FinTech Archives - Page 7 of 10 - AfricaBusiness.com

2Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech Startup SOL announces rebrand with exciting new virtual card offering

SOL unveils virtual card and new brand as it redefines the customer experience SOLmate, an online payment platform that offers clients a digital wallet facility, has unveiled an exciting new product offering together with an extensive rebrand and renewed corporate vision. Following a name change to SOLmate, the fintech has launched a new, innovative virtual card – placing unbanked and underbanked clients at the centre of SOLmate’s business offering. The new virtual card provides clients with the ability to shop online safely, and to draw cash from various retail stores – making SOLmate one of the first fintech players to offer a virtual card to FICA lite customers who would otherwise not have had access to digital financial services. With a new tagline of “Your money. Your life. Your ...

24Aug

By Sakhile MabenaNo Comments

Fintech, South Africa News

Transforming Financial Inclusion Using Behavioural Science

From Financial Access - to Financial Health By Sakhile Mabena, CEO, OFIN, a fintech startup specialising in Behavioural Data Analytics, Financial Process Automation, Behaviour-based Financing and SME Behaviour Nudges There is currently a revolution in the space of financial inclusion, with around 70% of people worldwide now having access to financial services, up from just 50% a decade ago, according to the World Bank. One of the key drivers behind this phenomenon is the huge increase in mobile phone usage among people of all income levels, allowing institutions to deliver services more easily and cost-effectively to the underbanked. But, does access automatically translate into usage? While it is commonly thought that financial access should lead to financial prosperity, a recent...

Top African regions set to become leading startup and investment hubs

26Jul

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Kenya News, South Africa News, Startups

Top African regions set to become leading startup and investment hubs

On the back of Cape Town being recognised as the tech capital of Africa, topping international rankings for foreign direct investment strategy, Ian Lessem, Managing Partner at HAVAÍC – investors in early-stage, high-growth technology businesses – says several other African cities are quickly emerging as leading startup and investment hubs to watch. “Startups in Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and South Africa raised a total of US$625 million last year. Of those, Kenyan startups raised US$191 million, the most of any other African country, according to Disrupt Africa’s African Tech Startup Funding Report for 2020. Distinct startup geographies are emerging in Africa, each with the potential to become its own powerhouse,” he says. In addition, the World Bank predicts that two thirds of the world’s ...

15Jul

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, South Africa News

Avoiding Instant Electronic Funds Transfer payments Risks

In 2020, e-commerce in South Africa spiked by 66%, driven by COVID-19-induced lockdowns and a drop in brick-and-mortar retail sales[i]. This increase was accompanied by an upsurge in the use of instant Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments. Towards the end of last year however, the SA Reserve Bank, Payment Association of South Africa (PASA), and Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) issued a joint statement warning consumers to be aware of the risks associated with this payment method, particularly the use of screen scraping, "which makes it possible for third parties to access bank account data and automate actions on behalf of a consumer using that consumer’s online banking access credentials". The statement went on to detail some of these risks such as the potential for fraud and...

Future proofing banking through the power of data, APIs and automation

15Jul

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech

Future proofing banking through the power of data, APIs and automation

The global pandemic has ushered in a new paradigm for the Retail Banking sector, one which demands quicker transformation to a customer-centric service that is digitised, personal and convenient. A recent Financial Industries panel discussion held by Kearney, a global consultancy, shed light on how the power of data, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and automation could be leveraged to satisfy these expectations and invigorate the sector. Hentus Honiball, Partner at Kearney, maintains that large, traditional banks with complex, cumbersome operating models and legacy technology architecture are now being threatened by agile new fintech entrants. In contrast with the siloed, product-centric approach of traditional players, responsive new players are looking to build customer-centric...

15Jul

By John BrooksNo Comments

Fintech, Nigeria News

Top 5 Reasons Why Nigerian Pioneer Bitcoin Remittances

A survey by Statista found that around 32 percent of people in Nigeria use cryptocurrencies and this is the highest proportion of a population in the world. In terms of trade volume, the country stands in 3rd position after the United States of American and Russia with a transaction value of more than 400 million dollars. This virtual currency is booming in Nigeria although there is a banking ban on it, traders discovered ways against government ban like the other parts of the world. As per the blockchain research firm Chainalysis, the amount of crypto received by the Nigerian crypto community has been constantly growing. The use of crypto in international trade also surged in Nigeria, people tried to use the currency to proxy the US dollar. Since the beginning of 2021, Nigerians traded 50...

13Jul

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, Nigeria News

M-KOPA Expands to Nigeria, Appoints Babajide Duroshola as New Country General Manager

Connected Asset Financing Platform Commercially Launching After 20,000 Device Pilot 12th July 2021. Lagos, Nigeria. M-KOPA, the leading connected asset financing platform, today announces it has officially expanded to Nigeria. To lead the Nigeria team, M-KOPA has named Babajide Duroshola as the new General Manager. A part of the tech company’s broader expansion strategy, the move into the Nigerian market signals M-KOPA’s focus on offering millions of underbanked customers across Sub-Saharan Africa access to life-enhancing products and services such as smartphones, solar lighting, energy-efficient televisions, fridges and digital financial services via its financing platform. The company recorded pilot sales of over 20,000 devices in Lagos, and is rapidly expanding into states across the c...

13Jul

By Arab NewswireNo Comments

Fintech

Bushra Mahdi appointed as the Brand Ambassador for Tetra Pay International in the GCC and MENA region

Bushra Mahdi is appointed as the brand ambassador for Tetra Pay International INC for the countries in the GCC and the MENA alliance of nations. Leading Instagram influencer, Bushra has over 299 thousand followers on her Instagram page making her a youth icon. She is also the founder of Red Films, owing to her passion for cinema and her knack of giving back to society. DUBAI, UAE – (Arab Newswire) - Tetra Pay International INC proudly presents Bushra Mahdi as the brand ambassador to represent the GCC and MENA countries. Bushra is one of the most well-known influencers on Instagram having an extensive follower base of more than 299,000 followers. Bushra has worked extensively with several of UAE’s esteemed organisations which includes the ministry of Interiors and Security Media of Ab...

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

7Jul

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech

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 of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), accelerated further by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey conducted by Backbase with YouGov. Eighty-nine percent of respondents to the survey said that they are now more likely to opt for digital banking services rather than make a physical visit to a bank branch, with consumers saying they prefer digital self-service banking solutions delivered with the same convenience as their ecommerce, entertainment, and...

6Jul

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Fintech, South Africa News

Telephonic payment solution helps companies deal with Covid-19 challenges

VerPay enables verbal commerce as businesses adapt to serve their customers in contactless ways As South Africa enters its third wave and lockdown restrictions tighten, certain businesses - such as those in hospitality - once again find themselves having to temporarily close their doors, while seeking alternative avenues to generate income, such as take-aways. “The pandemic has forced us all to do business in new ways, and presented new challenges - as well as opportunities, says Dana Buys, CEO of VerPay Pty Ltd, a Cape fintech company that specialises in cloud-based payment. “Not all companies have the means - or inclination - to go completely online. Many consumers still prefer dealing with a person, as opposed to solely an app or webs...