Agent Banking and Last-Mile Credit Delivery Training Course

Introduction

This intensive 5-day training course provides a comprehensive and practical exploration of Agent Banking and its pivotal role in last-mile credit delivery. In vast underserved populations, traditional branch-based banking remains inaccessible, leaving significant segments without formal financial services, including vital credit. This program will delve into the strategic models, operational frameworks, technological enablers, and risk management practices of agent networks, equipping participants with the knowledge to design, implement, and scale effective solutions for extending credit to remote and rural communities, fostering financial inclusion and economic development.

The course goes beyond theoretical concepts, focusing on real-world case studies, best practices from successful deployments globally, and the practical challenges of managing agent networks for credit outreach. Through interactive exercises, discussions of regulatory nuances, and insights into agent selection, training, and supervision, attendees will learn to assess market opportunities, understand the unique credit risk profiles of underserved populations, and appreciate the socio-economic impact of extending financial services to the last mile. Whether you are a financial institution seeking to expand reach, a microfinance institution, a fintech company, a development professional, or a policymaker, this program offers an unparalleled opportunity to master the essential aspects of agent banking and last-mile credit delivery.

Duration: 5 days

Target Audience:

  • Financial Inclusion Professionals
  • Microfinance Institution (MFI) Staff
  • Retail Banking Expansion Teams
  • Fintech Companies focusing on Emerging Markets
  • Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)
  • Regulators and Policymakers
  • Business Development Managers
  • Social Impact Investors

Objectives:

  • To provide a comprehensive understanding of agent banking models and their role in financial inclusion.
  • To equip participants with the knowledge to design and implement agent networks for credit delivery.
  • To understand the operational and technological aspects of last-mile credit.
  • To explore the unique risk management challenges and mitigation strategies in agent banking.
  • To enable participants to analyze the socio-economic impact and sustainability of agent-based credit.

Course Modules:

Introduction

  • Defining agent banking: concept, history, and global landscape.
  • Understanding "last-mile" financial services delivery and its importance.
  • The role of agent banking in promoting financial inclusion and credit access.
  • Key drivers for agent banking growth in emerging markets.
  • Overview of the course objectives and module structure.

Agent Banking Models and Ecosystem

  • Types of agent banking models: dedicated agents, retail agents, mobile money agents.
  • The agent banking ecosystem: banks, mobile network operators (MNOs), third-party providers.
  • Value proposition for agents, customers, and financial institutions.
  • Revenue models and incentive structures for agent networks.
  • Case studies of successful agent banking deployments globally.

Operational Frameworks for Agent Banking

  • Agent selection criteria and onboarding processes.
  • Agent training, certification, and ongoing support.
  • Transaction processing: cash-in/cash-out, account opening, loan disbursements/collections.
  • Float management and liquidity provisioning for agents.
  • Performance monitoring and management of agent networks.

Technology for Last-Mile Credit Delivery

  • Mobile banking platforms and USSD/app-based solutions for agents.
  • Point-of-Sale (POS) devices and biometric authentication.
  • Integration with core banking systems and payment gateways.
  • Data analytics for agent performance, customer insights, and risk management.
  • Ensuring technological reliability and security in remote areas.

Credit Assessment in Last-Mile Contexts

  • Challenges of credit scoring for underserved populations (lack of traditional credit history).
  • Use of alternative data points: mobile phone usage, utility payments, behavioral data.
  • Psychometric analysis and social credit scoring.
  • Streamlined loan application and approval processes via agents.
  • Designing appropriate loan products for last-mile segments (e.g., micro-loans, seasonal loans).

Risk Management in Agent Banking

  • Operational risks: fraud, error, agent misconduct.
  • Liquidity risk management for agent networks.
  • Credit risk in last-mile lending: default rates, portfolio quality.
  • Cybersecurity threats and data privacy concerns.
  • Mitigating reputational risk and ensuring customer trust.

Regulatory and Policy Environment

  • Licensing requirements and regulatory frameworks for agent banking.
  • Consumer protection in agent banking: transparency, recourse mechanisms.
  • Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance at the agent level.
  • Data protection regulations specific to emerging markets.
  • The role of central banks and financial sector regulators.

Socio-Economic Impact and Sustainability

  • Measuring the impact of agent-based credit on livelihoods and economic development.
  • Challenges in achieving financial sustainability for agent networks.
  • Strategies for scaling agent banking operations and reaching deeper into rural areas.
  • Role of public-private partnerships in expanding financial inclusion.
  • Future trends in agent banking and last-mile credit delivery.

CERTIFICATION

  • Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

  • Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

  • Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com

 

Agent Banking And Last-mile Credit Delivery Training Course in Eritrea
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