Monthly Archives - April 2017

Policy prescriptions for Bangladesh MFS industry

Ensuring an enabling regulatory framework through an increased role of MNO in existing MFS value chain, promoting interoperability among MFS providers across tiers, replacing mono-led agents through collaborating with partners having established distribution networks, reducing the prevalence of OTC/ partial OTC transaction (carrier of digital Hundi) are the major policy prescriptions for developing a conducive eco-system of Bangladeshi MFS (mobile financial service) industry. MFS guideline as prescribed by Bangladesh Bank already accommodates this sort of equity partnership upto 30% (under [...]

Rocket: A test case for financial inclusion

Access to quality payment service is a basic human right and now considered as a nascent step towards financial inclusion. Broadening up the financial inclusion base is certainly becoming a macro-economic priority across the globe, but it needs huge investment in MFS platform and value chain. Like any other key stakeholders of the financial system, commercial banks also cherish financial inclusion, but does that necessarily mean banks should invest huge fortune just out of corporate philanthropy or social CSR? [...]

Is multi-bank MFS consortium the ultimate future?

MFS (Mobile Financial Service) guideline prescribed by Bangladesh Bank clearly states that Mobile phone based Financial Services in Bangladesh has to be conducted thorough scheduled commercial bank led platform. So, under the existing regulatory eco-system, formation of an MNO-driven or payment company-led MFS platform is not possible. But have this guideline necessarily opted out for standalone, tinsel mono-bank-led MFS platforms? The answer is very straight; No. The regulator is actually concerned about interoperability possibility and commercial viability of numerous small [...]