MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: HugoBank, KT, Mashreq, Raqami Islamic, Telenor Microfinance Earn Regulatory Approval to Pilot Digital Banking Services in Pakistan

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) recently furnished five commercial banks with in-principle approval to set up digital banking platforms. Three of the five – HugoBank, KT Bank Pakistan and Raqami Islamic Digital Bank – have been established this year while the others – Mashreq Bank Pakistan and Telenor Microfinance Bank – have longer track records. These banks can now offer digital financial services on a limited basis, before final rollouts are approved by SBP.