Financial inclusion is accelerating - and mobile money is leading the charge
More than 1.4 billion adults remain unbanked, most in emerging markets. Yet mobile connectivity and digital rails are changing access to finance at scale.
According to the 2025 Global Findex Database, mobile money accounts have driven most of the inclusion gains in low- and middle-income countries over the past decade. This isn't just about moving funds; it's about giving people a way to participate in the economy and build resilience.
Last year, over $1.1 trillion (R19 trillion) moved through mobile money platforms, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for roughly two-thirds. These flows help households manage shocks and give small businesses a working capital lifeline when traditional infrastructure falls short.
The GSM Association reports that mobile money added about $720 billion to the GDP of countries with the service in 2023 (based on data from 2013-2023) and contributed roughly 4.5% to Sub-Saharan Africa's output. For finance leaders, the signal is clear: inclusion drives growth when the rails are simple, trusted, and built for daily use.
World Bank Global Findex and GSMA's State of the Industry offer deeper context for these trends.
Inclusion that sticks: trust, relevance, and resilience
Access is the first step. Durable inclusion requires products that are affordable, intuitive, secure, and tied to real economic value.
Technology should remove friction, not add it. It should help users withstand shocks, build a track record, and keep contributing to their local economies. That's the standard that turns first-time access into long-term participation.
AI-driven underwriting for the under- and unbanked
At Optasia, a digital finance platform, we use AI to help banks reach people who are invisible to traditional credit systems. By partnering with mobile operators and analyzing alternative data, we can assess creditworthiness where formal records are thin or nonexistent.
Today, we support 121 million monthly active users and have access to over 860 million mobile subscribers across 38 countries. The approach is global in scale and local in impact, focused on creating practical access for people and small businesses who've been overlooked.
The data flywheel
Every transaction, repayment, and digital interaction feeds our credit-decision engine. The result is a compounding loop: better predictions, broader access, and lower risk over time.
For lenders and operators, this means higher approval rates with disciplined risk controls. For customers, it means credit that fits their lives - small, fast, transparent, and fair.
Listing on the JSE: scaling inclusion with discipline
On Tuesday, Optasia begins a new chapter with a debut on the JSE. This move signals confidence in the role of technology in expanding inclusion and in the strength of emerging markets.
Going public strengthens our ability to scale responsibly, forge new partnerships, and invest further in AI innovation. It also underscores a commitment to transparency, accountability, and long-term impact - principles that matter to both markets and financial inclusion.
What finance leaders should do next
- Build with mobile-first rails in high-friction markets; prioritize USSD and lightweight apps where smartphones are limited.
- Use alternative data (usage, payment patterns, behavioral signals) with clear governance, consent, and explainability.
- Pair machine learning with strong risk policy: reject inference creep, audit models, and monitor drift continuously.
- Protect consumers with clear pricing, opt-in data permissions, recourse channels, and hardship protocols.
- Stress test unit economics under volatility: FX swings, network outages, seasonality, and regulatory shifts.
- Design localized products: micro-loans, pay-as-you-go utilities, merchant float, and insurance that matches cash cycles.
- Adopt tiered KYC to widen access while meeting AML/CFT standards; leverage regulator sandboxes where available.
- Measure outcomes beyond volume: active usage, repeat behavior, on-time repayment, and customer net benefits.
The next phase: from transactions to transformation
The future of inclusion will be built on intelligent, adaptable, data-driven finance that delivers personalized services at scale. To reach the next billion users, systems must be inclusive by design and protective of consumer data from day one.
That calls for responsible innovation and cross-sector collaboration so the benefits of AI and data reach those who need them most. The shift is already underway.
Further resources
- Practical AI tools for finance - curated options to evaluate, pilot, and scale.
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