Africa’s tech ecosystem wrapped up 2024 on a high note: Two new unicorns—TymeBank and Moniepoint—secured funding at valuations of over $1 billion. But how did their hybrid banking models get them there? Here’s what makes their approach so disruptive: Unlike fully digital banks like Revolut or Monzo, TymeBank and Moniepoint blend: - Digital banking for efficiency. - Physical touchpoints for accessibility. Why? It’s a model tailor-made for Africa, where: + Cash accounts for 90% of transactions. + Only 43% of Sub-Saharan Africa has internet access. + Trust in purely digital systems is still low. This dual approach bridges critical gaps. The new unicorns: 1) Moniepoint (Nigeria): Focused on small businesses, offering payments, loans, expense tools, and now retail banking. 2) TymeBank (South Africa): Started with affordable accounts and savings, then expanded into business banking and working capital. Both solve real problems for underserved markets. How TymeBank is winning in South Africa: Partners with retailers like Pick n Pay and Boxer, using in-store kiosks to onboard customers. 1,000+ kiosks and 15,000 retail points act as mini-branches, meeting people where they shop. The result? 15M users across South Africa and the Philippines. Moniepoint’s approach in Nigeria: Deployed 200,000+ agents, often small business owners equipped with POS devices. These agents act as “human ATMs,” bridging urban-rural divides where branches and ATMs are scarce. Impact: 10M+ users across retail and business banking. In regions where: ・Internet access is unreliable (43% in Sub-Saharan Africa). ・Cash is king (90%+ of transactions). ・Trust in online systems is low. A mix of physical and digital services is both innovative and necessary. More here via TechCrunch: https://lnkd.in/drJzdWEH ---------------------------------------- Want more insights and stories from entrepreneurs around the continent to help make building easier? Subscribe to our newsletter below 👇
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Tyme Group’s $1.5B Milestone – Scaling Inclusive Banking Tyme Group has redefined digital banking with a focus on financial inclusion. Now a unicorn, thanks to a $250M Series D led by Nubank, the company is valued at $1.5B and continues to make waves across emerging markets. Here’s how they’re scaling impact: 🌍 Accessible Banking for Millions Tyme has brought banking to underserved communities by integrating services into everyday experiences. Partnerships with retailers like Boxer Superstores and Pick'n Pay in South Africa allow people to open accounts at kiosks, significantly lowering barriers to entry. In South Africa alone, TymeBank serves 10M customers, with $400M in deposits and $600M in financing extended to small businesses. GoTyme Bank in the Philippines, launched in 2022, has already onboarded 5M customers, a testament to the demand for accessible financial tools. 🏪 Innovative “Phygital” Model By blending physical retail touch-points with digital infrastructure, Tyme ensures affordability and accessibility. The model reduces acquisition costs and enables seamless onboarding for customers who might otherwise lack access to traditional banking services. A 500-strong tech team in Vietnam powers the backend, ensuring the platform is scalable, secure, and reliable. This combination of physical and digital capabilities has positioned Tyme as a leader in bringing banking to populations previously left out of the financial system. 🌱 Expansion with Purpose With operations in South Africa, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, Tyme is focusing on small businesses and micro-enterprises in its newest markets. Their SME products, like merchant cash advances, will help build trust while laying the groundwork for broader retail banking. With Nubank’s expertise in analytics and customer insights, Tyme is positioned to drive even greater financial inclusion while scaling sustainably. This is banking reimagined. 💬 Thoughts? –– 👉 Read more: https://lnkd.in/ewBEaSbJ #Fintech #FinancialInclusion #DigitalBanking #EmergingMarkets #SEA #Innovation
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Charting the Future of Digital Banking: Nubank’s Strategic Investment in Tyme Group Nubank Backs Tyme Group: A New Chapter in Digital Banking Nubank has announced a US$150 million investment in Tyme Group, a pioneering digital bank blending digital platforms with physical partnerships. Leading Tyme’s US$250 million Series D funding round, Nubank joins M&G Catalyst Fund and existing shareholders in backing the group’s mission to expand financial inclusion across South Africa, the Philippines, and beyond. Tyme’s hybrid model, which integrates digital banking with in-store kiosks and local partnerships, allows it to reach underserved populations and address financial barriers. Serving over 15 million customers, Tyme’s approach aligns with World Bank research highlighting the role of technology in boosting financial inclusion in emerging markets. For Nubank, this investment reflects confidence in Tyme’s leadership in Africa and Southeast Asia. CEO David Vélez noted: “We believe digitally-native companies like Tyme Group are the future of financial services globally.” This partnership exemplifies the shift toward digital-first banking, where technology reduces costs and accelerates growth. In regions with high smartphone adoption and untapped banking potential, such models offer efficiency and localized trust. As Nubank and Tyme redefine digital banking, the industry moves closer to a future that merges cutting-edge tech with everyday accessibility. Nydia. Velazquez Fernando Campos Samuel Dulik Ciro Yamada Livia Chanes Edward Wible Cristina Junqueira Vitor Olivier Charles Cochin de Billy Rusen Baragiola Jeremy Selesner Gerardo Villegas Jiménez Sebastián Álvarez Arias Agata Tutaj, FRM Walther Gnauer Luis Moneda Lucas Estevam Juliana Barby Simão #fintech #digitalbanking #banking #payments
