AMMAN — FINCA Microfinance is celebrating 15 years of providing responsible financial services in Jordan, investing in the future of more than 250,000 customers by disbursing the equivalent of $435 million U.S. dollars in loans over that time. FINCA also has demonstrated a strong commitment to gender equity, as ninety percent of FINCA Jordan’s customers are women.
On this occasion, FINCA Jordan held a press conference in Amman along with its main strategic partners in digital services: STS, the leading provider of digital transformation and integrated Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) solutions in the MENA region, and UWallet, a leading mobile payments service provider with almost two decades of experience in digital financial services that provided FINCA Jordan customers with E-Wallets and mobile payment services.
At the press conference, FINCA Jordan’s customers shared their experiences successfully developing businesses and improving their standard of living with reporters and stakeholders. FINCA staff highlighted the need for increased financial inclusion services in Jordan and outlined recent success in digitizing and centralizing FINCA Jordan’s operations to provide more convenient and efficient services to its customers.
FINCA Jordan is part of the FINCA Impact Finance Network, a group of 17 microfinance institutions that provides socially responsible financial services enabling low-income entrepreneurs and small business owners to invest in their futures. FIF reaches more than 2.8 million customers worldwide and consistently delivers a double-bottom line of financial and social performance.
For FINCA, social impact goes hand in hand with financial sustainability. FINCA operates in Jordan because the need for inclusive financial services is high. According to the Central Bank of Jordan, in 2017, 38 percent of Jordanians lacked access to any formal financial services. Since then, the CBJ reports progress in both increasing overall financial inclusion from 33 percent to 50 percent and reducing the gender gap in access to services. FINCA Jordan has played a central role in achieving these goals.
“It is essential for women entrepreneurs to be able to access responsible lenders who abide by international consumer protection standards,” said Ms. Andree Simon the Global CEO of FINCA Impact Finance They should be confident that microfinance providers are there to support them, not exploit them.
That is why I’m so proud that FINCA Jordan is one of only two microfinance institutions in the country to have been recognized internationally for robust client protection standards. FINCA Jordan’s commitment to responsible banking practices is consistent with the Financial Consumer Protection for Microfinance Sector Instructions issued by the Central Bank of Jordan.”
FINCA Jordan took advantage of the changes brought about by the pandemic to centralize services and greatly increase remote access to funding for their customers. These changes have improved the company’s competitiveness, increased growth, and created the infrastructure needed to provide financial services in line with what customers need.
“It is our responsibility to create useful and convenient products that meet their financial needs,” said Mr. Abduqodir Sattorov the CEO of FINCA Jordan, “Customers now have more choice over how they interact with FINCA. New systems enable FINCA Jordan to evaluate loan applications and provide funding quickly, efficiently, and responsibly. Over the past two years, we centralized lending through our call centers. The impact is that customers get better service with more convenience and lower costs.”
“At STS, we are proud to have partnered with FINCA Jordan, and were able to drive the centralization of their business processes by digitizing the key processes and delivery channels,” said Mr. Ibrahim Zeine the Director for Digital Customer Experience at STS. “FINCA’s achievement is a testament to what we always aim to achieve, and is in line with our vision to enable our partners in their digital transformation journeys.”
“We are delighted to have partnered with FINCA Jordan, which has allowed us to integrate innovative financial solutions that further empower and support its customers,” said At the event, UWallet CEO Dr. Alaa Ensheiwat. “UWallet has helped FINCA securely and effectively digitize its loan approval and disbursal, which ultimately increases efficiency. Through this partnership, FINCA registered and opened digital wallets for its clients, allowing them immediate access to approved loansfunds, which they were then able to repay through UWallet.”
“FINCA’s record in the Jordanian market is unmatched, as its ability to provide services that are catalysts for greater financial inclusion and that align with UWallet’s core ideals of providing innovative, safe and effective digital financial solutions,” added Dr. Ensheiwat.
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About FINCA Jordan
FINCA Jordan is part of the FINCA Impact Finance Network, a group of 17 microfinance and financial institutions that provides socially responsible financial services and enables low-income entrepreneurs and small business owners to invest in the future.
FINCA Jordan began its work in late 2007, with the opening of the main office in Amman, and the continued expansion of disbursing loans from 9 branches in various regions of Jordan- Amman, Al-Zarqa’, Jerash, Dair-Alla, Sahab, North Shonah Irbid and Madaba with five sub branches at Bani Kenanah , Al Salt , Al Russaifeh , Marka and recently Al Kourah Office.
FINCA Jordan continues its expansion with the aim of serving customers in various sectors and locations better by funding loans to increase the productivity of individuals and micro-and small enterprises in Jordan.
On December 20, 2017, FINCA Jordan received a microfinance license from the Central Bank of Jordan. It becomes the first microfinance institution to be fully licensed and regulated by the Central Bank. FINCA Jordan begins using the name FINCA Microfinance Jordan while providing responsible loans and financial services to customers throughout the country.
On February 2020 ,FINCA Microfinance Company PLC (FINCA Jordan), FINCA Impact Finance’s subsidiary in Jordan, it received Smart Certification in recognition of its long-standing commitment to client protection. This designation came after a rigorous independent review process found it has continued to uphold industry-leading client protection standards in providing responsible finance.
For more information:
Moath AL Anasweh
Head of Sales and Marketing
About STS
Specialized Technical Services Company (STS), Jordan’s leading ICT and digital transformation solutions provider, through its bold leadership, innovation and long field expertise since 1989, is confidently contributing to the digital transformation scene in the kingdom and the region. STS’s success is driven by a commitment to delivering a peerless digital transformation journey to its clients and has expanded its offerings to embrace digital infrastructure containing advanced cloud solutions and managed services, cybersecurity offerings that are backed up with an advanced security operations center (STS SOC), training and licensing. Likewise, STS constantly strives to elevate digital experience throughout its offerings ranging from digital customer experience, digital workplace solutions and business intelligence BI services.
Through its long-standing partnerships with industry leaders such as Cisco Systems, Dell Technologies, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and many others, STS continues to serve multiple industries in financial, governmental, health, educational, telecommunications, and other commercial sectors in the MENA region.
To stay up to date about STS’s news and DX offerings, follow the company on
or visit our website: www.stsarabia.com
STS Offices:
Amman, Jordan (HQ)
Riyadh, KSA
Dubai, UAE
Manama, Bahrain
Ramallah, Palestine
Baghdad, Iraq
Media Contact:
Bara Al-Sharaireh
bara.alsharaireh@stsarabia.com
+ 962 799 3184 60
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