On The Web
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“Aided by mobile phones and the Internet, at least 69 percent of adults – 3.8 billion people – now have an account at a bank or mobile money provider, the Global Findex database released on Wednesday during the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., shows. This is up from 62 percent in 2014 and just […]
PayPal plans banking features like FDIC coverage by mid year
“PayPal is planning to roll out traditional banking features to some users in the coming months, the company said Monday. The features include Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. coverage of the PayPal Wallet, online check deposit, and a debit card that can be used to withdraw cash.”
Using big data to link poor farmers to finance
“Two billion adults in the world are excluded from credit. The situation is especially bad for small farmers in rural areas who are unable to access loans to invest in their farms, trapped in a vicious circle of low productivity, low yields, and poor income. The Initiative for Smallholder Finance estimates that smallholders globally access just […]
Contactless donations project raises thousands for homeless in Cardiff
“A scheme to allow shoppers to donate to the homeless using their contactless cards has been hailed a success after a trial. A total of 430 kind-hearted shoppers in Cardiff swiped their contactless cards to give money to the homeless in just three weeks. The interactive window in the city centre allows passers-by to tap their card […]
Your local post office could become a bank if this bill passes
“Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is proposing legislation aimed at putting an end to current payday lending practices by giving some banking services a new home: the U.S. Post Office. The legislation, called the Postal Banking Act, would make retail banking services available at all U.S. Postal Service locations. That amounts to 30,000 post offices nationwide.”
Financial inclusion is improving around the world—but women are still missing out
“In developing countries, the gap in financial inclusion between men and women has stalled at nine percentage points. Not every emerging market has this disparity—men and women are equally likely to have an account in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, for instance. Even so, making sure women have equal access to financial services can change […]
On The Wires
nbsp;Women in Charge: Mastercard Index Reveals How Countries are Progressing to Empower Women Entrepreneurs
“rd Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE) revealed. Compared to their peers in emerging markets, women business owners in developed ones are able to draw from a greater pool of enabling resources and opportunities, including access to capital, financial services and academic programs.”
Stash to Unveil New Banking Services, Powered by Green Dot Corporation
“Green Dot services will include bank accounts with debit cards, no overdraft fees, and a large network of free ATMs nationwide. Additionally, Stash will provide personal guidance across every aspect of a client’s finances – from spending to saving, to retirement and investing. Stash powered technology will provide clients with actionable advice to help customers […]