Millions of people across the continent today remain excluded from formal credit systems, in spite of their being economically active, running businesses and earning incomes. This is because traditional lending models rely heavily on formal credit histories, leaving large segments of the population outside the reach of mainstream financial services. But artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the global banking sector, and as a result financial institutions are increasingly exploring new ways to assess creditworthiness using alternative data.

Joining us to discuss how AI-led lending is reshaping credit access in South Africa, and what this means for banks, regulators, and underserved consumers is Eshmael Mpabanga Regional Head - Southern Africa & Senior Vice President at Intellect Design Arena.