Leveraging fintech to drive financial inclusion: Support to Metlife to understand challenges of fintech in multiple countries, Global

• Jul 26, 2025
• 1 min

With 1.7 billion people worldwide still unbanked, financial exclusion remains a major challenge. Traditional banking inefficiencies often prioritize high-value transactions, leaving low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities underserved despite their market potential.

To address this, MetLife commissioned MSC to conduct a multi-country study on how FinTech solutions can bridge the financial inclusion gap. The research covered Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Vietnam, analyzing market readiness, barriers, and opportunities for digital financial services.

MSC undertook the following exercises for our study:

• We evaluated fintech adoption, financial inclusion gaps, and regulatory landscapes across six countries to assess market readiness.
• We engaged stakeholders, including fintechs, financial service providers, and regulators, through interviews and a “Thinkshop” in Kuala Lumpur to identify challenges and opportunities in digital finance.
• We developed a comprehensive study report and country focus notes, amplifying insights through a targeted social media campaign to enhance industry understanding and drive policy and market action.

The study enhanced the industry’s understanding of fintech-driven financial inclusion opportunities. It provided policy and market insights to help regulators, financial institutions, and fintechs design more inclusive digital solutions. Additionally, it strengthened multi-stakeholder collaboration through knowledge-sharing initiatives such as the Thinkshop.