Fintech Payments In Public Financial Management Benefits And Risks

Fintech payments leverage large digital platforms to fill gaps in the traditional payment system. They have made great strides in increasing access to payment services in several countries around the globe. At the same time, like any innovation, the new payment models are exposed to risks in their operating environment. We review the main fintech payment models (mobile money, internet-based fintech payment, and digital money) and discuss operational and financial risks as well as challenges they face. We then explore how public financial management (PFM), especially treasury payments and non-tax revenue collections, could benefit from fintech payments by providing examples of early fintech applications in different countries and discuss the challenges of integrating them into the public sector. The use of fintech in public finance could bring various benefits—including strengthening fiscal transparency, improving budget planning and execution, and upgrading cash management—if public sector institutional and technological capacities are strengthened and risks are adequately mitigated.

The Digital Solutions Guidelines for Public Financial Management (Guidelines) are intended to serve as a comprehensive reference material for the assessment, design, and improvement of digital initiatives in the public financial management (PFM) area. To support the digital transformation of PFM functions, the Guidelines are structured around three Pillars – Functional, IT Architectural, and Governance and Management. Each pillar comprises six principles, which are further broken down into one to four attributes to promote more efficient and transparent PFM operations while fostering innovation and managing digital risks. These Guidelines also allow a graduated approach to digital transformation of PFM through three levels of maturity for each Attribute – foundational, intermediate, and advanced – to help take into account country-specific contexts and capacities in digital transformation strategies.

FinTech is a major force shaping the structure of the financial industry in sub-Saharan Africa. New technologies are being developed and implemented in sub-Saharan Africa with the potential to change the competitive landscape in the financial industry. While it raises concerns on the emergence of vulnerabilities, FinTech challenges traditional structures and creates efficiency gains by opening up the financial services value chain. Today, FinTech is emerging as a technological enabler in the region, improving financial inclusion and serving as a catalyst for the emergence of innovations in other sectors, such as agriculture and infrastructure.

Belize is planning to transition to accrual accounting over the medium term. This reform is considered an advanced practice on the public financial management (PFM) spectrum and has been attempted by few regional comparators (Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Curacao). There is a strong commitment and enthusiasm for reform from the Treasury’s new leadership. The authorities want to improve transparency and accountability as well as shift their current focus on payments and reconciliations to include modern Treasury functions such as financial management, cash management and financial reporting. While full accrual practices may not be achieved in the short term, the reform presents opportunities for more efficient work procedures, greater cross-cutting collaboration, improved transparency, lower borrowing costs and the possibility to become a regional example.

In the realm of Islamic finance, a pivotal challenge looms—the escalating complexity of investment decisions, macroeconomic analyses, and credit evaluations. In response, we present a groundbreaking solution that resonates with the rapidly evolving fintech era. Fintech Applications in Islamic Finance: AI, Machine Learning, and Blockchain Techniques offers a compelling repository of knowledge, meticulously curated by renowned editors Mohammad Irfan, Seifedine Kadry, Muhammad Sharif, and Habib Ullah Khan. Fintech Applications in Islamic Finance: AI, Machine Learning, and Blockchain Techniques is a call to action, an exploration of innovation, and a guide for both academia and industry. In an era where AI, ML, and blockchain reshape finance, this book stands as a beacon of knowledge, ushering Islamic finance into a realm of unprecedented efficiency and insight. As we invite readers to embark on this transformative journey, we illuminate the path to a future where technology and tradition converge harmoniously.

The term Fintech is a combination of the words “financial” and “technology,” which is now a real business need. However, there are limited books covering holistic aspects from adoption to the future of Fintech. This book directs readers on how to adopt Fintech, develop regulation and risk frameworks, implement it in financial services, address ethical dilemmas, and sustain improvements. The anticipated challenges are developing trust, security, privacy, and a regulated environment without compromising profitability and financial stability. The anticipated solution is strengthening the governance, use of unbreachable technologies, risk management, consumer data protection, and sustainable practices. This book is recommended for stakeholders, especially Fintech scholars, practitioners, and policymakers. It provides holistic insight and opportunities to support Fintech developments for the betterment of the economy and society. Fintech is defined as injecting technology into the area of finance for better security, speed, and customer experience. This book provides readers with direct case studies for better understanding. In addition, it explains the regulation and usage of Fintech in daily transactions. Readers are shown how Fintech has an imperative role in financial analysis, Insurtech, and the share market.

This paper discusses the impact of the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the financial sector. It highlights the benefits these technologies bring in terms of financial deepening and efficiency, while raising concerns about its potential in widening the digital divide between advanced and developing economies. The paper advances the discussion on the impact of this technology by distilling and categorizing the unique risks that it could pose to the integrity and stability of the financial system, policy challenges, and potential regulatory approaches. The evolving nature of this technology and its application in finance means that the full extent of its strengths and weaknesses is yet to be fully understood. Given the risk of unexpected pitfalls, countries will need to strengthen prudential oversight.

Technology is changing the landscape of the financial sector, increasing access to financial services in profound ways. These changes have been in motion for several years, affecting nearly all countries in the world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has created new opportunities for digital financial services to accelerate and enhance financial inclusion, amid social distancing and containment measures. At the same time, the risks emerging prior to COVID-19, as digital financial services developed, are becoming even more relevant.