Federation of Egyptian Banks explores ways to expand financial inclusion, banking access

The Financial Inclusion Committee of the Federation of Egyptian Banks (FEB) has discussed ways to strengthen financial inclusion and expand access to financial and banking services, with the participation of representatives from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), the FEB, several banks, and companies and platforms operating in financial empowerment.

The meeting explored ways to support the banking sector’s efforts to raise awareness of financial inclusion and address the challenges facing banks in this area.

Discussions focused on strengthening communication with the CBE, reviewing banks’ proposals and challenges, and exploring innovative solutions to improve access to financial services across different segments of society, particularly low-income and unbanked individuals.

The meeting formed part of the committee’s role as a platform for communication and consultation among financial inclusion managers at banks. It aims to facilitate the exchange of expertise and experiences, coordinate efforts, and develop initiatives to expand the number of people benefiting from financial services.

The committee also supports the implementation of relevant national events and initiatives.

The meeting was attended by Khaled Bassiouny, General Manager of Financial Inclusion at the CBE, and Amr Youssef El-Qalash, General Manager of the FEB.

Mohamed Tharwat, Chairperson of the FEB’s Financial Inclusion Committee and Head of Retail Banking and Financial Inclusion at Banque du Caire, said the committee was keen to strengthen cooperation with partners capable of supporting financial inclusion efforts and facilitating the exchange of ideas and expertise among relevant stakeholders.

Tharwat explained that the idea of holding the meeting had first been proposed approximately a year ago.

He noted that the committee had focused on bringing together partners supporting financial inclusion to facilitate the exchange of ideas and benefit from their diverse experiences and expertise.

He added that the committee would explore mechanisms for engaging with financial technology (FinTech) start-ups operating in Egypt that are interested in partnering with banks.

The aim is to provide these companies with opportunities to communicate directly with banks, allowing each bank to select partners whose services align with its needs and strategic priorities.

Tharwat stressed the importance of launching financial inclusion awareness campaigns targeting young people, with particular emphasis on explaining how to build a sound credit history.

Such efforts would improve their prospects of obtaining credit facilities and support their integration into the banking sector.

The committee also reviewed four experiences from different sectors, providing an opportunity to exchange expertise and explore solutions and services that could help develop financial services and strengthen financial inclusion.

The presentations were delivered by the Egyptian Credit Bureau (I-Score), Mastercard, the Rahet Bally platform and the Momken platform.

I-Score expands access to credit information services

Bilal Abdel Latif, Head of Product Development and Marketing at the Egyptian Credit Bureau (I-Score), presented the company’s services and products and its role in supporting financial inclusion.

He also reviewed developments in the company’s operations and its expansion in providing credit-related solutions and services to individuals and institutions.

Abdel Latif said the company’s services help improve the efficiency of Egypt’s credit reporting system and provide the information needed to assess customers’ creditworthiness.

This supports financing decisions and enables financial institutions to expand their services and reach new customer segments.

He added that I-Score had begun offering business-to-consumer (B2C) services through the Digital Egypt portal, allowing individuals to request their credit reports and review their credit information.

The service also aims to raise awareness of the importance of credit history and its role in facilitating access to financial products and financing.

Abdel Latif emphasised that expanding access to credit services and information for individuals and institutions is an important pillar of financial inclusion, helping improve credit awareness and facilitate access to financial and banking services.

Mastercard highlights financial inclusion for microbusinesses

Ali Wahby, Vice-President and Head of Commercial Business Development for SMEs in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Mastercard, emphasised the importance of integrating microenterprise owners and freelancers into the formal economy.

He said this would strengthen financial inclusion and expand the number of people benefiting from banking services.

Wahby explained that bringing these groups into the formal economy would give them greater opportunities to access financial and banking services, supporting their businesses and helping them grow.

He noted that Mastercard offers a business account service designed to facilitate freelancers’ integration into the banking sector.

The service enables freelancers to access banking services using their national identification numbers, without having to provide conventional proof of income.

Rahet Bally promotes financial literacy among women

Nadia Gamal El-Din, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Rahet Bally, presented the platform’s activities, explaining that it organises four financial awareness and education gatherings annually, attended by more than 10,000 women.

These events aim to improve financial literacy and empower women to manage their financial resources effectively.

She said the company has more than 22 million active users across the Middle East, while its overall reach extends to approximately 74 million people.

Gamal El-Din noted that the platform had established partnerships with more than 600 brands and government institutions in 2026, alongside cooperation with 13 banks to deliver its services.

She added that Rahet Bally works with the CBE to organise financial education workshops and launch digital awareness campaigns.

These activities help promote financial inclusion and inform citizens about available financial and banking products and services.

‘Momken for Her’ supports women’s employment

Abeer El-Leithy, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Momken for Her, said the platform aims to support women’s participation in the labour market and promote their economic empowerment by providing employment opportunities and services that help them find suitable jobs.

She explained that the platform operates across 27 governorates and has provided services to approximately 120,000 women.

Visits across its various communication channels have exceeded six million, reflecting its broad reach among women from different backgrounds.

El-Leithy added that the platform works with numerous companies to connect women with labour market needs.

It also offers training courses through its website to develop women’s skills and improve their employment prospects.

She noted that the platform organises an annual employment forum, providing opportunities for direct communication between women seeking jobs and employers.

The event supports efforts to strengthen women’s economic empowerment and increase their participation in the labour market.

Committee calls for practical partnerships and initiatives

The committee concluded its meeting by emphasising the importance of building on the experiences and ideas presented and translating them into practical initiatives and partnerships that support financial inclusion.

It highlighted the need for stronger coordination among relevant stakeholders and reaffirmed its commitment to continuing efforts to expand access to banking services.

Particular attention will be given to young people, women, microenterprise owners and freelancers, with the aim of facilitating their integration into the banking sector and supporting the state’s objectives for inclusive economic development.