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"Retail banking is undergoing a seismic shift thanks to the disruptive force of Fintech. 💥 Gone are the days of long queues and endless paperwork. Today, Fintech is reshaping the retail banking landscape, offering a plethora of innovative solutions that are redefining the way we interact with our finances. From mobile banking apps to digital wallets, the rise of Fintech in retail banking is all about convenience and accessibility. Customers now have the power to manage their finances anytime, anywhere, with just a few taps on their smartphones. 💳💻 But it's not just about convenience. Fintech is also driving greater financial inclusion, breaking down barriers and opening up access to banking services for underserved populations. With features like microloans and digital payments, Fintech is empowering individuals and businesses around the globe to take control of their financial futures. 🌍💰 And let's not forget about security. With advanced encryption technologies and biometric authentication, Fintech is ensuring that our financial data remains safe and secure in an increasingly digital world. 🔒 As we look to the future, the synergy between Fintech and retail banking promises even greater innovation and opportunities for growth. Whether it's through AI-powered insights or blockchain-enabled transactions, one thing is clear: the Fintech revolution is here to stay, and the future of retail banking has never looked brighter. ✨ #Fintech #RetailBanking #Innovation #FinancialInclusion"
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As banking continues to evolve, digital platforms offer a powerful way to expand locally and go beyond borders. By embracing innovative profit-sharing models, banks can increase their reach, engage younger customers, and form strategic partnerships that fuel growth. Here's how modern banking is transforming: * No More Physical Limits: Digital platforms help banks expand locally and go beyond borders without the need for costly branches. * Cross-Border Partnerships: Partnering with local fintech companies or service providers enables banks to share profits while gaining access to established customer bases and navigating regulatory challenges. * Engaging Youths Through Incentives: Profit-sharing programs like referral rewards and cash-back offers attract younger customers by giving them a stake in the bank's success. * Shared Digital Ecosystems: Banks can build profit-sharing digital ecosystems with merchants, e-commerce platforms, and telecom providers, unlocking new revenue streams through services like payments, lending, or subscriptions. * Co-Investment in Innovations: Collaborating with fintech startups accelerates the launch of innovative solutions, benefiting all stakeholders through co-investment and profit-sharing agreements. * Shared Revenue from Digital Transactions: Banks can share transaction fees or revenue generated from third-party integrations, such as payment gateways or financial apps. * Secure and Compliant: Modern platforms provide robust cybersecurity and ensure compliance with regulations across different markets. * Future-Ready Banking: Stay ahead of the competition by adopting scalable, customer-centric solutions that foster limitless growth and innovation. Ready to take your banking to the next level? Get in touch with us to discuss your specific needs and let us help you grow! www.togrowco.com #banking #digitalbanking #togrow #DigitalTransformation
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮: 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁? By 2025, approximately 𝟳𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 as their primary method of managing finances. This trend, driven by younger adults, highlights a clear message: 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝟭. 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 Canadians increasingly demand seamless, intuitive, and secure banking experiences. From real-time payments to personalized financial insights, digital tools are becoming indispensable. 𝟮. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 Fintech disruptors and digital-first banks are setting new benchmarks for customer experience. Traditional banks must innovate or risk losing relevance. 𝟯. 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 Open banking, automation, and AI are transforming how financial institutions operate, offering opportunities to enhance personalization, security, and operational efficiency. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗼 - 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Upgrade your mobile banking platforms to deliver frictionless user experiences that rival tech giants. - 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Use AI and analytics to offer tailored financial solutions that meet individual needs. - 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 Prepare for Canada's open banking rollout by building partnerships and ensuring robust data-sharing practices. - 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 While apps dominate, in-person services for complex needs can foster trust and loyalty. As the financial landscape evolves, staying ahead means embracing digital transformation. How is your organization preparing for this shift? Let’s discuss how we can shape the future of banking together. ♻️ Repost, Share and Comment MORE! #DigitalBanking #Fintech #FinancialInnovation #CanadaFinance #DigitalTransformation #BankingApp #WealthManagement #InvestmentStrategy #OpenBanking
