The Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI), a nonprofit trade group, has become the sixth partner in the Bankers Without Borders (BwB) Alliance, a volunteer program started by the US-based Grameen Foundation. Continue Reading »

Kiva, a US-based microfinance intermediary, is launching a new platform, Kiva Zip, enabling users to lend directly to microentrepreneurs around the world. Continue Reading »

K-Rep Bank, a Kenyan commercial bank focused on providing services to poor people, has spent an estimated KES 50 million (USD 582,000) to upgrade to a software system from Switzerland’s Temenos called “T24 for Microfinance and Community Banking” [1].  Continue Reading »

Obopay, a mobile payments company headquartered in the US state of California, has partnered with Warid Telecom, a Pakistan-based postpaid cellular phone service provider, to launch a mobile banking and payment service in Uganda called Warid Pesa. Continue Reading »

The Central Bank of Nigeria has begun taxing cash withdrawals and deposits that exceed NGN 150,000 (USD 931) per day for individuals and NGN 1,000,000 (USD 6,205) per day for corporations [1]. Continue Reading »

Mexican bank Banorte, with total assets at USD 47.6 billion as of 2010, has partnered with Rev Worldwide, a Texas-based payment solutions company, to launch a mobile-phone-based financial services program called MiFon. Continue Reading »

The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, a US-based nonprofit, has taken an equity stake in BASIX Sub-K iTransactions Limited, the mobile payments unit of BASIX Group, an Indian entity providing services to poor people including microfinance, health insurance and agricultural and business development services [1]. Continue Reading »

MobileActive, a global network of people using mobile technology for social impact, recently reported on Pesinet, a French nonprofit that uses mobile technology to provide regular health checkups and insurance to young children in Mali. Continue Reading »

Event Name: The SoHo Loft Capital Creation and Crowdfunding Conference (TSLCCAC)

Event Date: January 23, 2012, 1 pm to 8:30 pm

Event Location: Reed Smith NY Conference Center, New York, USA Continue Reading »

Nokia Corporation, a Finnish telecommunications company, has launched Nokia Money, an electronic-wallet service, in an effort to promote financial inclusion of previously “underbanked” people across India [1]. Continue Reading »

BPI Globe BanKo, a mobile-based savings bank affiliated with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), reportedly has extended PHP 2 billion (USD 45.3 million) in loans to unspecified Philippine microfinance institutions. Continue Reading »

The government of Rwanda and US-based payment technology firm Visa Incorporated have announced a collaboration to extend access to financial services throughout Rwanda [1]. Continue Reading »

Asasah, a microfinance institution (MFI) in Pakistan, reportedly has announced that it will be utilizing Easypaisa, the branchless banking service of MFI Tameer Microfinance Bank Limited (TMFB) of Pakistan, as an option for borrowers to repay their loans [1]. Continue Reading »

Vittana, a US-based nonprofit that raises funding for microloans for higher education in developing countries, has received a USD 250,000 grant from US-based internet and software company Google to expand its work over the course of two years [1]. Continue Reading »

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the country’s central bank, has recently launched “MobileLINK,” a customer service coach specially-built to support BNM’s efforts to promote financial inclusion by extending outreach to a wider community. Continue Reading »