Over the past decade, the world has witnessed remarkable strides in account ownership. Nearly four out of five adults globally now hold a financial account, and in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), this figure has climbed to 75%. Yet, 1.3 billion adults remain unbanked, and many more hold inactive accounts. The rise of FinTech offers a transformative pathway to bring underserved populations into the financial mainstream. This article explores progress, innovation, challenges and a roadmap for an inclusive future.
Financial inclusion has advanced through policy reforms, mobile technology and public–private collaborations. Since 2014, account ownership worldwide rose from 62% to 79%. Digital payments usage in LMICs jumped from 34% to 62%. East Asia and the Pacific lead with 83% account ownership, while Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America have seen mobile money drive rapid gains.
Despite this progress, regional disparities persist. South Asia and the Middle East & North Africa lag with digital payment adoption around 44%. Women in LMICs remain 5 percentage points less likely than men to own an account, with gaps exceeding 20 points in some countries. As we celebrate gains, a focus on usage, quality and resilience is essential to reach the hardest-to-serve.
FinTech’s rise has reshaped the affordability and accessibility of financial services. Mobile money platforms now deliver formal savings and credit options to remote communities, while QR code and real-time payments expand cashless commerce. QR payments are deployed by nearly half of financial providers, and 47% now offer real-time settlement.
Key FinTech trends include:
By leveraging customer data and machine learning, FinTech firms tailor loan products and savings plans to underserved segments. This personalized approach fosters financial health and builds trust, encouraging consistent usage and deeper market penetration.
Despite robust innovation, significant gaps remain. An estimated 300 million account holders are inactive, and 25% of adults in LMICs still lack any account. Smallholder farmers, rural women and small-business owners are among the hardest-to-reach, especially in fragile economies where 86% of the world’s lowest-income people live.
The gender gap, though narrowing globally to five points, remains wide in regions like the Middle East & North Africa (14 points) and countries such as Pakistan (30 points). Addressing these disparities requires culturally sensitive solutions, community engagement and targeted digital literacy programs.
Funding for financial inclusion is at an inflection point. Major donors have reduced commitments, prompting the rise of new collaboration models. Public–private hybrids, university consortia and mission-driven startups are emerging, fueled by declining experimentation costs thanks to AI and cloud computing.
This distributed support architecture will prioritize financial health, resilience and economic participation over mere account access. FinTech investment remains strong, with over $150 billion invested globally in the first half of 2025, underscoring private sector confidence in technology-driven solutions.
Regional leaders demonstrate how tailored strategies can accelerate inclusion:
In Sub-Saharan Africa, mobile money has become a lifeline for millions, while Latin American nations harness QR code and real-time payments to digitize informal markets. These examples illustrate that context-specific solutions and strong regulatory frameworks are keys to sustained progress.
The next phase of financial inclusion demands a shift from access metrics to meaningful engagement and resilience-building:
By harnessing AI-driven personalization and integrating financial services into everyday digital experiences, stakeholders can co-create inclusive solutions that empower the next billion people. Governments, regulators and industry leaders must align incentives around financial health and economic participation, ensuring that no one is left behind.
The journey toward universal financial inclusion is both a moral imperative and an economic opportunity. With FinTech as a catalyst, we can build systems that are accessible, affordable and tailored to the needs of every individual—driving shared prosperity and resilience for generations to come.
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