Tools
Digital Financial Services
Payments
Feb 23, 2022
What exactly is a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)? A CBDC is virtual money backed and issued by a central bank. As cryptocurrencies and stablecoins have become more popular, the world’s central banks have realized that they need to provide an alternative—or let the future of money pass them by. There are a lot of reasons to explore virtual...
Non Financial Services
Credit Risk & Scoring
May 30, 2019
These course is intended to provide SMEs with the knowledge about MSME financing, credit information sharing, the role of credit information service providers, credit Reports, credit Score, and dispute resolution process.
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
May 30, 2019
Designed for World Bank Group Task Team Leaders, Collateral Registry Operators, Government Officials, Financial Institutions and Fintech players, the World Bank Group has developed a compelling and interactive online Learning Course on the topic of Secured Transactions and Collateral Registries reforms. Divided in four modules, this course aims to...
Non Financial Services
Credit Risk & Scoring
May 30, 2019
The Fundamentals of Credit Reporting Course will raise your understanding of the economic relevance, development impact and International Standards of Credit Reporting Systems. Through this course, the participants will also gain in key insights into the legal, institutional, operational and technical aspects of credit information solutions.
Financial Education
Gender Finance
Policy & Regulation
May 08, 2019
In South Africa, there is a $49 billion unmet financing demand for women entrepreneurs. Corporations and banks can collaborate with women-owned enterprises and provide solutions to bridge the financial gap. In this IFC fact sheet, learn the key challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, how partners are collaborating for progress and ideas for...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Sustainable Finance
Apr 12, 2019
European Investment Fund (EIF) and Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL) extend InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility agreement; EUR 20 million available for innovative SMEs and small mid-caps. The latest breakdown of results by country and sector from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) has been released. The plan has mobilised almost...
Non Financial Services
Gender Finance
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Policy & Regulation
Credit Risk & Scoring
Apr 08, 2019
Egyptian women who constitute half of the population, represent tremendous economic potential, while contributing to only 22.5 percent of total labor force - offer an estimated credit demand of USD283 million among female-owned SMEs. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has achieved major accomplishments towards building an inclusive financial system...
Sustainable Finance
Policy & Regulation
Credit Risk & Scoring
Apr 03, 2019
This primer provides a quick reference on the “Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)”, a landmark legislation that defines the current national policy to promote, support, strengthen and encourage the growth and development of MSMEs. Enacted by the Philippine Congress in 1991 as Republic Act 6977, and amended by Republic Act...
Non Financial Services
Policy & Regulation
Credit Risk & Scoring
Digital Financial Services
Digital Transformation
Mar 13, 2019
The SME Finance Forum LinkedIn provides an opportunity for financial experts to view the latest news, reports, data and discussions regarding the SME finance field. The group is comprised of more than 11,000 bank executives, investors, advisory service providers and financial technology experts, who share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Digital Transformation
Mar 11, 2019
A new report by Fraedom reveals banks are working to address SMEs globally. According to the report, 61 percent of senior executives in the banks view SMEs as their current biggest growth opportunity, with a strong bias towards the medium enterprises (50-249 employees). Fintechs are also stepping up and becoming a catalyst for growth for SMEs,...
Financial Education
Non Financial Services
Alternative Financing
Guarantees
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Feb 08, 2019
Having sufficient access to finance is an important determinant for the development of an enterprise. It is a well-known phenomenon that SMEs face different challenges when accessing finance than large scale enterprises (LSEs). LSE’s for instance, have direct access to capital markets whereas for SMEs this holds to a lesser extent or they have no...
Sustainable Finance
Policy & Regulation
Payments
Jan 14, 2019
A specialized regulatory window for nonbank e-money issuers (EMIs) is one of four basic regulatory enablers for inclusive digital financial services in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) (Staschen and Meagher 2018). For the purposes of this guide, EMI is defined as any regulated entity—bank and nonbank—that is dedicated to issuing e...
Sustainable Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Dec 28, 2018
The International Debt Collections Handbook is a key tool for businesses when it comes to making decisions concerning collections in foreign countries. Each country report includes a snapshot of their current local economic situation, including GDP, major industries, import-export growth and Atradius Collections' local success rate. The chapter on...
Sustainable Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Payments
Dec 27, 2018
PYMNTS queried 25 executives well-seasoned in tech, payments and commerce to gain insight on everything from A to Z ― from AML to Zelle, you might say ― and beyond. How we buy, and sell, and keep track of it all, is also changing – not just for consumers, but also for businesses, and for the banks that cater to them. Treasury management...