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As banking continues to evolve, digital platforms offer a powerful way to expand locally and go beyond borders. By embracing innovative profit-sharing models, banks can increase their reach, engage younger customers, and form strategic partnerships that fuel growth. Here's how modern banking is transforming: * No More Physical Limits: Digital platforms help banks expand locally and go beyond borders without the need for costly branches. * Cross-Border Partnerships: Partnering with local fintech companies or service providers enables banks to share profits while gaining access to established customer bases and navigating regulatory challenges. * Engaging Youths Through Incentives: Profit-sharing programs like referral rewards and cash-back offers attract younger customers by giving them a stake in the bank's success. * Shared Digital Ecosystems: Banks can build profit-sharing digital ecosystems with merchants, e-commerce platforms, and telecom providers, unlocking new revenue streams through services like payments, lending, or subscriptions. * Co-Investment in Innovations: Collaborating with fintech startups accelerates the launch of innovative solutions, benefiting all stakeholders through co-investment and profit-sharing agreements. * Shared Revenue from Digital Transactions: Banks can share transaction fees or revenue generated from third-party integrations, such as payment gateways or financial apps. * Secure and Compliant: Modern platforms provide robust cybersecurity and ensure compliance with regulations across different markets. * Future-Ready Banking: Stay ahead of the competition by adopting scalable, customer-centric solutions that foster limitless growth and innovation. Ready to take your banking to the next level? Get in touch with us to discuss your specific needs and let us help you grow! www.togrowco.com #banking #digitalbanking #togrow #DigitalTransformation
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🚀 Exciting news in the world of digital banking! 🌍 Nubank, one of the world's largest digital financial services platforms, has just announced a major investment of $150 million in TymeBank Group, a fast-growing digital bank with operations in South Africa and the Philippines. As of the third quarter of 2024, Nubank has 91.7 million monthly active users (MAU). This figure represents a significant growth from 41.1 million MAU in the fourth quarter of 2021, showcasing Nubank's consistent expansion of its active customer base over the past few years. As of December 2024, TymeBank Group has approximately 15 million monthly active users (MAU) across its operations in South Africa and the Philippines. Tyme Group’s rapid growth is evident in its customer acquisition rates, adding about 500,000 new customers monthly across South Africa and the Philippines. 🔑 Key points: • Nubank leads a $250 million Series D funding round for Tyme Group • Tyme Group serves 15 million customers across South Africa and the Philippines • This partnership could pave the way for the first truly global digital bank focused on emerging markets 🌱 What does this mean? 1. Expansion into new markets: This investment signals Nubank's interest in expanding its reach beyond Latin America into Africa and Southeast Asia. 2. Shared expertise: Nubank's experience scaling digital banking services to hundreds of millions of customers could significantly boost Tyme Group's growth potential. 3. Financial inclusion: Both companies are committed to improving financial access in emerging markets, potentially revolutionizing banking for the Global Majority 💪 4. Innovation boost: The collaboration between these two innovative neobanks could lead to new, cutting-edge financial products and services tailored for emerging economies 💡 5. Competitive advantage: This partnership positions both Nubank and Tyme Group to become leaders in the global digital banking space, especially in underserved markets 🏆 This strategic move by Nubank and Tyme Group could be a game-changer for digital banking in the Global South. It's an exciting time for fintech and financial inclusion! 🌟 What are your thoughts on this development? How do you think it will impact the future of digital banking in emerging markets? 🤔 Vuyo Mpako (Pr Eng), Tramayne Monaghan, Benito Mable, Mbugua Njihia, Moses Kemibaro, International Digital Economies Association iDEA, Cristina Amor Maclang, Dr. Alexander Titov PhD #DigitalBanking #Fintech #FinancialInclusion #Nubank #TymeGroup #GlobalMajority
