CANCELED: Digital Finance in Asia: Reality and Potential

Digital finance, including mobile banking and payments apps, is transforming banking throughout the world. In emerging markets in Asia, the impact of lower costs and improved access to financial products is already driving a dramatic growth in financial inclusion among a population with otherwise no access to traditional banking services. What are the challenges Asian governments and banks face in responding to the financial needs of citizens? What is the potential for digital solutions—including mobile and telecom technology—to address these needs? And what might be the economic impact of these solutions in emerging market economies in Asia?

About the Speakers:

Anju Patwardhan was Global Chief Innovation Officer at Standard Chartered Bank, based in Singapore, before accepting a Fulbright Visiting Scholar fellowship to Stanford University in August.  Her career in banking spans 25 years, where she has played leadership roles in innovation, risk management, operations, digital banking, and internal audit.

Arjuna Costa is a partner at Omidyar Network where he leads the firm’s Financial Inclusion investments across emerging markets, including Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. He leads Omidyar Network’s investments and has a board role in a number of innovative financial services companies, including Cignifi, Lenddo, MicroEnsure, Pagatech, RUMA, Segovia Technology, and Zoona. He also leads the engagement with several policy and research initiatives, such as AFI Global, GSMA’s Mobile Money for the Unbanked program and the Better Than Cash Alliance.

Carol Realini has been a financial services leader throughout her career. She recently co-authored “Financial Inclusion at the Bottom of the Pyramid,” a discussion of the changes taking place in the financial sector and the potential for mobile banking to enable unbanked and underbanked individuals to take advantage of financial services affordably and accessibly.