The Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority (UMRA) and PostBank Uganda have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to initiate a collaboration aimed at digitizing the operations of tier IV Microfinance Institutions through PostBank’s Wendi mobile wallet so that the last-mile beneficiaries can actively participate in socio-economic ventures that will improve their livelihood.
Being at the helm of regulating the operation of microfinance institutions, UMRA’s collaboration with Wendi is a key milestone in enhancing financial inclusion through streamlining the operation of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), Self-Help Groups, and Non-Deposit Taking Microfinance Institutions (NDT-MFIs)—into the digital age, thus championing sustainable financial inclusion especially in the hard to reach places where there are no physical banking facilities.
Andrew Kabeera PostBank’s Executive Director, stated that their partnership with UMRA is timely as it will help the bank boost financial literacy skills and ensure savings groups have access to essential financial services, regardless of their banking affiliation.
“The bank is dedicated to fostering prosperity for Ugandans through innovative and tailored financial products,” he told the press during the launch at UMRA Offices. “With Wendi, we are delighted to empower individuals and groups, especially those underserved by traditional financial institutions, to access secure savings accounts, earn 10% annual interest on daily savings, and conduct various financial transactions.”
Kabeera added that “Wendi was designed to offer seamless financial services to underserved and last-mile customers, hence PostBank or non – PostBank customers can access, manage, and transact funds efficiently both on a smartphone and a feature phone.”
Executive Director of UMRA, Ms. Edith Tusuubira emphasized the transformative impact this partnership will have on Uganda’s financial landscape.
“Leveraging Wendi to digitize savings groups across the country is a great initiative and we thank PostBank for taking this innovative approach because it aligns with Uganda’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy of bridging the gap of access to financial services for millions of Ugandans,” said Tusuubira. “By embracing digital technology, we will enhance financial literacy, security, and convenience for our people while fostering economic empowerment,”
Tusuubira pointed out that UMRA commits to continuously support sector players like PostBank who have introduced services like the Wendi which addresses key challenges faced by informal savings mechanisms since the Authority is trying to streamline operations as the regulator.”
A recent study by FinScope revealed a sharp increase in the adoption of SACCOs and mobile money services in Uganda since 2018. SACCO usage rose from 5% in 2018 to 15% in 2023, while Mobile Money usage jumped from 23% to 42% over the same period. Despite this growth, many Ugandans still store money at home, signaling a lack of confidence in both formal and informal financial service providers.
Furthermore, only 2 in 10 Ugandans save electronically, emphasizing the urgent need for digital solutions like Wendi to bridge the gap in financial inclusion. Wendi promises to offer secure and convenient financial services to help address these challenges.
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