The 'Unbanked' Equal The Poor

Congo! Mobile banking and microfinance is unheard of in Congo. It's an opportunity and a challenge. Microfinance is key to our water projects in rural Congo. We have the advantage of every one else failures and successes. http://mobilemoneyafrica.com/the-role-of-messaging-in-driving-banking-services-forward-in-africa/ Africa has traditionally led the way in mobile banking. Due to a largely dispersed population and a limited retail bank presence, the majority of the people are ‘unbanked’ (i.e. without a bank account). Research from Gallup (2010) shows that across the entire continent, only 19 per cent of individuals have bank accounts, with the number falling to as low as one per cent in countries such as Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As traditional banking remains out of reach for the majority, mobile phones are fast becoming the best way to extend financial services to the unbanked.