Financial inclusion has made significant progress over the years, but for billions of people worldwide, access alone is not enough. Around three billion people remain unable to fully participate in the formal financial system, limiting their ability to build businesses, manage risks, and pursue long-term economic stability.
According to the latest report from the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center, titled “A Three-Billion-Person Challenge: Decision Time for Financial-Sector Leaders,” the remaining barrier to inclusion is not just access but meaningful usage. Connectivity gaps, affordability constraints, security risks, and limited trust in digital financial services continue to prevent many people in low- and middle-income economies from fully benefiting from financial technology.
As a champion of the global majority, Tala focuses on going beyond access by helping people use financial services safely and confidently to improve their lives over time.
Recent global data shows that while 84% of adults in low- and middle-income economies own devices capable of accessing digital financial services and 75% have financial accounts, usage remains limited. Only 40% save formally and just 24% have accessed formal credit, leaving billions outside the circle of financial opportunity.
The challenge is not simply opening accounts but ensuring people can actively participate in the financial system, build businesses, and stay protected against economic uncertainty.
Trust and transparency are central to this effort. In digital finance, concerns about data misuse, cybercrime, and unclear pricing structures continue to weaken consumer confidence. During the launch of the report, Shivani Siroya emphasized that embedding transparency into financial services helps restore control to consumers by ensuring data use and pricing practices remain clear and fair.
For more than a decade, Tala has worked to move financial inclusion beyond access by helping customers protect, use, and grow their money over time. The company believes that financial services should provide choice, awareness, and control, allowing consumers to participate in the system with dignity and confidence.
Gender inclusion also remains a priority within the financial ecosystem. The report highlights persistent gaps in financial participation, noting that women in several markets are less likely to use mobile financial services due to lower confidence levels and limited access to products that support their economic needs.
Through real-world impact, Tala continues to demonstrate how responsible digital lending can empower individuals and communities. Customers like Berla from Baseco, Manila illustrate how access to the right financial partner can help unlock entrepreneurial potential and create pathways out of economic barriers.
Looking ahead, Tala’s approach centers on building long-term financial confidence by improving how customers manage, perceive, and grow their financial capacity. The company supports initiatives that strengthen anti-fraud systems, promote fair lending and collections practices, and expand opportunities for women and underserved communities.
Ultimately, bridging the global financial inclusion gap requires collaboration across the public and private sectors. By leveraging artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, and responsible co-regulation, the financial ecosystem can move toward a more secure, transparent, and inclusive future.
Tala remains committed to working with regulators, industry partners, and communities to strengthen enforcement against illegal lending, advance financial literacy, and ensure that formal credit is accessible to the global majority.
Read the full report from the Atlantic Council here: https://gotala.co/49ir2Ly