Mobile Banking and Microfinance Institutions Sustainability: Analysis of Digital Financial Services in Rwanda (2011-2015)

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Gasheja Faustin ◽  
Jean Harelimana
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Mobile Banking ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Sustainability Analysis

Mobile Banking and Payment System

2018 ◽  
pp. 66-82
Author(s):  
Aijaz A. Shaikh ◽  
Payam Hanafizadeh ◽  
Heikki Karjaluoto
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Banking System ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Payment System ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mobile Banking ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Payment Systems ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
Future Research Directions

This study conceptualizes and proposes a well-regulated and designated mobile banking and payment system (MBPS) with the potential to strengthen the banking system, foster the regulatory framework, and to be integrated across various platforms and mobile devices. Unlike other mobile payment systems that lack convenience, scalability, and usability, the proposed MBPS contains several important functionalities and it has the potential to bring together hitherto unconnected industries—banking, Fintech and telecoms—to offer value-added services to their existing and potential customers. The ownership of the MBPS shall remain with the financial services sector including the banking and microfinance institutions. The paper concludes with a discussion on the implications and limitations of the study and proposes future research directions.

Mobile Banking Impacting the Performance of Microfinance Institutions: A Case Study from Rwanda

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
pp. 2050001
Author(s):  
Marthe Uwamariya ◽  
Claudia Loebbecke ◽  
Stefan Cremer
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Transaction Cost Economics ◽  
Mobile Service ◽  
Mobile Banking ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Loan Default ◽  
Loan Defaults

Globally, high costs and loan defaults are the biggest threats to microfinance profitability and sustainability. This explorative study investigates how and to what extent mobile banking can foster the performance of microfinance institutions (MFIs). It expands the traditional dimensions of Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) by adding a loan default aspect. The study offers an explorative case study on “Urwego Opportunity Bank” (UOB) — Rwanda’s first commercial mobile service. Based on qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews from the bank’s staff and its customers, the case shows how mobile banking allows for reducing transaction costs and loan defaults and thereby increases efficiency of MFIs. Further, it identifies high agent visibility, and sufficient savings to drive the usage of mobile banking — which, in turn, promotes the deployment of financial services to still unbanked parts of the population in emerging economies.

scholarly journals Mobile Banking and Payment System

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aijaz A. Shaikh ◽  
Payam Hanafizadeh ◽  
Heikki Karjaluoto
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Banking System ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Payment System ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mobile Banking ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Payment Systems ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
Future Research Directions

This study conceptualizes and proposes a well-regulated and designated mobile banking and payment system (MBPS) with the potential to strengthen the banking system, foster the regulatory framework, and to be integrated across various platforms and mobile devices. Unlike other mobile payment systems that lack convenience, scalability, and usability, the proposed MBPS contains several important functionalities and it has the potential to bring together hitherto unconnected industries—banking, Fintech and telecoms—to offer value-added services to their existing and potential customers. The ownership of the MBPS shall remain with the financial services sector including the banking and microfinance institutions. The paper concludes with a discussion on the implications and limitations of the study and proposes future research directions.

scholarly journals Transformative Technology in Microfinance: Delivering Hope Electronically?

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanthi Elizabeth Senthe
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Banking System ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Mobile Banking ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Vast Number ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Social ◽  
Consumer Perspective ◽  
Functionalist Approach

Considered a lifeline, and a convenience, a mobile phone has now acquired another transformative dimension within the microfinance context.  As a result of the proliferation of mobile banking in emerging markets and developing countries, microfinance institutions (“MFIs”) have adopted similar technological enhancements to deliver microfinance products.  This paper will explore how emerging technology advances has altered the contours of microfinance, specifically mobile banking (also known as “m-banking”) which is utilized to facilitate efficient financial services to a vast number of people without access to the formal banking  system and financial services, otherwise known as the “unbanked”.  This discussion offers a snapshot of the current state of mobile banking, and examines the kaleidoscopic approach used by microfinance institutions through several auxiliary considerations.  Part I examines the underlying rationale in employing a cashless banking paradigm and illustrates how mobile banking is administered institutionally.  Part II seeks to highlight the regulatory considerations intractable within the mobile banking discourse, and is intended to provide a survey of the current regulatory landscape, and finally, Part III focuses on uncovering the consumer perspective, and calls for a conceptual refinement in the interconnection of the social context within mobile banking. This paper is not intended to be categorized as a comparative law piece; rather its primary objective is to provide a snapshot of how certain jurisdictions have embraced mobile banking platforms and their legislative response thereto.  This discussion is merely offered as part of a functionalist approach discourse currently adopted by regulators; as such this paper only offers a cursory perspective of emerging legal considerations within the mobile banking context as it relates to MFIs.