Digital Financial Services
Digital Transformation
Dec 19, 2018
Erik Feyen, Lead Financial Sector Economist, FCI and Michael Casey, author and senior advisor at MIT Media Lab's Digital Currency Initiative presented The Truth Machine: Blockchain and the Future of Everything on Nov 5. View Feyen's presentation slides from the discussion. A walk through the 7,000 history of record-keeping and its role in helping...
Financial Education
Non Financial Services
Policy & Regulation
Dec 05, 2018
As of 2018, the number of countries publicly committed to promoting financial inclusion tops 90 and continues to grow. Many of these countries’ financial regulators and supervisors are explicitly tasked with implementing policies and strategies on financial inclusion (I) alongside their core responsibilities for promoting micro- and...
Non Financial Services
Sustainable Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Payments
Nov 28, 2018
The ease with which customers access digital financial services (DFS) can make such implementations appear deceptively simple – with just a click on a mobile phone and a customer will be able to make payments, save money, access credit, and even become insured. Launching a digital channel is not a simple endeavor however. It requires a relevant...
Sustainable Finance
Policy & Regulation
Credit Risk & Scoring
Nov 26, 2018
The Principles for Responsible Banking provide the banking industry with a single framework that embeds sustainability at the strategic, portfolio and transactional levels and across all business areas. The Principles align banks with society’s goals as expressed in the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement. As society’s...
Financial Education
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Policy & Regulation
Nov 21, 2018
Tips and tools are revealed on how SMEs should approach seeking finance along with strategies to improve their success with gaining finance. Utilizing online resources and guides can help SMEs learn more about alternative finance options. “Industry associations such as the Federation of Small Businesses and Enterprise Nation, as well as local...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Digital Transformation
Oct 22, 2018
FinDev Gateway compiled a guide to help individuals better understand what blockchain is and how it contributes to financial inclusion and development. According to the article, blockchain is a digital ledger which keeps records of all transactions taking place on a peer to peer network. A four step infographic, listing: digital ledger, encrypted...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Payments
Oct 05, 2018
With the growth of digital divide rising, a new ecosystem developing in India features three “interrelated and mutually-reinforcing components” that will help support financial inclusion. These elements, according to the article include: National ID, bank accounts, and mobile phones provide the foundational layers and channels for people to enter...
Financial Education
Non Financial Services
Policy & Regulation
Sep 24, 2018
In this report, Peak B examines the impact SMEs have on communities. According to the report, 90 percent of small businesses believe small businesses should support community organizations. The report highlights the value of SMEs and their support towards: charities, schools, special interest groups, sports clubs, the homeless and food banks. Key...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Sep 14, 2018
Research from SME Finance Forum member Xero revealed, that SMEs in Australia would borrow $80 billion over the next year, if funding was available. According to the research, SMEs reasoning for difficulty borrowing from a lender include: 55 percent finding an affordable loan 41 percent manually providing financials to a lender 40 percent finding a...
Gender Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Payments
Sep 10, 2018
Bank of America launched their third annual study, focused on the goals and challenges of women entrepreneurs across the country. The publication examines: rising business and economic confidence, leading the digital transformation and progress towards equal access to capital. Key points highlighted in the publication included: Women business...
Non Financial Services
Policy & Regulation
Fintech
Aug 30, 2018
The Minister for Implementation Oliver Dowden revealed that SMEs have access to almost half of public sector spend in the following areas: digital, data and technology services. According to the article,“Over £1.9bn has been spent with SMEs since 2012, the equivalent of £1.35 out of every £3 spent by government.” The government is supportive of...
Financial Education
Non Financial Services
Policy & Regulation
Aug 23, 2018
A special report, Fintech for Social Good, has been released as a follow-up to the Financial Inclusion in the Developing World 2018 Q2 report by Deep Knowledge Analytics. The report is focusesd on the following key elements as it relates to non-commercial activities: The work being done by non-profits, governmental organizations, NGOs and...
Policy & Regulation
Digital Financial Services
Digital Transformation
Jul 26, 2018
Data exchange through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) has become increasingly popular as it facilitates industry wide innovation and increases business agility. This API-oriented approach towards technology architecture has generated a lot of attention. Banks and financial institutions are adapting quickly to rapid changes in consumer...
Sustainable Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Digital Transformation
Jul 23, 2018
The purpose of this Guide is to enhance transparency for potential fintech bank applicants and increase their understanding of the procedure and criteria applied by the ECB in its assessment of licence applications. This transparency is also intended to facilitate the application process. The Guide is technology-neutral and seeks neither to...
