Binta Financial

Kenya’s licensing of 42 new digital lenders signals a major shift in how credit markets across Africa are evolving. By bringing more players into a regulated framework, the move aims to improve transparency, protect borrowers, and expand access to formal credit. But it also raises important questions about competition, risk management, and market saturation. For lenders across the continent, this development offers both a blueprint for regulation and a reminder that sustainable growth depends not just on scale, but on trust, compliance, and responsible lending practices.

This article breaks down how long it takes to build a credit score, how credit scoring models work, how to establish credit in the US, UK, Canada, or Australia, and how to use diaspora-focused fintech platforms to strengthen your position on both sides of the ocean.

The question lenders now ask is simple: does Android still allow loan apps to scrape SMS from users’ phones for credit scoring?