Micro finance institutions (MFIs) are starting to see the benefits of new digital technologies, including greater efficiency, lower transaction costs for institutions and clients, and extension into new markets.

These benefits can be tremendous and the experiences with both successful and unsuccessful digital financial solutions reveal how these ‘disruptive’ innovations can enable the unbanked and underserved to participate more fully in financial systems.

Complex digital financial services and new technologies create new processes and other challenges for institutions and their clients.

In addition, as the following examples illustrate, partnerships and realistic time frames are key to successfully apply these technologies.

Rural banks like Cantilan Bank in the Philippines are well-placed to utilize digital technologies to make disbursements more efficient and to increase client convenience and security.