by Adhya Singh -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Pay-per-use Option from Software Group Targets Smaller FSPs Offering Branchless Banking in Nigeria

Software Group, a Bulgaria-based technology company serving financial services providers (FSPs), recently released a “Fast Track” version of its agency banking software. While the firm’s traditional agency product carries a subscription fee, the new version has a pay-per-use pricing structure, which can be more

by the MicroCapital Team -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Women’s Micro-Bank Limited of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Piloting 6 Branchless Banking “Mama-Bank Access Points” with Support from UN’s Pacific Financial Inclusion Program (PFIP)

Women’s Micro-Bank Limited, a subsidiary of the PNG Women in Business Foundation, recently announced it will establish six branchless banking locations, one each in six different regions of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Each of these Mama-Bank Access Points will be staffed by two employees with tablet computers that can identify users via biometric information without the need for

by Ryan Gauthier -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company Linking 8 MFIs to United Bank’s “UBL Omni” Branchless Banking Service

United Bank Limited (UBL), a Karachi-based commercial bank, and the Pakistan Microfinance Investment Company (PMIC), an organization funded by the governments of the UK and Germany, recently reached an agreement through which PMIC will link eight of its partner microfinance institutions (MFIs)

by Michelle Dold -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: SBP Increases Transaction Limits, Bolsters Alternate Channels to Boost Branchless Banking in Pakistan

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) recently announced reforms to the country’s branchless banking regulations in an effort to further the bank’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS), launched in May 2015 seeking to deliver financial services to 50 percent of the adult population in Pakistan by 2020. 

by Jeffrey Pierce -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Laku Pandai Branchless Banking to Launch in Indonesia via Bank Central Asia, Bank Mandiri, Bank Rakyat Indonesia and Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional

Four Indonesian financial institutions, Bank Central Asia (BCA), Bank Mandiri, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional (BTPN), are collaborating with Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK), an arm of the Indonesian government that regulates financial institutions, to launch a branchless banking program known as Laku Pandai.

by Ananya Tiwari -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), The MasterCard Foundation Award $900k to Advans Cote d’Ivoire, MFS Africa, Money Express for Branchless Banking Projects in Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal

CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), a US-based nonprofit that aims to facilitate the expansion of financial access, and The MasterCard Foundation, a Canada-based nonprofit that aims to promote youth learning and financial inclusion in emerging markets, recently awarded a total of USD 900,000 to three projects in countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) to expand the availability of banking in the region.

by Chikondano Faith Chisala -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Branchless Banking Transactions in Pakistan Quintuple in Value to $8b

According to a report entitled “Access to Finance in Pakistan” that was recently published by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the nation’s central bank, the total value of branchless banking (BB) transactions in Pakistan during 2013 increased by PKY 651 billion (USD 6.73 billion) over the previous year, reaching PKY 802 billion (USD 8.29 billion).

by Tejas Jain -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: CGAP Branchless Banking Challenge Fund for West Africa Accepting Entries through March 31, 2014

CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), a US-based nonprofit policy and research center that aims to facilitate the provision of financial access to poor people, is accepting applications for the Branchless Banking Challenge Fund, a contest to encourage development of innovative solutions to challenges faced by the branchless banking market in West Africa.

by Meghan Gillis -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Gemalto Provides Biometric Smart Cards for “Prime Cash” Branchless Banking in Bangladesh

Gemalto, a digital security company based in the Netherlands, has developed a smart card-based system for two Bangladeshi businesses: Prime Bank Limited, a commercial bank founded in 1995, and Dipon Consultancy Services Limited (DCSL), a member of the Bangladesh-based conglomerate Dipon Group. The system will support the branchless banking service known as Prime Cash, which was established by the two firms in 2012.

by Makai McClintock -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Bank Indonesia Releases “Guiding Principles” for Branchless Banking Trial; Indosat, Telkomsel, PT XL Axiata to Offer Money Transfers for $0.21

Bank Indonesia, the country’s central bank, recently issued “guiding principles” for upcoming tests of a banking and payment system through existing Financial Services Intermediary Units (FSIU), registered third-party services which facilitate the provision of non-conventional banking services.

by Lena Phillips -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Banks in Indonesia Claim Readiness for Branchless Banking, Pending Regulation Issuance

Banks across Indonesia have reportedly stated that their information technology systems will be ready to handle branchless banking by 2013 pending the issuance of authorizing regulation from Bank Indonesia (BI), the country’s central bank and financial regulator.

by Sarah Benali -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Waseela, Mobilink Partner to Offer Branchless Banking in Pakistan

Waseela Microfinance Bank Limited (WMBL), subsidiary of Egypt-based telecommunications company Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH), and Mobilink, an Islamabad-based cellular service provider managed by OTH, recently received approval from the State Bank of Pakistan to offer branchless banking in the country.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MasterCard Foundation, CGAP Announce $11.4m Partnership for Branchless Banking, Client Research

The MasterCard Foundation, a Canada-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) supporting microfinance and education, and CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), a US-based nonprofit policy and research center, recently announced a USD 11.4 million partnership to develop low-cost financial products to assist people living in poverty.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Ufone Purchases Rozgar Microfinance Bank, to Implement Branchless Banking in Pakistan

Ufone Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), a subsidiary of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, reportedly has purchased all of the shares of Rozgar Microfinance Bank, a Pakistani microfinance institution (MFI), as part of an effort to offer branchless banking throughout the country.

by Brett Cohen -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Ingenico Partners with Microfinance Institution Finada of Benin on Branchless Banking

Ingenico, an electronic payment solutions company based in France, has partnered with Finada, a Beninese microfinance institution (MFI), in an effort to offer banking services such as deposits and bill payment through Ingenico terminals at shopping centers, pharmacies and gasoline stations.