The Bank of Israel kept its interest rate unchanged at 4.5% on Wednesday. The bank cited a number of factors in its decision, including geopolitical uncertainty, which the bank said has increased in recent months, and fiscal uncertainty. These uncertainties are reflected, among other indicators, in the large gap between yields on Israel’s government bonds […]
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According to a 2022 national phone survey in Cote d’Ivoire, 78% of digital credit borrowers had repaid a loan late at some point, primarily due to a lack of planning and forgetfulness. This level of non-repayment was higher than what we observed in Kenya (47%) and Tanzania (56%) in 2017, and it merited further research […]
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Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, the third largest bank in Israel, posted a net profit of NIS 1.45 billion for the second quarter, 3.4% more than in the corresponding quarter of 2023. Mizrahi Tefahot is the second bank to report an increase in profit year-on-year, after Bank Hapoalim. Discount Bank and Bank Leumi both reported declines. Mizrahi […]
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Why did central bank regulators from Colombia and Brazil travel a combined 12,556 miles (20,207 kilometers) to Kigali, Rwanda? The answer lies in a shared mission: to learn and exchange insights on gender-disaggregated data. Spearheaded by CGAP and the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR), this meeting stemmed from an ongoing collaboration to unlock Rwanda’s gender […]
Continue ReadingBig Three ratings company Fitch’s drop of Israel’s credit rating from A+ to A late Monday was seen by some as a natural result of the Israel-Hamas war and prompted criticism of the government’s handling of the economic impact of the war from others in the political echelon and civil society. The rating is […]
Continue ReadingThe capital market company Fitch Ratings announced that Israel’s credit rating dropped from A+ to A with a negative forecast, N12 reported on Tuesday overnight. In April, The Jerusalem Post reported that the company had left Israel’s credit rating at A+. Furthermore, the company said Israel was removed from Rating Watch Negative while changing […]
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Technology may be the face of innovation, but it is the law that weaves the fabric of progress. That is why regulators play such an important role in addressing innovation. Since innovation is key to advancements in financial inclusion, CGAP has been exploring the intersection between regulation, innovation, and financial inclusion through research focused on […]
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Since October 2023, the human suffering in Gaza has been immense: an estimated 75% of the population has been displaced, with more than 60% of physical infrastructure destroyed and daily life a struggle for survival. Amid the devastation, financial service providers in the West Bank and Gaza are grappling with unprecedented challenges in a dynamic, […]
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In Bouake, Côte d’Ivoire, an interesting scene is unfolding. Close to a cashew farm, women farmers gather around a woman who walks them through a mobile application. The farmers are looking for easier ways to sell their cashews at competitive prices. These kinds of scenes are becoming more common in Bouake, thanks to Wi-Agri. By […]
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For the first time, there is comprehensive data on the risks facing digital financial services (DFS) users in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) region, and it highlights the need for more responsible digital finance ecosystems. While digital finance services have lowered costs across the board and improved convenience for customers, they introduce […]
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