Our Approach
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"We work to identify technologies that will best enable a wide range of potential providers to reach out to the poor regardless of their location or personal circumstances. That means mobile phones and other types of branchless banking, as well as the important role that information systems play for financial institutions." Gautam Ivatury, Team Leader, Technology
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Credit Scoring
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Alternative Data to Develop a Credit Score: The increasing use of electronic payment methods by lending institutions (e.g., mobile banking, ATMs, banking agents, etc.) increases the ability to track and exploit clients’ payment and transaction histories to predict payment capacity and creditworthiness. For clients without an existing credit history and without formal employment in developing countries, such data can be a valuable resource for lending institutions to better assess risk and help currently unbanked clients develop a formal credit history.
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With the right market conditions, mobile banking could reach large numbers of poor people who are outside the formal financial system, predicts a new report from CGAP, the global microfinance body. “The Early Experience with Branchless Banking” is based on the research and observations of CGAP’s work in technology and microfinance, and identifies a need for the following: payment systems that can work with many providers, rather than in a closed system; regulating transactions in a way that is proportionate; the creation of networks of third-party cash-handing agents (such as a post office or local merchant) that can work with many providers, rather than the closed networks that exist today in countries such as Brazil.
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News and Events
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Global Business Leaders Explore Impact of Technology and Credit Information on Microfinance, Access to Finance: Over 300 delegates from more than 60 countries will hear from industry leaders from around the world as they provide in-depth and critical analysis on technology use and credit reporting to increase access to finance. The event will provide a multisectoral, global view of credit scoring and mobile banking solutions and their potential for financial institutions.
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Mobile banking to transform microfinance: A new report from the global microfinance body CGAP predicts that, with the right market conditions, mobile banking could reach large numbers of poor people who are outside the formal financial system.
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Mobile Money Summit: Mobile banking, access to finance, and the attendant challenges and opportunities were on the agenda at the Mobile Money Summit, May 14 - 15 in Cairo.
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Branchless Banking: Innovations Create Opportunity to Serve the Poor: A new CGAP/DFID Focus Note addresses the policy implications of branchless banking. Regulating Transformational Branchless Banking: Mobile Phones and Other Technology to Increase Access to Finance is based on assessments of policy and regulation in seven key countries, including interviews with more than 500 people from governments, the private sector, and international organizations in Brazil, India, Kenya, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia and South Africa.
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CGAP Apoya Proyecto de Bancarización de Credibanco:
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CGAP Technology Blog
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CGAP's blog on mobile banking, technology and access to finance.
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Branchless Banking
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Branchless banking is the delivery of financial services outside conventional bank branches using information and communications technologies and nonbank retail agents, for example, over card-based networks or with mobile phones.
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Information Systems
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Strong information systems (IS) are the foundation of any financial institution. They help an institution make informed decisions, generate timely and accurate reports, lower costs, and improve customer convenience. Yet many microfinance institutions struggle with their IS resulting in inefficiencies which limit their ability to grow. The IS Program, a joint initiative of CGAP and the EU/ACP Microfinance Programme, helps MFIs think strategically about their use of technology, make informed technology decisions, improve their IS, and help pave the way for use of advanced technologies.
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