Kenyan banks look to crash M-Pesa’s party

Kenya’s Equity Bank is determined to launch a new mobile banking product that has the potential to shake up an industry dominated by the creator of M-Pesa, Safaricom. Experts say that while Equity could present serious long-term competition for Safaricom, it has its work cut out. 

Morocco inches towards Islamic finance

Morocco is on the cusp of a legislative breakthrough that will pave the way for a fully fledged Islamic finance system in the country. But with a history of failed Islamic banking experiments, on top of the usual problems associated with establishing a new market in a country, Morocco's Islamic banking sector is unlikely to take an instant hold.

Mozambique’s banks on a good run

Mozambique’s banking sector has grown rapidly in recently years, on the back of the country’s resources boom, and neither the country's large current account deficit or political tensions seem likely to scupper its health.

Switzerland loosens grip on the wealth management sector

A stagnant home market and declining prospects in western Europe have encouraged Swiss wealth managers to expand in emerging markets. But the strategy for success is not always straightforward, and now a number of regional players have come to the fore looking to challenge Swiss dominance in this field.

Germany’s hidden lending shortfall

The availability of bank credit for small and medium-sized enterprises is often seen as a relative strength of the German economy, but borrowers themselves seem to harbour anxieties about their banks.