A NEW AGENT MODEL FOR BRANCHLESS BANKING IN COLOMBIA

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Daniel Maurico Alarcón Lozano ◽  
Matteo Mandrile
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
Economic Viability ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Current Development ◽  
Agent Model ◽  
Agent Networks

This article provides an overview of the current development of branchless banking in Colombia, within the context ofthe Government’s strategy to promote access to financial services through non-bank correspondents (NBC). It describes the Colombian legal and regulatory framework for branchless banking, focusing on the recent reforms and types of retailers permitted to serve as agents. Also, it examines the traditionalbanking sector’s interest in branchless banking, and shows the available platforms for the implementation of banking agent networks. It highlights the potential of branchlessbanking solutions for the Colombian microfinance institutions (MFI), identifying a new agent model that puts MFI centre-stage. The article concludes with a series of recommendationsfor the development of branchless banking as a tool to expand financial acces, taking into account issues that still have the potential to affect the degree of customeracceptance and its economic viability.

scholarly journals ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN INDIA

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Arun.K.V
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Formal System ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Handheld Devices ◽  
Mobile Banking ◽  
Major Step ◽  
Banking Business

Technology and financial inclusion are the popular coinage in banking parleys in the country. While technological upgradation and mobile banking are catching up so fast, financial inclusion is tardy. Financial inclusion is a major agenda for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Without financial inclusion, banks cannot reach the un-banked. It is also a major step towards increasing savings and achieving balanced growth. The reach the country is having with technological progress mobile banking has the potential to emerge as a game changer in terms of costs, convenience, and speed of reach. Business models of banks, telecom operators and other stakeholders need to converge. However, the banking industry’s penetration to un-banked areas is still found sluggish. The role of the Indian banker is challenging. At one end of this spectrum lies the demand to achieve financial inclusion as nearly 50 per cent of the population is yet to be covered under the formal system of banking and at the other end lies the task to fulfil the needs of the existing customers. The first priority for banks is to adopt core banking solution (CBS), including all regional rural banks (RRBs). Next, a multi-channel approach using handheld devices, mobiles, cards, micro-ATMs, branches and kiosks can be used. However, it should be ensured that the transactions put through such front-end devices should be seamlessly integrated with the banks’ CBS. In rural areas, where accessibility is a problem, banks are using the microfinance network and business correspondents and facilitators to bring more people under the ambit of banking services. Capitalising on the huge untapped potential in smaller towns and cities and rendering financial services to this segment of people poses a big challenge. Few banks have explored technology solutions to increase the scale of their microfinance portfolios, with the use of smart cards and core banking solutions. KEYWORDS- Technology, Financial Inclusion, Core Banking, Business Correspondents

scholarly journals Financing innovative development of the African economies: the role of digitalization and financial innovations

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-439
Author(s):  
Tijani Forgor Alhassan ◽  
Ahou Julie Kouadio ◽  
Dadson Etse Gomado
Keyword(s):  
Financial Development ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Financial Innovation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Innovative Development ◽  
Mobile Banking ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Financial Innovations ◽  
Sub Saharan

The article examines the relationship between financial innovation (mobile banking) variables in sub-Saharan Africa. Mobile banking (also known as mobile money) is one of the main financial innovations in the sub-Saharan region, and it is a system through which non-bank residents (residents without bank accounts, etc.) receive financial services. The overall importance of financial innovation in today’s digital and knowledge-based economy, and indeed, innovative development, inspired this study. Using a partial linear regression model, we analysed the International Monetary Fund data set, the World Bank’s national economic data, and mobile banking data from GSMA for the period from 2011 to 2017. A negative correlation was found between these variables and growth, as well as financial development, but a positive relationship was established between financial development and economic development. This positive relationship re-confirms the argument that financial development affects economic growth. It is recommended that policy makers develop and implement the necessary policy tools that can promote this form of financial innovation, and thus link its benefits to the national economy in general.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Users’ Behavioral Intention to Reuse Mobile Financial Services in Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-169
Author(s):  
Md. Rizvi Khan ◽  
Sirion Chaipoopirutana
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Intention ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Behavioral Intentions ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Mobile Banking ◽  
Perceived Ease Of Use ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Mobile Financial Services

