Blog
My Financial Services Journey in Mobile Banking
My financial services journey wasn’t planned. When I retired, I decided to travel and foster entrepreneurship in developing countries. Little did I know that one trip to Africa would entice me back to work. I began to see how financial services technology, using mobile, would bring banking to the poor, while changing my belief in new possibilities. During a visit to the Congo in 2002, I stopped by a mobile phone store where locals added minutes to their cell phone SIM cards. I remember looking at the poverty and unwieldy payment...
read moreThe Future of Online Mobile Banking
Many people confuse online mobile banking as the same thing. While they’re similar, there are several differences between the two. Primarily, online banking takes place from either a desktop or laptop, while mobile takes place from a smartphone. Understanding Mobile Banking & Its Advantages Mobile banking can be conducted anywhere there’s a phone network connection. Because phone networks extend over larger areas than WiFi networks, it provides a more reliable access to a customer’s finances. As with online banking,...
read moreHighlights from Bitcoin in Emerging Markets Twitter Chat
On Sept. 9, I facilitated a Twitter discussion focused on the potential of Bitcoin and crypto currencies in emerging markets. Some highlights from the discussion include the following: To start we looked at the conditions in emerging markets Cash is still dominate and typical represents 80% of transactions. There are large unbanked or underbanked populations Those who can afford it the least, pay the most for banking services like remittances, bill pay. The cost is time, travel, and fees. Banks are much better at serving the elite then the...
read moreMobile Banking: Engaging a New Generation with Social Banking
The workforce is constantly evolving with Millennials fresh out of college and eager to make their mark on the world. As with every generation before them, they have their own lingo, their own career goals and even their own preferred technologies. Among these include mobile banking and the marketing of banking services via social media, and here’s why: Over 50% of the workforce is comprised of Millennials. This tech-savvy group relies on social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn for everything from status...
read moreWhat to Expect at the upcoming Bitcoin Twitter Chat on Sept. 9 at 12 Noon Eastern
Currency has evolved and come a long way from the days of bartering and paying with precious metals. And as cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, continue to rise and flourish in the Digital Age, markets and layman consumers will have more questions than answers about how this new monetary system operates. On September 9th, Carol Realini will tackle some of those difficult questions circulating around Bitcoin, one of the most prominent cryptocurrencies in recent years, to start a discussion on the ways that this form of electronic currency is...
read moreBitcoin Making an Impact in Emerging Markets
Software — not gold, silver, or paper — just might be the future of global currency. It’s a bold statement that’s starting to resonate within government corridors around the world. As recently as a few years ago, the “fad” of Bitcoin could’ve easily been dismissed. Today, this is no longer the case. Known as a cryptocurrency, Bitcoin and other peer-to-peer virtual currencies, have achieved widespread global acceptance within emerging markets including in China, India, Brazil and Kenya. Within these...
read moreCarol Realini Discusses Bitcoin & Emerging Markets
Alternative currencies are sweeping across the globe. And as global currencies adapt and evolve for The Digital Age, many are turning to Bitcoin to conduct transactions, both small and large. This shift has made it easier and more mainstream to conduct business via this young currency, leading more companies within emerging markets to bank on the future of it. This is truly a fascinating phenomenon to witness. While some people may seek to diminish its importance, the reality is that change is not unique in the annals of history. Indeed,...
read moreMisconceptions of Entrepreneurship
A lot of people working a 9-to-5 job, answering to a boss and tackling stressful daily tasks, dream of becoming successful entrepreneurs. That’s not a surprise — the lure of entrepreneurship can be irresistible to folks who feel shackled in their employment. Who would want to work for someone else when they can call the shots, after all? However, these same people often put entrepreneurship under an idealized light, treating it like an escape route for all their financial hardships. What they don’t seem to realize is that...
read moreFinancial Inclusion 2014: Mastercard Foundation Addresses a Growing Concern
In theory, financial services should be available to everyone, regardless of economic status. However, reality paints a different picture. The lack of financial inclusion that extends to all classes is a serious cause of concern, which has prompted Mastercard to host the Mastercard Foundation Symposium on Financial Inclusion.Held in Turin, Italy from July 16 to 18, this symposium focused on the fact that there are still at least 2.5 billion people who don’t have affordable and convenient access to financial services despite modern...
read moreFinancial Inclusion in India through Small Banks and Payment Banks
Not every bank is constructed with large Corinthian columns and granite facades. In reality, smaller banks are far more numerous and influential than the big boys in the banking industry. When it comes to making financial inclusion a reality for billions of people around the world, smaller banks, telecommunication providers, and retailers are in a great position. Small Bank’s smaller stature makes them more nimble, and their location primarily within rural communities gives them a level of trust that larger banks simply don’t...
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Serial Entrepreneur, Mobile Payments and Banking Pioneer, Author, Board Member Carol Realini is a successful Silicon Valley executive and expert infinancial service innovation.