Non Financial Services
Sustainable Finance
Digital Financial Services
Digital Transformation
Payments
Jul 02, 2018
PYMNTS.com has released Mid-Year 2018 Checkpoint ebook that maps outwhat payments executives believe is next for the year. Half way through 2018, innovation within the payments space follows no timetable. PYMNTS.com asked several stakeholders across processing, banking, digital payments and other areas to share with us what trends shaped the first...
Gender Finance
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Jun 18, 2018
A growing number of oil, gas, and mining companies have committed to create more diverse, gender-balanced, inclusive industries – recognizing that it is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes business sense. IFC has developed this toolkit to help oil, gas, and mining companies to meet their gender goals. The toolkit starts with detailed...
Sustainable Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Apr 27, 2018
This toolkit is based on real-world experience of blockchain in a variety of projects across a variety of industries that have been analysed by Imperial College London to develop an initial framework. The framework has been reviewed and further developed by members of the 2017 World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Blockchain and has been...
Financial Education
Payments
Apr 23, 2018
Continuing to advance financial inclusion by facilitating access to digital financial services is a vital element in tackling inequality, improving prosperity, and empowering individuals worldwide – a fact recognized by its prominence on the global private and public sector agenda. The UN-based Better Than Cash Alliance, a partnership of...
Financial Education
Policy & Regulation
Mar 02, 2018
The new EIF interactive map lets you search for businesses supported by EU-financing in your neighborhood. This map indicates the location of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have benefited from EU financial support through EIF-managed financial instruments. The map is indicative and based on reports received from financial...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Trade Finance
Governance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Feb 23, 2018
A new nationally representative phone survey conducted by CGAP in Tanzania examines whether the digital credit phenomenon is living up to this hype. They interviewed more than 4,500 Tanzanians, including 1,132 digital credit users, to understand who is using digital credit, how it fits into borrowers’ portfolios, and what risks are emerging. Their...
Equity
Gender Finance
Fintech
Feb 13, 2018
Since the start of 2006, three venture capital firms—500 Startups, NEA and Golden Seeds—have closed more than 100 deals apiece backing female-founded companies in the US. Twenty-five investors have closed more than 50 deals each. As a follow-up to PitchBook's recent content on women in VC, including their interactive map of investment in female-...
Sustainable Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Feb 09, 2018
It takes more than one organization to advance development. That’s why Multilateral Development Banks are joining forces to support and strengthen private sector investments in developing countries across the globe. The Global Toolbox provides an interactive inventory of instruments available from multilateral development banks to support and...
Sustainable Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Feb 07, 2018
It takes more than one organization to advance development. That’s why Multilateral Development Banks are joining forces to support and strengthen private sector investments in developing countries across the globe. The Global Toolbox provides an interactive inventory of instruments available from multilateral development banks to support and...
Sustainable Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Jan 25, 2018
It takes more than one organization to advance development. That’s why Multilateral Development Banks are joining forces to support and strengthen private sector investments in developing countries across the globe. The Global Toolbox provides an interactive inventory of instruments available from multilateral development banks to support and...
Sustainable Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Jan 24, 2018
It takes more than one organization to advance development. That’s why Multilateral Development Banks are joining forces to support and strengthen private sector investments in developing countries across the globe. The Global Toolbox provides an interactive inventory of instruments available from multilateral development banks to support and...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Sustainable Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Sep 28, 2017
With a purpose to create knowledge among SMEs and Financial institutions about the Credit Reporting for SME segment, the World Bank Group has developed two compelling and interactive online Learning Courses on this topic. These courses are intended to provide SMEs and lenders with the knowledge about MSME financing, credit information sharing, the...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Credit Risk & Scoring
Sep 28, 2017
With a purpose to create knowledge among SMEs and Financial institutions about the Credit Reporting for SME segment, the World Bank Group has developed two compelling and interactive online Learning Courses on this topic. These courses are intended to provide SMEs and lenders with the knowledge about MSME financing, credit information sharing, the...
Sustainable Finance
Payments
Aug 31, 2017
Nearly half (44.6%) of companies failed to protect payment card data on an ongoing basis. Despite the dangers, Verizon’s research shows that while PCI DSS compliance is improving, even among the companies that pass validation, nearly half fall out of compliance within a year—and many much sooner. This report delves into the detail of payment...
Supply & Value Chain Finance
Digital Transformation
Payments
Aug 28, 2017
Nigeria has an opportunity to establish itself as one of the hottest FinTech hubs. Professionals emphasize significant FinTech opportunities in Nigeria that could potentially redefine the financial services landscape over the next five years. Let’s Talk payments, has identified and listed 56 FinTech companies in Nigeria. Included in the list are...
