The Innovators 2025: Africa

Most Innovative Bank in Africa | NEDBANK MOZAMBIQUE

In an effort to modernize operations, Nedbank Mozambique has implemented innovative digital solutions to strengthen its services and processes. Customers can use various functions across digital channels to easily transfer funds to mobile wallets or cash from prepaid cards to Nedbank accounts. NedChat is an organizational chatbot that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide employees with real-time access to knowledge about bank products, services, standards, and polices, to help streamline workflows and boost productivity.

The bank has also taken a proactive approach to risk management by implementing NedCreditAnalysis, a tool that uses Gen AI to extract and analyze relevant information from financial documents for credit decisions in various products. To strengthen the bank’s cybersecurity, it implemented a mechanism that binds each of a customer’s accounts to a specific device through a unique identifier. This has helped to prevent unauthorized access to customer accounts as well as to prevent identity theft. 

Most Innovative Financial Technology Company in Africa | MNT – HALAN

MNT-Halan has been transforming access to financial services for African consumers and businesses. With over 2.4 million active users quarterly, this digital platform serves segments often overlooked by traditional financial institutions. The Halan app started as a ride-hailing service and was transformed into a lending platform that uses automation to underwrite and originate loans tailored to customers. Neuron is a proprietary API first core banking software that powers the Halan product ecosystem. This API enables the company to seamlessly and securely connect with digital banking services that support streamlined processes and optimize the user experience.

Through Neuron, users, merchants, loan agents, and MNT-Halan branches are connected across an easy-to-use network to transact with millions of customers in multiple currencies. This technology supports over 11 million customers, 54% of whom are women; and it has helped MNT-Halan drive financial inclusion in Egypt by providing costeffective solutions to unbanked customers.

Iogate | ABSA

Supporting its effort to digitize the paper-intensive trade finance business, Absa’s Iogate API allows the bank to connect to third-party fintechs while protecting data easily and seamlessly. The solution is helping Absa pivot to new technologies as the market evolves, without disrupting existing workflows. The API leverages cutting-edge orchestration to ensure a faster, more cost-efficient trade solution and equips customers and the bank with a future-proof infrastructure. By integrating with an assortment of fintechs, Iogate promotes personalization through a customized suite of products and services that help clients meet their unique goals.

SMART TPE| BANQUE SAHELO-SAHARIENNE POUR L’INVESTISSEMENT ET LE COMMERCE (BSIC SENEGAL)

BSIC Sénégal offers merchants an additional customer payment method through SMART TPE, a technology that facilitates contactless mobile payments via a bank card or digital wallet while using electronic payment terminals. The new payment system gives merchants more ways to accept customer payments and allows them to transfer the funds directly to their BSIC bank accounts, shortening the interval before they can access these funds. SMART TPE allows customers in turn to use their digital wallets to pay for goods and services from merchants, improving the customer experience.

First-Ever Sectoral Funds in the Egyptian Market | BELTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT

With limited options for sector investing on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), retail investors previously could not easily take advantage of sector performance that can change with economic conditions. Instead, they invested in individual companies or in funds targeting a broader index. To address the demand for more strategic investments opportunities, Beltone Asset Management developed four sector funds (Beltone Real Estate Fund, Beltone Financial Fund, Beltone Consumer Fund, and Beltone Industrial Fund) that reflect real-time sector trends. The firm has also forged alliances with fintechs to provide clients with broader access to its funds on various platforms.

Digital Account Opening | IIB WEST AFRICA

Opening a bank account in the Republic of Cabo Verde is a time-consuming, complex operation that requires customers to fill out forms and complete multiple steps in person at a bank branch. iibCV launched a digital platform that allows customers to open accounts online. By leveraging technologies that authenticate and integrate with automatic verification systems, the platform simplifies the process, saving time for both customers and the bank. The new platform is compliant with the bank’s standards as well as associated regulations and legislation.

La Cagnotte by SoGe | SOCIETE GENERALE MAROC

To help Moroccans manage savings simply and securely, Societe Generale Maroc introduced SoGé cagnotte, a budget management solution integrated into its digital banking app, SoGé. The app boasts an enhanced customer experience offering an assortment of tools to promote financial inclusion and help boost Moroccans’ purchasing power. SoGé cagnotte digitizes the concept of the piggy bank, enabling customers to work toward their financial goals by creating up to five savings goals, each personalized by name, savings amount, and date.

Robin Hood Unclaimed Benefits Solution, Powered by Standard Bank | STANDARD BANK

In South Africa, over R90 billion (about $4.95 billion) of unclaimed assets are due to over 8 million residents, with 6% of assets paid annually as more are added. Finding the beneficiaries is the problem. Robin Hood, a fintech, has developed an innovative solution using AI to match beneficiaries with their unclaimed assets. Standard Bank partnered with Robin Hood and supports the AI solution through its OneHub platform. Starting with a dividend book and pension book worth a combined R1 billion, more than R10 million thus far have been returned to over 6,000 beneficiaries.