Search Results for: digital loan

In the race to digital wallets, don’t forget cash

Success in the digital payment space will hinge on the ability of new players and incumbents to converge the physical and digital experience into a seamless continuum for the customer. Extending the digital solution to a cash-based customer requires a “phygital” approach, writes Juan Seco, Chief Growth Officer at Mukuru.

African fintech platform M-Kopa has provided digital credits worth more than $ 600 million to underbanked customers

M-KOPA announced the release of its 2021 Impact Report. As a mission-driven company, M-KOPA’s tremendous growth is rooted in commitment to both commercial and social goals. The report presents findings on M-KOPA’s smartphone, solar and cash loan customers across Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana. While much of the impact has been realised in East Africa, M-KOPA recorded […]

Banks across Africa Turn to IBM Hybrid Cloud and AI Solutions to Accelerate Digital Innovation

Africa’s leading banks including EcoBank, Nedbank, Attijariwafa Bank, United Bank of Africa, Co-operative Bank of Kenya and Banco Mais are tapping into IBM technologies to help advance financial inclusion across the continent IBM today announced that major financial institutions across Africa have selected hybrid cloud and AI capabilities from IBM to unlock digital innovation and continue […]

89% of GCC consumers will opt for digital banking services over visiting a physical branch post Covid-19

77% of respondents in the GCC access digital banking services at least once a week 44% are willing to switch to a different bank due to poor customer relations 31% perceive their bank’s current offering of access to online banking services as weak Consumer appetite for digital banking services continues to grow in the countries […]

Tapping into Digital Technology Platforms to Increase Agriculture Productivity in Africa

African Business News

by Johan Burger Introduction Africa is a bit of an anomaly as far as agriculture is concerned. On the one hand, it has 65% of the world’s available uncultivated arable land, and it has the potential to feed the world. However, a country such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has the […]

Africa’s and Kubik and Emata win Startup of the Year and Best Newcomer at their Global Startup Awards debut

On March 29, 2023, two early-stage African companies took first place in the finals of the world’s largest independent start-up competition. The rise of the African techpreneur on the global stage was evident in the announcement of the overall winners of the 2022 Global Startups Awards (GSA), considered the world’s gold standard for startups. The […]

Has the PE industry failed Sub-Saharan Africa?

View from the Carlton Centre, Africa's tallest building. Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. Photo Credit: Adamina (www.flickr.com).

African PE (Private equity) firms raised less than $20bn in the decade to 2018, equivalent to just 2.5 per cent of the capital raised by the world’s emerging markets, according to a Preqin report. Moreover, most of that African capital was invested into the relatively advanced economies of South Africa and North Africa, with very […]

Increased competition and bond switching set to shake up the SA property market

As interest rates remain stable against the backdrop of a challenging economic climate, banks are being pushed to innovate and offer more competitive home loan terms to attract customers. This environment has given rise to a practice widely adopted in the UK but is yet to reach a tipping point in South Africa: bond switching. […]

Durban to Dublin — Irish Tech Challenge South Africa 2023 Winners to Showcase SDG Innovations in Ireland

The Irish Tech Challenge South Africa is excited to announce that the 2023 winning cohort is set to travel to Ireland for a 10-day curated immersion and networking programme with access to top industry leaders and potential for further funding.

Mastering CCM: A blueprint for business leaders to drive personalisation and agility in mass customer communications

With an increased need for personalised communication when delivering complex products to customers, effective Customer Communications Management (CCM) is essential – especially in industries such as banking, insurance, medical, real estate and legal. What does “CCM” really mean and how can businesses master it to improve their offerings? In the piece, Sean Manley, National Sales and Account Manager at GhostDraft, provides insight into how CCM is key to remaining competitive and avoiding falling behind new market entrants.

Harnessing Africa’s Potential: advancing ESG strategies for a sustainable future

The opportunities for building a sustainable future for Africa are at least as great as the challenges, writes Christian Toben, Head of Financial Institutions for Emerging Markets at Commerzbank. Here, he discusses some of the positive initiatives that are helping to drive forward the continent’s ESG agenda and the crucial role of financial institutions in supporting Africa’s potential to step onto the global stage as a green energy hub.

SA’s property sector bets on proptech to weather economic headwinds

There’s no doubt that the South African property sector, like most industries, is currently facing some challenges. One major bank saw credit impairments rise 57% in the first half of 2023 – a result of the impact of higher interest rates, higher levels of inflation and record levels of load shedding. Another bank said its total net […]

How technology enables businesses to fight fraud without impacting customer experience

In today’s digital landscape, businesses are facing an increasing threat of online fraud. As highlighted by Experian’s research report, senior decision-makers are now prioritizing investments to protect against fraud, with nearly 3 in 4 acknowledging its significance.

MultiChoice Africa Accelerator Programme set to boost prosperity of African small and medium-sized businesses (SMME)

MultiChoice shortlists 11 start-ups to pitch for international funding and take their small businesses to the next level At a time when unemployment challenges and economic instability are high, small and medium-sized businesses (SMMEs) are proving to be the engines of economic growth and job creation throughout the African continent. In recognition of the critical […]

How South African small businesses and traders can up their game for financial success

Cape Town Aerial After Sunset

The better financially educated business owners are, the stronger the foundation of their business will be. Financial literacy has been proven to not only affect both saving and investment behaviour, but also debt management and borrowing practices. Financially savvy traders and SMEs are more likely to accumulate wealth, get better returns on investments, and cover emergency expenses. […]

14 start-ups announced to Pitch Live at Africa Tech Summit 2023

Africa Tech Summit has announced the final shortlist of ventures who will Pitch Live on stage to investors, corporate and media at the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi from 15th to 16th February.  More than 250 entries from 20+ African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia, Mali, South Africa, and Benin, were submitted. Pitch Live […]

11 Disruptive Startups Selected for Cohort 3 of the Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP) Accelerator Program powered by Startupbootcamp Africa

 Africa’s leading tech Accelerator, Startupbootcamp AfriTech (www.Startupbootcamp.org), together with founding partner and leading telecom giant, Telecel Group (https://TelecelGroup.com) have selected the participants of the much-coveted Accelerator Program, the Africa Startup Initiative Program (ASIP) (https://ASIProgram.com). The intrinsic value of startups in Africa lies in their ability to build fast and effective solutions to pressing challenges. Over the […]

Here’s why South African billers, retailers and banks should consider open finance solutions

By Clinton Leask, Head of Digital at Pay@ Open banking, a relatively new concept in the field of financial technologies, is fast becoming a major source of innovation that is poised to reshape the banking industry – globally and in Africa. Open Banking is a capability that provides third-party service providers access to consented consumer banking, transaction […]

The biggest fintech trends changing the face of payments in emerging markets

Mark Dankworth, President Business Development Africa at Ukheshe, shares his thoughts on how mobile money, cross-border payments and ‘buy now, pay later’ are transforming the financial sector, particularly in emerging markets, for the better. Last year saw an unprecedented rate of change in the financial sector, with huge growth in the use of digital financial […]