Digital Transformation
Aug 22, 2017
MEDICI is FinTech’s premier global knowledge database with 7,400+ FinTech company profiles, 200+ research items, 5,000+ insights from Let’s Talk Payments, and direct engagement. MEDICI is created, designed, and curated by a team of global FinTech experts who understand SME Finance Forums members’ need for global, contextual FinTech knowledge...
Guarantees
Policy & Regulation
Aug 15, 2017
Credit guarantee schemes (CGSs) are an increasingly popular form of government intervention in credit markets to ease access to finance for SMEs. CGSs are established to improve access to finance for SMEs and in some cases to deliver other important results such as investment and jobs. However, a crucial public policy question is whether or not...
Guarantees
Youth Entrepreneurship
Aug 08, 2017
SMEs are responsible for delivering so many economic benefits, but a lack of access to adequate finance is one of the biggest constraints SMEs face worldwide. It is estimated that between 50% to 70% of SMEs in emerging markets are either not funded or under funded by the formal financial sector. To address these issues, the World Bank has focused...
Non Financial Services
Digital Financial Services
Payments
Aug 03, 2017
A variety of resources regarding financial institutions’ partnerships with fintech are included in this joint report from the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion and the Institute of International Finance. The researchers provide a look at how Destacame’s alternative credit scoring is enabling BBVA Bancomer to reach underserved customers...
Digital Transformation
Fintech
Jul 13, 2017
The team at AnalogFolk, London-based global digital creative agency, examine the trends impacting the financial services industry. The publication offers pathways to make tangible innovation happen through case studies, timelines and articles. FinTech, startups and demographic approaches are covered.
Sustainable Finance
Payments
Jul 11, 2017
Sub-Saharan Africa has played host to almost half of all mobile money deployments worldwide, as well as almost half of all countries where mobile money is available. Earlier this year GSMA published the decade edition of the State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money and a two-part blog series specifically focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa. The...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Oct 22, 2015
This toolkit introduces and explains step by step the key elements of success for financial institutions (FIs) to expand financial services to farmers. The content was developed around IFC’s global experience in assisting FIs with the development and implementation of agricultural finance products. The benefits of this work are synthesized in this...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Mar 04, 2015
In this section, you will find many practical tools to help a bank manage agricultural lending operations in a sound and effective manner, starting with the basics of credit analysis. We have also included editable forms that can help banks create and maintain a good system of documentation, e.g., for collateral, and to support proper loan...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Mar 04, 2015
In this section, we share tools that can help guide interested bankers to better design loan products for the agricultural sector. The downloadable tools below include product sheets and materials on a range of agricultural commodities.
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Mar 04, 2015
The tools in this section can be used by banks to conduct market studies and develop a deeper understanding of value chain arrangements including the relationship among value chain actors from production to final retail sales. These materials also cover financing opportunities at different stages of value chains and loan products relevant for...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Mar 04, 2015
This category of AgriFin tools offers a wide range of editable forms and worksheets that you can use to analyze agricultural clients. The downloadable tools below include credit risk assessment of agricultural SMEs, credit scoring tools, and technical cards on a wide range of agricultural commodities.
Nov 24, 2014
Through our Innovation Hub we want new and established businesses, which can include both regulated and non-regulated businesses, to be able to introduce innovative financial products and services to the market. The support we offer to businesses through the Innovation Hub includes: a dedicated team and contact for innovator businesses help for...
Non Financial Services
Nov 24, 2014
“The Enterprise for All” — is the online training platform, created in March 2013 on the basis of 17 years of experience of Center-invest Bank’s work with the entrepreneurs of southern Russia. The platform provides open access to knowledge about modern entrepreneurship techniques in accordance with best international standards. The bank has...
Gender Finance
Nov 06, 2014
Linda Scott is DP World Chair for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Oxford's Said Business School. Scott created the concept of the Double X Economy to describe the global economy of women. This concept was born out of her challenge to feminism’s fashion and beauty critique. A blog series by Scott on the Double X Economy may be...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Oct 29, 2014
This publication is a guide for deposit-taking institutions in any stage of youth savings program development––from those simply exploring the possibility of introducing youth savings, to those already offering youth products but looking for new ideas and strategies to improve performance.
Credit Risk & Scoring
Jul 31, 2014
IntelleGrow provides tailored, flexible debt to small and growing businesses that have the potential to address India's development challenges. Founded in 2012, with funding from Intellecap and Shell Foundation, IntelleGrow has grown quickly to help fill a demonstrated market need for "missing middle" financing for innovative enterprises working...
