Financial inclusion - Long Reads, News, Articles & Research: Finextra

The UK Government’s financial inclusion strategy is light on fintech

Chris Holmes Peer at House of Lords

The UK Government’s financial inclusion strategy is light on fintech

Last Wednesday, the Government launched its long awaited financial inclusion strategy. I welcome its publication and there is much to be positive about. Financial inclusion has been a key policy area for me since I entered the House of Lords, not least as part of a special Select Committee considering financial exclusion which I was privileged to...

12 November 2025 /inclusion

Transforming fintech in the age of AI: Opportunities and challenges for the digital economy

Hajar Elhaddaoui Director General at Digital Cooperation Organization

Transforming fintech in the age of AI: Opportunities and challenges for the digital economy

Imagine an AI system detecting fraud in seconds, approving a microloan for a shopkeeper who has never qualified for credit, and guiding a customer through a conversation that feels almost human. This is not science fiction; it is fintech today. Generative AI is redesigning products once reserved for the few and transforming the very foundations of...

05 November 2025 /inclusion

Orange bonds: Will orange be the new green?

Parina Parikh Senior Sustainability Assessor at DNV

Orange bonds: Will orange be the new green?

Sustainable finance has a visibility problem: the ‘E’ in ESG dominates, while the ‘S’ remains sidelined. But inequality, exclusion and social fragility are just as capable of undermining long-term value as carbon emissions. It’s time for finance to see orange. For over a decade, environmental metrics such as net zero targets, carbon disclosure

03 November 2025 /inclusion

Is financial literacy still important? New survey says now more than ever

Scott Hamilton Contributing Editor at Finextra Research

Is financial literacy still important? New survey says now more than ever

Money – acquiring it and managing it safely and effectively - is causing more household stress now than ever, and not just among parents, but kids too. It’s not a huge surprise to hear this message arising from a recent survey of more than 1,000 full-time working parents of children 8-18. The study was conducted by Greenlight – an Atlanta-based co...

02 July 2025 /inclusion

To ESG or not to ESG? Britain’s ‘Big Four’ banks buck the trend of DEI retreat

Hamish Monk Senior Reporter at Finextra

To ESG or not to ESG? Britain’s ‘Big Four’ banks buck the trend of DEI retreat

A counterbalance to claims of trans-Atlantic ESG de-prioritisation, Finextra’s investigation into the UK’s top financial institutions prove that some industries are keeping ESG front of mind. On Sunday 6 June 2025, The Observer published an article in its business and economics section which revealed how leading British firms had “re-written” thei...

17 June 2025 /inclusion

How fintech firms can champion real LGBTQ+ inclusion

Madhvi Sonia Head of Content at Finextra

How fintech firms can champion real LGBTQ+ inclusion

This Finextra long read series will focus on moving beyond performative allyship to explore structural inclusion during and after Pride Month - a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and commemoration of the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer culture. By adopting inclusive policies, promoting visible role models, and...

02 June 2025 /inclusion

Cash accessibility in the digital age: A human right or a dying relic?

Dimitrios Salampasis Assoc. Professor, Emerging Technologies & FinTech at Swinburne University of Technology

Cash accessibility in the digital age: A human right or a dying relic?

From paper to pixels: How cash went from king to question mark Technological breakthroughs and advancements across the spectrum of the digital economy have been challenging the inherent nature and core purpose of money, putting pressure towards reconsidering the issuance of physical money, the impetus of financial transactions and the role of phys...

07 March 2025 /inclusion

Back to that paper: Why cash isn’t going anywhere in the near future

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

Back to that paper: Why cash isn’t going anywhere in the near future

We are currently living in a whirlwind era of digital payments, online transactions, and e-wallets – yet for many, cash is still king. What does cash mean for financial inclusion? Globally, cash is still the most widely-used payment method, and remains the preferred choice for many, particularly those residing in isolated communities, the elderly, ...

26 February 2025 /inclusion

Why aren’t older adults in the US equipped to handle financial shocks?

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

Why aren’t older adults in the US equipped to handle financial shocks?

A study from the Aspen Institute revealed that 47% of older adults in the US are not prepared to handle financial shocks, such as medical expenses, emergencies, or a sudden loss of income. The study outlines how older individuals are relying on financial tools that take advantage of them by abusing penalties, interest rates, and fees, in order to ...

20 August 2024 /inclusion

Anne Boden on supporting female fintech founders

Níamh Curran

Anne Boden on supporting female fintech founders

For International Women’s Day (IWD) this year, we spoke to a woman who is the poster child of female success in the fintech world, Anne Boden. In June of last year, Boden stepped down as CEO of Starling after founding the challenger bank 10 years prior. Yet Boden has been busy recently. Last week she launched her third book, Female Founders’ Playbo...

08 March 2024 /inclusion

How are bank closures impacting local communities?

Sehrish Alikhan Reporter at Finextra

How are bank closures impacting local communities?

Following the news of HSBC installing its first ever ‘cash pod’ in Nasilea, North Somerset comes the questioning of how the general public will gain access to cash among numerous bank branch shutdowns. HSBC announced the closing down of 114 bank branches in the UK from April 2023, reporting the reason for the closures due to low footfall for in-pe...

07 February 2024 /inclusion

How migrant banking’s expansion means different approaches in US vs. Europe

Scott Hamilton Contributing Editor at Finextra Research

How migrant banking’s expansion means different approaches in US vs. Europe

Migrant banking solutions, or banking for refugees and other recent arrivals, have been increasing in type and number in both Europe and the US for a while now. However, the number of programs available to new entrants to the Eurozone is far more numerous, especially on a per capita basis, than in America. There are some key differences in product...

12 January 2024 /inclusion

Long reads