Objective – This paper aims to empirically examine the factors influencing the users’ behavioral intention to reuse mobile technology to facilitate their financial services in Bangladesh. Methodology/Technique – A self-administered online survey method was used and 400 responses were collected with Likert-type questions using Google Forms as a medium. A model was developed and proposed based on different technology acceptance models like TAM, UTAUT and similar studies on factors influencing users’ intention to adopt and reuse mobile financial services in Bangladesh. The proposed model was tested by performing simple and multiple linear regression using SPSS software. Findings – The results show that perceived ease of use influences perceived usefulness of mobile financial services but perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and security have no influence on trust in terms of behavioral intention to reuse mobile financial services in Bangladesh. However, with the exception of trust and perceived financial cost, the remaining variables such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, security, perceived risk, social influence and facilitating conditions significantly influence behavioral intentions to reuse mobile financial services in Bangladesh. Novelty - This study examines crucial factors spotted in literature in the context of Bangladesh. Earlier papers have primarily focused on traditional banking clients’ behavioral intention toward their bank’s mobile banking facilities in Bangladesh. This paper is comprehensively designed to identify influential factors of reusing non-traditional mobile financial services like bKash, Rocket, Nagad etc. at the growth level in the industry of Bangladesh. The researcher tried to identify factors influencing both bank and non-bank users to reuse mobile financial services for their digital transactions. Type of Paper: Empirical. JEL Classification: M31, M39. Keywords: bKash; Bangladesh; Mobile Banking; Behavioral Intentions; Reuse; Mobile Financial Services. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Khan, M.R; Chaipoopirutana, S. 2020. Factors Influencing Users’ Behavioral Intention to Reuse Mobile Financial Services in Bangladesh, J. Mgt. Mkt. Review 5(3) 155 – 169. https://doi.org/10.35609/jmmr.2020.5.3(4)

Growth and Development of Small Business Through Microfinance Activities in Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-34
Author(s):  
Chandra Prasad Dhakal
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Economic Activities

Small businesses play important role for economic development and stability. It develops access in financial services through enhancing economic activities. The study analyzes the growth and development of small businesses that enhance through the support of micro finance in Nepal. Descriptive and inferential were used to collected data and collected data were analyzed through using multiple linear regression analysis. Only 124 small business owners were selected for this study. The study helps to find out the growth of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and small businesses in emerging economy in Nepal. It also assists MFIs to assess the effectiveness of their services and help to efficient utilization of available resources in the economy of Nepal.

Adopting Islamic microfinance as a mechanism of financing small and medium enterprises in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ssemambo Hussein Kakembo ◽  
Muhamad Abduh ◽  
Pg Md Hasnol Alwee Pg Hj Md Salleh
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Alternative Scheme ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Islamic Microfinance ◽  
Financial Challenges ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeDespite the fact that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in strengthening the financial sector within developing and emerging economies through providing employment opportunities to the rural and urban population, capacity building in the form of skills training and economic empowerment, they still face a plethora of challenges that continue to threaten their existence, performance and growth. Access to operational and administrative funds needed to execute their activities effectively is a significant challenge and detrimental to the growth of SMEs in Uganda. Conversely, Islamic microfinance has been noted as a panacea to the challenges of financial inaccessibility among SMEs, especially in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is therefore to investigate how the adoption of Islamic microfinance can play a fundamental role in enhancing the sustainability of microfinance institutions (MFIs) while meeting the financing challenges of SMEs in Uganda.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, a review of existing literature was carried out to critically examine relevant information (literature sources) and empirical studies on SMEs, their performance and challenges. The study being conceptual tries to understand how Islamic microfinance could be adopted as an alternative scheme of financing to bridge the gap and mitigate the financial challenges facing SMEs.FindingsThe study finds that the existing MFIs have failed to achieve their objectives of providing financial services to the poor and SMEs while remaining sustainable. This has left the majority of SMEs within Uganda's informal sector financially handicapped, thus leading to their failure in meeting their expectations and eventually collapsing even before celebrating their third or fourth birthdays. However, the enactment into law of the Financial Institutions Amendment Act 2016 that paved the way for the introduction of Islamic finance in Uganda, and the Tier 4 Microfinance Institutions and Money Lenders' Act, 2016 that incorporated the aspects of Islamic microfinance within the existing microfinance framework as seen and is perceived as a key factor in addressing the financial challenges faced by MFIs and the SMEs if fully adopted.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is conceptual with no empirical investigation and discussion of key theories. On the contrary, it will be imperative and useful when carrying out more extensive hypothetical studies by future researchers, specifically in the area of Islamic microfinance that is relatively new in Uganda.Practical implicationsPractically, this paper will serve as a guide to policymakers and practitioners in the field of microfinance by adding a flair that could enable in bridging the challenges associated with inadequate financing of SMEs in Uganda.Social implicationsSocially, the social aspects of charity (Zakah and Sadaqah) will help to improve the livelihood of the poorest of the poor who cannot engage in active business through meeting their basic needs of life without begging thereby preventing them from being social outcasts.Originality/valueThe study establishes Islamic microfinance (IMF) as a promising and unexplored viable option potentially needed in intensifying the financing needs of SMEs in Uganda. The paper provides an entirely new dimension in nature and way microfinance products should be structured with a view of ensuring that there is sustainable provision of financial services to SMEs. The paper adds real value to the existing conventional microfinance products and services in Uganda, given the ethical and moral attributes of Islamic microfinancing practices that are assumed to efficiently and effectively motivate SME owners and other small entrepreneurs to thrive.

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