A financial sector that works for consumers has a suite of products and features that are suitable to consumers’ needs, are safe from cybercrime and that protect consumers’ privacy. Ideally, empowered consumers exercise an informed choice, understand the information disclosed to them, and have their voice heard in their interaction with financial services providers and agents.
The reality is often different. Cenfri’s consumer outcomes work aims to bridge the gap. We have worked with Consumers International, CGAP, GIZ, FSD Kenya, FSCA South Africa and the SADC Secretariat. Our track record includes policy briefs, regional consumer protection guidelines, financial inclusion measurement, measurement of consumer outcomes, and country-level consumer protection technical assistance.
We also have a significant body of work on behavioural science and its application in the financial sector.
As we reflect on International Women’s Month 2020, we look back on the different things we’ve learned about women’s financial needs, and all the things we are yet to learn! Under the banner #EachForEqual, International Women’s Day 2020 drew attention to the importance of collective individualism – recognising that we
Like a well-plotted mystery, the story of how the novel coronavirus is affecting our world adds a new chapter every day. From today’s vantage point, no one can see how it will turn out. One thing that is clear, however, is that the financial health of many if not most
We’ve been exploring how financial service providers can translate new insights from behavioural science into the design and delivery of financial services These systematic reviews conducted in 2017 and 2018 sought to identify behavioural interventions that have been proven to influence the credit, saving, insurance or payment decisions of customers. We’ve
As we explore how behavioural science can narrow the gap between customer intention and customer action, we have started to look at examples from specific financial services. Two sectors identified as playing a role in improving the lives of the financially excluded are insurance and formal remittances. Behavioural interventions and
Africa’s financial service providers reach more individuals than ever before. However, challenges remain that undermine the contribution of these services to the welfare of many Africans. Unintended consumer friction points such as over-indebtedness, late credit repayments or defaults, insurance lapses or dormant accounts have left many providers seeking better ways to achieve positive customer outcomes. We have
We highlight key insights from our research into behavioural interventions and how they could assist financial service providers to better understand the financial needs of consumers. Financial services can help individuals to manage their money, plan for risks, start entrepreneurial ventures and build assets over time. These benefits are, however,
The recent 2017 Findex findings have triggered another round of important discussions on usage in financial inclusion. They highlight that, in the absence of usage consumers don’t get value from the services they have and providers don’t make money. It’s a lose-lose situation. Understanding usage is important for financial inclusion
Women are significantly less likely to use formal banking services than men, due to a range of barriers to access and use. A lack of gender-disaggregated data makes it difficult to identify specific ways in which women may interact with financial products and services differently than men. One area that is little understood
Whereas financial inclusion has seen a steady increase over the past few years, this positive trend has not necessarily taken women along. A gender gap in financial access and usage persists, and has not decreased over the years. Our efforts at understanding and closing the gender gap are hampered by
“A behavioural intervention is any customer interaction that has been explicitly designed to influence the financial decision (or behaviour) of an existing or potential customer.” Financial service providers (FSPs) are continually looking for innovative ways in which they can design and deliver financial services to reduce cost and increase the
As we reflect on International Women’s Month 2020, we look back on the different things we’ve learned about women’s financial needs, and all the things we are yet to learn! Under the banner #EachForEqual, International Women’s Day 2020 drew attention to the importance of collective individualism – recognising that we
Like a well-plotted mystery, the story of how the novel coronavirus is affecting our world adds a new chapter every day. From today’s vantage point, no one can see how it will turn out. One thing that is clear, however, is that the financial health of many if not most
We’ve been exploring how financial service providers can translate new insights from behavioural science into the design and delivery of financial services These systematic reviews conducted in 2017 and 2018 sought to identify behavioural interventions that have been proven to influence the credit, saving, insurance or payment decisions of customers. We’ve
As we explore how behavioural science can narrow the gap between customer intention and customer action, we have started to look at examples from specific financial services. Two sectors identified as playing a role in improving the lives of the financially excluded are insurance and formal remittances. Behavioural interventions and
Africa’s financial service providers reach more individuals than ever before. However, challenges remain that undermine the contribution of these services to the welfare of many Africans. Unintended consumer friction points such as over-indebtedness, late credit repayments or defaults, insurance lapses or dormant accounts have left many providers seeking better ways to achieve positive customer outcomes. We have
We highlight key insights from our research into behavioural interventions and how they could assist financial service providers to better understand the financial needs of consumers. Financial services can help individuals to manage their money, plan for risks, start entrepreneurial ventures and build assets over time. These benefits are, however,
The recent 2017 Findex findings have triggered another round of important discussions on usage in financial inclusion. They highlight that, in the absence of usage consumers don’t get value from the services they have and providers don’t make money. It’s a lose-lose situation. Understanding usage is important for financial inclusion
Women are significantly less likely to use formal banking services than men, due to a range of barriers to access and use. A lack of gender-disaggregated data makes it difficult to identify specific ways in which women may interact with financial products and services differently than men. One area that is little understood
Whereas financial inclusion has seen a steady increase over the past few years, this positive trend has not necessarily taken women along. A gender gap in financial access and usage persists, and has not decreased over the years. Our efforts at understanding and closing the gender gap are hampered by
“A behavioural intervention is any customer interaction that has been explicitly designed to influence the financial decision (or behaviour) of an existing or potential customer.” Financial service providers (FSPs) are continually looking for innovative ways in which they can design and deliver financial services to reduce cost and increase the
