The Jordan DFS Landscape – a Situation Analysis
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The Jordan DFS Landscape – A Situation Analysis Will the mandating of “basic bank accounts” by the Central Bank of Jordan to commercial banks, usher in strategic partnerships between banks, MicroFinance Institutions and Payment Service Providers? 5th March 2019 Chris Statham DFS and MFI consultant Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobilemoneyconsultant LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ACC Agricultural Credit Corporation AML Anti-Money Laundering API Application Programme Interfaces ATM Automated Teller Machine CBJ Central Bank of Jordan CBS Core Banking Software CGAP Consultative Group to Assist the Poor DEF Development and Employment Fund EFT Electronic Funds Transfer EMPS Emerging Markets Payments FSP Financial Service Provider GDP Gross Domestic Product Jo-PACC Jordan Payments and Clearing Company KYC Know-Your-Customer MCF Military Credit Fund MEPS Middle East Payment Services MfW Microfund for Women MFI Microfinance Institution NFIS National Financial Inclusion Strategy OTC Over –the-counter P2G Person to Government P2P Person-to-Person (transfer) PSP Payment Service Provider RTGS Real Time Gross Settlement USAID U.S. Agency for International Development List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ............................................................................................... 2 1. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. 4 2. Situation Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 6 2.1. Country Overview............................................................................................................. 6 2.2. Financial Service Providers ............................................................................................... 7 2.3. The Gender Gap ............................................................................................................... 8 2.4. National payment system ................................................................................................ 8 2.5. (Digital) Financial literacy ............................................................................................... 10 2.6. Summary ........................................................................................................................ 10 3. Graduating the unbanked to wallets – mfis - banks .............................................................. 12 3.1. MFI opportunity with PSP ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 3.2. MFIs and DFS today ........................................................................................................ 12 3.3. Using wallets to increase outreach, mobilize deposits and graduate the customer base 13 3.4. Business model and value proposition .......................................................................... 14 4. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 15 5. Annex ..................................................................................................................................... 16 5.1. List of 9 licensced MFIs ................................................................................................... 16 5.2. Annex 3 – hub and spoke model .................................................................................... 16 6. About the author ................................................................................................................... 17 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Financial inclusion in Jordan has increased from Figure 1 - Jordan's National Financial Inclusion 24.6% in 2014 to 33.1% in 2017. 13.2% are Strategy informally served and 38 % remains excluded1. The signing of the Maya Declaration in 20162 and, The National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2018-20203 aims to increase financial inclusion to 42%4 by 2020 and to cut gender financial inequality to 30%. Realizing that inadequate access to and usage of financial services limits opportunities to start and grow a business, create jobs and gain access to inputs, equipment, skills and knowledge, the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) has been developing an enabling policy and regulatory environment that Source: CBJ - NFIS allows Financial Service Providers (PSPs, banks and Micro Finance Institutions) to offer products and services through digital channels to financially excluded populations. However, uptake has been slow with 461,3555 registered wallets (approximately 20% are 30 days active) and a mere 9356 agents, some of which are likely to be double or triple counted7. As part of the strategy to increase financial inclusion, on 5th February 2019 the CBJ mandated that all banks should not refuse any customer the ability to open a “basic bank account”8 – this means the ability to have zero balance and lighter KYC, and is similar in principle to the 2004 Mzanzi account opening and which was in alignment with South Africa’s Financial Sector Charter9. Another example is the Axis ASAP account in India10. 1 GIZ (2017) CBJ and GIZ Study Informs about Financial Inclusion in Jordan – Gaps for the Majority and Vulnerable Groups http://microfinance-mena.org/news/press-release-cbj-and-giz-study-informs-about-financial-inclusion-in-jordan-gaps-for-the- majority-and-vulnerable-groups/ 2 https://www.afi-global.org/news/2016/11/central-bank-jordan-makes-bold-maya-commitment-financial-literacy- access-refugees 3http://www.cbj.gov.jo/EchoBusv3.0/SystemAssets/PDFs/2018/The%20National%20Financial%20Inclusion%20Stra tegy%20A9.pdf 4 According to FINDEX 20174, the level of financial inclusion has already increased from 25% (in 2011) - 42% though gender inequality also increased from 17% to 29%. 5 CBJ - Dec 2018 6 CBJ – Jan 2019 7 This due to multiple PSP using the same location i.e. exchange houses 8http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/cbj-mandates-banks-open-basic-accounts-%E2%80%98financially- excluded%E2%80%99 9 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mzansi_Account 10 https://www.axisbank.com/accounts/savings-account/axis-asap/faqs.html Previously, the average minimum balance (to open a deposit account) was approximately 300 Jordanian Dinars / $500 and which was too high for 90% of the population. The zero balance instruction is set in a context where MFIs, the more “natural home” for these clients, are not able to take deposits. These at times seemingly contradictory instructions / regulations / policies from the CBJ has stymied the MFI and DFS sectors. However, with the 5th February instruction, there is opportunity for PSPs, MFIs and banks to work in synergy to graduate clients, however noting, that in the South African Mzanzi example many accounts were dormant11. This paper explores the opportunity to form strategic partnerships between the FSPs by first examining the current situation and then looking at a strategic partnership framework. 11 https://www.fin24.com/Money/Money-Clinic/Banks-back-dormant-Mzansi-20100613 2. SITUATION ANALYSIS 2.1. COUNTRY OVERVIEW Table 1 - Key Country Statistics Jordan is a middle-income economy with a Population (million) 10.4 12 population of 10.4 million . Jordanians make up Age distribution 69.3% of the population, followed by: Syrians 13.3%, Palestinians 6.7%, Egyptians 6.7% and 0-14 years (%) 34.14% Iraqis13. The Kingdom’s has high rates of poverty 15-64 years (%) 62.25% 14 14.2%, unemployment 18.7 % and government >65 years (%) 3.51% debt.15 On the positive side, Jordan’s economy Urban/rural split (% urban) 91% benefits from its well-educated population Economically active labour force (%) 36.80 95.4%,16 strategic location, world-heritage tourism sites, and a reputation for stability in the Population below poverty lines (%) 14.2% turbulent MENA region. Adult literacy (%) 98% GDP (PPP) in USD billion 40.13 Jordan’s ICT ecosystem is well- developed given GDP per capita (PPP) in USD 9,200 the availability of universities, a well-educated Sources: CIA World fact book ICT trained workforce, variety of local and international tech firms, investors and venture capitalists, and accelerator incubators. There is a reliable and affordable broadband network. Mobile phone and internet coverage is 100% and there is high mobile, smartphone and internet penetration at 150%, 85% and 89% respectively. The Kingdom’s economy is driven by the financial sector and which accounts for 12% of GDP, and so with limited natural resources Jordan is committed to financial reforms including the further opening of the banking sector. 12 CIA world factbook data, (2018 estimates) 13 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/print_jo.html 14 The Global Findex database 2017: Measuring financial Inclusion and Fintech Revolution: World Bank 15 https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/jordan/overview 16 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2103.html 2.2. FINANCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS 2.2.1. BANKS Figure 2 - Level of financial inclusion There are 24 commercial banks but who are not attracted to micro entrepreneurs. NBFIs include organizations who are not banks but which are formerly regulated. 2.2.2. MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS The Microfinance Bylaw (5/2015) effective June 1, 2015, mandates the CBJ to license, regulate and supervise microfinance companies. There are nine licensed MFIs (Annex 1) that provide loans but who are not allowed to take deposits. Tanmeyah (the MFI association)