Equity
Jul 08, 2014
Launching an angel network is challenging in any environment. Doing so in a country with limited deal flow, weak institutions, and limited investor protection can seem nearly impossible. To confuse matters even more, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to set up and operate an angel organization. A diversity of models and structures has been...
Policy & Regulation
Payments
Jun 30, 2014
Ripple is an open payment system/currency exchange/remittance network that lets anyone, anywhere to send money in any currency. They were recently recognized by MIT as one of the 50 Smartest Companies. Ripple Labs was also named as a finalist for a 2014 PYMNTS Innovator Award in two separate categories: Best New Technology as well as Most...
Non Financial Services
Jun 25, 2014
Frontier Finance gives free access to more than 1000 sources of finance in leading emerging markets such as China, Vietnam, Russia, Brazil, India, South Africa, Egypt and many others. Sources include banks, development banks and institutions, private equity funds, grants, carbon funds, and others. Frontier Finance also provides an overview of the...
Credit Risk & Scoring
May 14, 2014
BoeFly is the online marketplace harnessing technology to dramatically simplify the execution of commercial transactions, including all loan origination and sales. BoeFly revolutionizes how deals get done by seamlessly connecting all parties, including lenders, borrowers, franchisors, investors, buyers and sellers to a potential transaction and...
Policy & Regulation
Payments
May 07, 2014
You can make payments of any kind with Ripple. This video explains how it works. In particular, it explains the role of Gateways and Pathways in the Ripple network.
Financial Education
Apr 29, 2014
Supply Chain Network in association with Absa Bank, provides a Procurement Portal with powerful technology to connect small business and big business with one another. The vision is to quickly and smartly facilitate business connections to stimulate economic and employment growth.
Financial Education
Apr 14, 2014
ConnectAmericas is the first social network for businesses in the Americas, dedicated to promoting foreign trade and international investment. It seeks to help SMEs strengthen their businesses, by providing them access to communities of clients, suppliers and investors in the region and all over the world, segmented by industry. It also provides...
Apr 03, 2014
Catalyst for Growth is developing a ratings system for business development support providers serving small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. The introduction of the rating system is intended to increase the quality of business development support (BDS) in the market, reward the best service providers, and help link SMEs to...
Gender Finance
Mar 26, 2014
EFL provides psychometric credit scores for any entrepreneur. Financial Institutions use EFL to: • Expand their MSME portfolio • Improve control over risk
Non Financial Services
Jan 09, 2014
This toolkit has been developed by the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), with the support of the UK Department for International Development (DFID). It provides methodological guidance on assessing the current state of entrepreneurial ecosystems and offers a set of resources and tools that can be used by development practitioners...
Rural & Agriculture Finance
Dec 05, 2013
The Lending to the Agriculture Sector Toolkit is a suite of resources designed to support financial institutions (FIs) in: (i) making a determination whether or not to get into or ramp up agricultural sector lending; (ii) and if so, to rapidly set-up an agricultural lending unit. It was originally designed by the U.S. Agency for International...
Alternative Financing
Nov 20, 2013
This is a high-level self-assessment tool that can provide help in assessing a country's readiness for crowdfunding. This is one possible tool to gauge cultural perception from individuals regarding key factors identified as important in the applicability of crowdfunding within a culture or country. This tool is currently in its validation phase...
Credit Risk & Scoring
Nov 12, 2013
Eurostars is a programme that supports research-performing small and medium enterprises, which develop innovative products, processes and services, to gain competitive advantage. Eurostars does this by providing funding for transnational innovation projects; the products of which are then rapidly commercialized. Eurostars is a joint programme...
Non Financial Services
Nov 05, 2013
Biz4Afrika , an online hub that will give South African small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) access to a range of free products and services from Microsoft and other partners.
Nov 04, 2013
If you are a small business owner, you need to know how your business stacks up with the competition in order to succeed. SizeUp will help you manage and grow your business by benchmarking it against competitors, mapping your customers, competitors and suppliers, and locating the best places to advertise.
Payments
Sep 23, 2013
VerifyValid lets customers make and receive payments online. Through its partnership with Deluxe Corp it can offer e-check payment services to 4 million SMEs and 5,700 bank customers.
Sep 23, 2013
E-checks mobile app links users’ bank accounts just by taking a picture of a blank check and stores information to process low-cost e-checks as a method of payment. It saves merchants up to 80% off the cost of credit card interchange fees.
Sep 23, 2013
Lighter Capital developed an SME lending platform that integrated Customer Relationship Management data (e.g. via Salesforce software) in addition to accounting and banking data to predict borrower’s future performance. Lighter Capital invests 50,000-500,000 USD into companies with revenues of 15,000 USD per month and up.
