Ruben Barreto

Ruben Barreto works for CGAP's Customer & Provider Solutions Team conducting research and advising partner startups in applying new financial technologies to better serve low-income customers. He is an economist and financial sector specialist with 15 years of experience in the development of business and financial sectors. Ruben’s project experience covers almost 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Prior to CGAP, Ruben worked for the Asian Development Bank, where he led several projects for business and financial sector development through policy dialogue, investments in financial institutions, capacity building, and research.

Ruben began his career as a loan officer with Banco Santander, providing financing and banking services to a wide range of small and medium-sized enterprises in Portugal, before becoming an economic adviser to the Portuguese Minister of Finance. He received his B.Sc. in economics and his master's in finance from the University of Porto.

By Ruben Barreto

Research

Fintechs and Financial Inclusion

Based on pilots with 18 fintechs across Africa and South Asia, this paper identifies emerging fintech innovations with potential to improve the lives of the poor. It also highlights common challenges faced by early-stage fintechs.
Blog

FinTech Partnerships: Choose Carefully, Then Evolve

FinTech startups in developing markets are leveraging partnerships to reach customers as diverse as women's savings groups, dairy cooperatives and smallholder farmers.
Blog

FinTech for the Poor: Not All Virtual, Not All Apps

FinTech isn't always about rolling out a dazzling new smartphone app. In places where USSD phones are the norm, it means something quite different.