail customers. Financial Institutions are concerned about the new regulations, often requiring them to overhaul many processes left untouched for decades on end. Herein lies the golden opportunity for nimble fintechs; by bu...

06 July 2023 /regulation /startups

Retired Member 

Emerging market considerations for the Fed

Ahead of rate meetings, the Fed faces a whipsawing dilemma each time. Can they raise rates considering the current state of the banking market and impending credit issues? But equally, can they afford not to with inflation still running so far above target? The two most recent Fed meetings saw the interest rate increasing by 25bp, in March and earl...

07 June 2023 /inclusion /markets

Steve Round Co-Founder and President at SaaScada

Closing the gap: How purpose-driven finance can drive the levelling up agenda

The Financial Services (FS) industry is the largest taxpayer in the UK, contributing around 10% of the UK’s total economic output. But the industry still has more to give to help the UK “level up”. Levelling up has been used in financial terms since the 1940s when it was used to refer to government benefits for the wives of serving soldiers. But...

23 May 2023 /cloud /inclusion

Joris Lochy Product Manager at Intix | Co-founder at Capilever

Improving Financial Access for Refugees: How Fintechs Can Foster Inclusion

As the world faces unprecedented numbers of refugees (from countries like Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Venezuela…​), it is more important than ever to find structural solutions to improve the financial inclusion of this group, helping them to rebuild their lives and integrate them into their new communities. Unfortunately, traditional fin...

19 May 2023 /retail /inclusion

Ritesh Jain Founder at Infynit / Former COO HSBC

Navigating the Transition to a Cashless Society: Balancing Inclusion and Digital Innovation

The ongoing shift towards a cashless society in the UK presents an intriguing landscape, promising enhanced convenience and efficiency. However, we must remain cognisant of the potential impact on cash-dependent populations. As we embark on this transformative journey, it becomes imperative to consider their needs, ensuring inclusivity and uphol

16 May 2023 /payments /inclusion

Bruce Mason Delivery Director at QArea

The Role of Testing in Improving Financial Inclusion

Financial inclusion implies availability and accessibility of financial services to all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status, geographic location, or other factors. It is crucial for economic growth and reducing poverty, yet millions of people around the world are still excluded from formal financial systems. In this article, I wi...

19 April 2023 /payments /inclusion

Steve Haley Director of Market Development and Partnerships at Mojaloop Foundation

Achieving Financial Equity Across Asia and Africa Requires a Digital Approach to Financial Inclusion

As the world signals a potential recession, now more than ever small investments in inclusive financial infrastructure will potentially go a long way for migrant workers, small businesses and sole proprietors supporting families within emerging nations and across international borders. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, 1.4 billion peopl...

20 March 2023 /payments /inclusion

Ali Hamriti Co-Founder and CEO at Rollee

Gig Workers Denied Equal Opportunity to Financial Services - A Cue for Change

Gig workers are a rapidly growing population, and this growth has been amplified with the cost-of-living crisis which has forced 5.2m workers to take on extra jobs. From delivering takeout in the evenings, providing a taxi service or freelancing, this group of employees are combating the stresses of the cost-of-living crisis with additional work. ...

16 February 2023 /inclusion /markets

Victor Martin CMO at SquareRoot

How Much Should Companies Invest In Their Marketing Spend?

Milan Cundera once declared, "Business has only two functions – marketing and innovation." Even though ongoing studies demonstrate a higher Return On Investment (ROI) with investing in Marketing, businesses often neglect this critical component of their operation to focus on Innovation alone. Investing in both is essential for maintainin...

24 January 2023 /startups /markets