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Know your Competition! This information is essential for CEOs of banks and credit unions and should be placed on their desks every month, then shared with their entire board: the rankings of Digital Banking Apps in the US. For local financial institutions aiming to maintain their market share, understanding these digital players and grasping the driving factors behind their growth is crucial. This insight is vital as your customers or members are attracted by specific products, features, and user experiences from these digital banking apps. Surprisingly some players are not present (some of them used to) like Revolut, Wise, Cash App, Current, Apple card) and I would think about alternative rankings. If Community Banks and Credit Unions aim to thrive, they must adapt their fintech strategy while acknowledging the challenges of keeping up with their existing core providers. This is precisely why they need to adopt a new approach: the Modular Banking strategy. This strategy provides flexibility, enabling legacy institutions to compete with Fintech without undergoing a complete core overhaul. It unlocks opportunities for accessing or constructing marketplaces of financial products and features, fostering product diversity, and delivering effective services to niche customer segments. Scoring factors by Payments include: Monthly number of downloads in either Android or iOS Number of active users each month Average time users spend on the app Platforms coverage Number of sessions per user See here full detail by PYMNTS here https://lnkd.in/ezvZ8-8s What do you think Efi Pylarinou Jason Mikula Marcel van Oost Ron Shevlin Bryan Clagett? #digitalbanking #corebanking #bankingsolutions #payments #fintechsolutions #digitaltransformation #fintech #baas #neobanks #challengerbanks #embeddedfintech #creditunions #communitybanks #embeddedfinance #nichebanking
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Do you know that 73% of interactions with banks today happen online? The average banking customer prefers mobile banking and an Amazon-like experience from their bank or fintech app. They want a financial partner that provides 👉 Everyday banking 👉 Financing and credit 👉 Investment advice 👉 Payment channels 👉 Bills management 👉 Insurance While managing the utmost level of security and convenience. Traditional banks have been too complacent to listen, having lately picked up pace with tech integrations. On the other hand, Fintechs and neo-banks were the result of dissatisfaction among banking customers. Today, Fintechs invite the same level of customer satisfaction and trust as banks did a decade ago. These aren’t just my observations. It’s McKinsey’s new findings. One big reason for this shift, I believe, is the post-Covid digitization and e-commerce expansion. Fintechs and neo-banks are the digitally-native banking solutions for the generation that sees the internet as a digital expansion of their lives. Numbers suggest the fintech revolution has just started. We at Ascendefi are making sure to lead that change. Interested to know more about the project? DM me or hit me up in the comments.
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𝟒 𝐁𝐚𝐚𝐒 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐜𝐲 🏦 1️⃣ Synctera unveiled its Bring Your Own Bank (BYOB) model, to allow businesses to leverage their preferred banking partners while utilising the Synctera Platform. ↳ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬: Companies aiming to launch banking products now have the freedom to use Synctera's modern tech stack while partnering with a sponsor bank outside of Synctera's network. This decoupling of technology choices from banking partners enables companies to align perfectly with their strategic goals and customer needs. 2️⃣ Salt Bank leveraged the technology prowess of Engine by Starling to swiftly launch its neobanking services in Romania. ↳ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬: The collaboration with Engine by Starling highlights the evolving landscape of BaaS, where seasoned fintechs offer their technological prowess to expedite the launch of fresh banking initiatives. 3️⃣ AppTech Payments Corp. completed a pilot program for its BaaS platform, launching InstaCash. ↳ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬: Instacash leveraged BaaS to introduce a range of innovative financial solutions tailored for SMBs, including virtual accounts, debit/credit cards, and high-yield financial products. InstaCash is a real-time pay-by-bank transaction platform that AppTech is positioning as a rival to both Venmo and Western Union. 4️⃣ Mbanq is now a full member of the Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) Association! ↳ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬: The affiliation allows Mbanq to actively contribute to the exchange of knowledge among BaaS stakeholders and drive the establishment and adoption of best practices and standards in the sector. It also involved keeping track of regulatory developments and compliance requirements, ensuring responsible and ethical delivery of BaaS services and products. ________________ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐚𝐒 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 - 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. 📰 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬: Get bite-sized insights that save you time, perfect for busy professionals on-the-go. Discover the latest fintech players and the trends shaping the industry. Gain valuable insights into the themes ecosystem players are leveraging to win. Subscribe and sip the knowledge here ➡️: https://lnkd.in/gxWjJMjM via WhiteSight #fintech #embeddedfinance #BaaS #banking #paybybank #payments
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Business and People Leader | Psychometric Assessment Expert | Leader of Diversity and Inclusion | Business Strategy | Continuous Improvement
2moFascinating insights.