Financial Inclusion

Welcome to CFSI EMERGE

By Cici Northup on July 9 2018

Recently, I attended the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) EMERGE Financial Health Forum. The event, held June 6-8, 2018 in Los Angeles, is intended to help organizations working in financial services and financial health learn about current trends, insights, research and policy updates. This was my first time attending and I wanted to share […]

Cici Northup

Gen Z – The Next Payments Influencers

By Cici Northup on January 18 2018

A country’s economy is made up of multiple generations. And while we in the payments industry have been watching (and are fascinated by) the financial behavior of the Millennials (e.g. excessive student debt, delayed home buying, preference for digital, etc.), hot on their heels is Generation Z. Currently characterized as self-aware, persistent, realistic, innovative and […]

Cici Northup

Lowering the Cost of Remittance – the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

By Cici Northup on October 11 2017

There was an estimated $55b billion in cross-border remittances in 2015. But how much of that, per transaction, arrived in the wallet of the intended recipient? Unfortunately, not as much as many of us would hope. The cost of remittances is quite high with the average cost worldwide nearing 8% in 2015. And in some […]

Cici Northup

Poor, Wanting and Without: The Payments Gap

By Cici Northup on July 26 2017

Over the past several years, I have focused my time and energy on projects aimed at increasing financial inclusion in developing countries to help alleviate poverty. I feel fortunate to work in this arena; I find it both rewarding and interesting. Recently, as part of a project, I interviewed a number of people working on […]