Bloom Team

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.

Many lenders blame late payments on “bad borrowers,” but the real problem is often hidden in the data they overlook. This article explains why your default rate is higher than it should be and highlights five powerful data points, often ignored by lenders that can dramatically improve underwriting accuracy, borrower monitoring, and repayment performance.

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.