A new report backed by digital lender Tala has highlighted both a massive opportunity and a significant challenge in global financial inclusion. The report estimates that more than three billion adults worldwide still lack access to formal credit.
The Atlantic Council report, The Three-Billion-Person Challenge, reveals that credit usage remains uneven across low- and middle-income economies despite substantial improvements in financial access. Of the 4.84 billion adults living in these markets—including Kenya—2.5 billion (roughly 51%) have bank accounts but do not borrow formally. Furthermore, while approximately 24% of adults (one billion people) use formal credit, many others lack access to products that satisfy their specific financial requirements.
The report identifies three primary obstacles preventing people from utilizing digital financial services: the inability to afford the services, a lack of trust in service providers, and a dearth of suitable financial products that meet actual consumer needs.
Speaking at the official Kenyan launch of the report, held during Tala Kenya’s 2026 media breakfast in Nairobi, General Manager Ann Stella Mumbi noted, “The problem we began solving ten years ago is still very much present today. While the issue of access to credit has progressed, usage remains a hurdle. From our perspective, a lack of trust in financial service providers is the critical factor. These findings reinvigorate our resolve to provide customers with choice, awareness, and control, treating them as true consumers with the same potential as anyone else.”
To address growing concerns regarding consumer protection and trust in online lending, Tala has established the Global Debt Collection Dignity Initiative. This initiative develops regulatory framework blueprints that national authorities in Kenya and other Tala markets can use to oversee debt collection activities effectively.
Over the last decade, Tala has served more than 13 million clients across three continents, disbursing more than $7 billion in credit. The company recently expanded its international footprint with three new offices in Latin America and plans to open additional locations throughout 2026.
Tala also reached a major technological milestone in December 2025 by introducing on-chain lending through partnerships with Huma and Solana. This move signals the company’s increasing investment in blockchain-based financial systems to streamline global credit.
The Atlantic Council report concludes that closing the global credit gap could unlock more than $10 trillion in economic growth, making inclusive finance one of the most significant opportunities in the modern global economy.
[Secure Your Seat at Africa Tech Summit Nairobi 2026 | February 11–12 here] Use code TTRENDS10 at checkout to save 10% on your pass and join the leaders building Africa’s $1 trillion cross-border payment future.
Go to TECHTRENDSKE.co.ke for more tech and business news from the African continent.
Follow us on WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to editorial@techtrendsmedia.co.ke
