Products and channels

MSC has been a provider of choice for technical assistance and advisory services to Equity Bank since 2001. As a result of our support, the bank has deepened financial inclusion and broadened access for users. There has been a significant growth in depositors and deposits as well as borrowers and loan book for the bank. By the first quarter of 2018, over 97% of the bank’s transactions occurred outside its branches and 70% were self-service. The use of alternate delivery channels improved the cost-to-income ratio from 47.1% in 2015 to 44.8% in 2016.

MSC assessed the market for wholesale lending and advisory in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia for Root Capital, a non-profit social investment fund that serves agricultural enterprises. MSC provided key insights into the needs and aspirations of last-mile agricultural businesses. MSC’s recommendations helped Root Capital finance the segment in Kenya and consider replicating the approach in Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia.

MSC studied the needs and preferences of women users of mobile financial services (MFS) in Bangladesh and designed two women-centric MFS products for concept testing by a select group of MFS providers. We created strategies and collaterals with the providers to help them onboard women MFS users.

USAID commissioned MSC to provide technical assistance to refine and reposition Britam’s microinsurance product line. The MSC team conducted a situational analysis of microinsurance at Britam, performed market and behavioral diagnoses, directed concept distillation, and created a product and strategic business case by pilot testing and refining products. MSC’s intervention helped Britam achieve an operational breakeven in 2016. By the end of 2017, it increased annual profits on its microinsurance portfolio to KES 79 million (USD 0.79 million).

MSC worked for IFC in Bangladesh to enhance financial inclusion among women through mobile financial services. We conducted an extensive research to understand the needs, requirements, and preferences of female MFS users in the country and designed two women-centric MFS products.

Under the Innovate, Implement, Impact (i3) Program, MSC works to optimize the design and delivery of products and services to meet the needs of low- and middle-income (LMI) clients. The i3 Program will make a direct difference to at least 400,000 under-served LMI clients over three years in Bangladesh and Vietnam.