A new era of African banking: Regional champions in the driving seat
Register Google agenda A spike in international banking divestments (Standard Chartered, BNP Paribas, Société Générale) in Africa could pave the way for local regional champions but may strip domestic banks of global networks. While African banks such as Coris, Vista Group and Access Bank have expanded in the wake of recent departures, a subdued international presence […]
Reinventing insurance: Acclimatising to a digital and green Africa
Register Google agenda Opportunities are emerging for Africa’s insurers and reinsurers as the continent strives to become more digitally connected and climate resilient. Mobile money and internet expansion are creating paths for smartphone-enabled microinsurance, farmer crop protection, coverage for recently banked SMEs and corporate cyber risk cover. With $2.8 trillion of climate finance needed between […]
Alternative credit scoring in Africa: A new hope for financial inclusion?
Register Google agenda Fintechs, commercial banks and insurers are increasingly deploying AI and machine learning to analyse new-age mobile and web data to expand credit to individuals and small businesses lacking financial footprints. But concerns remain about the reliability of the metrics used and customer privacy, particularly as data protection laws are in their infancy […]
Growth, digital revolution, new players: What does the future hold for Africa’s financial champions?
Register Google agenda From pandemics to inflation, from energy crises to growing debt levels… while Africa’s banking sector has until now withstood multiple challenges and their consequences, the future looks ever-more uncertain. Risks are emerging on several fronts: defaults, falling profitability, liquidity issues. All this while the industry undergoes a profound restructuring to adapt to […]
Strengthening Africa’s emerging pension fund sector
Register Google agenda African pension funds could be pivotal to the continent’s development and plug gaps left by the withdrawal of foreign capital. The sector has been proliferating with assets under management in Nigeria rising almost tenfold since 2006 to $33bn. More privately managed pension funds targeting Africa’s middle class are also emerging through a […]
Awakening affordable housing in Africa with financial innovation
Register Google agenda Mortgages are one of the fastest-growing segments in African retail banking with an estimated CAGR of 6% between 2017 and 2022. But many Africans do not qualify for mortgages or cannot afford interest rates that average 14% in sub-Saharan Africa. Lenders are also cautious about offering long-term credit to the 81% of Africans in […]