Financial Inclusion news and trends

Google Updates Wallet to Help Parents and Kids Manage Money
Mobile // August 06, 2026

Google is rolling out a family-focused expansion to its digital wallet, according to a news release provided to PYMNTS. Beginning Thursday (Aug. 6), Google Wallet will let parents in the United States create a secure balance for supervised children and teens younger than 18, per...

Government Disbursements Open New Paths to Financial Inclusion
Financial Inclusion // July 09, 2026

Government payments rarely get discussed as financial infrastructure. They’re usually treated as administrative outputs. Benefits are approved, refunds are issued and claims are processed. For millions of households, however, the moment money actually arrives can determine whether they pay a bill on time, avoid borrowing...

Real-Time Payments Could Add $19.3 Billion to Argentina’s GDP
Real-Time Payments // July 02, 2026

Real-time payments in South America have moved well beyond proof of concept. They’re becoming the financial backbone of entire economies, and the numbers speak for themselves. The evidence starts with Brazil’s Pix, which has become one of the most consequential instant payment platforms in the...

Visa Brings Card Acceptance to SMB Smartphones
Payment Methods // June 30, 2026

Visa introduced new ways to help small businesses manage payments via smartphone. The capabilities are for the company’s Visa Pay, Visa Accept and Visa Direct offerings and are designed for small businesses in emerging markets, according to a Tuesday (June 30) press release provided to...

Interviews & Exclusives
Government Disbursements Open New Paths to Financial Inclusion

July 09, 2026
Government payments rarely get discussed as financial infrastructure. They’re usually treated as administrative outputs. Benefits are approved, refunds are issued and claims are processed. For millions of households, however, the moment money actually arrives can determine whether they pay a bill on time, avoid borrowing or stay connected to everyday economic activity. The PYMNTS Intelligence […]

Real-Time Payments Could Add $19.3 Billion to Argentina’s GDP

July 02, 2026
Real-time payments in South America have moved well beyond proof of concept. They’re becoming the financial backbone of entire economies, and the numbers speak for themselves. The evidence starts with...

Mastercard Takes Aim at the Fragile Side of Financial Inclusion

April 24, 2026
Technology and connectivity have drawn billions of consumers and businesses into the formal financial system, but the shift from access to stability remains uneven and incomplete. Over the past decade,...

Latin America FinTechs Expand Despite Regional Volatility

January 05, 2026
Latin America has captured an outsized share of global attention in recent weeks as geopolitics, elections and monetary pressures sharpen focus on emerging markets. Despite the volatility in the region,...

Quick Reads
Google Updates Wallet to Help Parents and Kids Manage Money

August 06, 2026
Google is rolling out a family-focused expansion to its digital wallet, according to a news release provided to PYMNTS. Beginning Thursday (Aug. 6), Google Wallet will let parents in the United States create a secure balance for supervised children and teens younger than 18, per the release. “This tool is designed to help parents teach […]

Visa Brings Card Acceptance to SMB Smartphones

June 30, 2026
Visa introduced new ways to help small businesses manage payments via smartphone. The capabilities are for the company’s Visa Pay, Visa Accept and Visa Direct offerings and are designed for...

CFPB Revokes Lending Guidance for Disadvantaged Borrowers

June 17, 2026
The CFPB has rescinded six-year-old guidance for lenders on offering special purpose credit programs (SPCPs). A filing published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Wednesday (June 17) in the Federal Register revoked guidance...

Binance Says Crypto Platforms Fill In for Banks in Emerging Markets

May 10, 2026
New research from Binance finds that users in emerging markets are fueling global cryptocurrency adoption.  Emerging markets (EMs) accounted for 77% of new users on Binance, according to a report...