Research & Analysis

Digital Banks: How can they deepen financial inclusion?

The world is rapidly changing. New technologies and business models are upending long-established markets across virtually every major sector. Financial services are no exception, as traditional retail banks are joined by a growing number of digital partners and other competitors. What are the implications for incumbents, regulators, and investors? And what will this evolving landscape mean for financial inclusion and the many stakeholders working to make universal access a reality?

Making Data Work for the Poor

The consumer consent model for data privacy and protection is broken. It’s time for a new data paradigm whereby financial services providers and data collectors take greater responsibility for protecting customers’ data.

I Do Not Accept These Terms & Conditions

CGAP's privacy and consumer financial services expert David Medine discusses the risks that millions of low-income consumers face in developing countries as they start using digital financial services

How to Make Data Work for the Poor

It's time for new approaches to data protection and privacy. This infographic showcases CGAP's solution in a visual format.

2018 Trends in International Funding for Financial Inclusion

International funding increased by 12 percent in 2018 to approximately $47 billion, a trend that has been consistent over the past five years. A third of international funders have been purposefully aligning their financial inclusion efforts to the achievement of SDGs.

International Funding for Financial Inclusion in 2018: Global Data

Data snapshots are available at the global and regional levels and represent funding commitments from 23 international public and private funders.

Nonbank E-Money Issuers vs. Payments Banks: How Do They Compare?

A special licensing category for nonbank e-money issuers is considered a key regulatory enabler for inclusive digital financial services. This Technical Note compares the EMI license with the payments bank license that India, Mexico and Nigeria have created.

Is Data Privacy Good for Business?

Do poor customers value data privacy? Six experiments in India and Kenya indicated they do and are willing to pay for it. For providers, this suggests that offering products with privacy and protection features can give them a competitive market edge.

The Trillion-Dollar Question

What must providers do differently to make digital payments work better than cash for merchants and their customers? Peter Zetterli’s search for an answer led him to a surprising question: What if trying to be better than cash is the wrong approach?

Fair Play: Ensuring Competition in Digital Financial Services

In addition to the behavior of market actors, regulation can have a substantial impact on the dynamics of competition in digital financial services markets. CGAP examines some regulatory levers that policy makers can deploy to promote more competition in emerging economies.