Microfinance and mobile banking for the bottom of the pyramid

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to illuminate the necessary features of a microfinance mobile banking platform through the use of agents. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper, not an empirical one. Findings – The authors illuminate the importance of specifiying what successful partnership between the mobile network operator and the microfinance organization must include and they highlight what a mobile application should include. Social implications – There are roughly two billion unbanked mobile phone users who could be served by a partnership between mobile technology and microfinance. This type of partnership begins to address financial exclusivity among the poor. Originality/value – The paper offers an original, detailed solution about how agents and technology can be used to help the poor access mobile banking platforms.