Developing Stories

MShwari is a new banking platform that enables customers to save, earn interest, and access small amounts of credit instantly via their mobile phones. Loan amounts depend on how much clients have saved in their MShwari accounts, as well as their repayment behavior. “We’re trying to shift the trust relationship between the bank and customer,” says Eric Muriuki of Commercial Bank of Africa. “We want to offer formal financial services to as many people, if not all, but in a way that the product actually gives them some empowerment. We don’t want to just count account numbers, we want to see impact, we want to see transformation in people’s lives.”

Written, produced, and directed by Jeanette Thomas.
Filmed and edited by Peter Cairns.