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Open Finance has been used as a promising avenue to enable financial inclusion for millions of Latin Americans, especially in countries like Brazil, Chile, and Colombia, which have made significant regulatory advancements.

In Chile, for example, the Comisión para el Mercado Financiero (CMF) has been actively working to implement regulations that favor Open Finance. The recently approved Fintech Law establishes a clear regulatory framework for integrating new digital financial services, promoting competition and innovation.

In Colombia, the Financial Superintendency has launched a series of initiatives to strengthen the Open Banking infrastructure. Colombian regulation has focused on ensuring consumer data security and privacy while facilitating collaboration between traditional banks and fintechs. This can create a more inclusive environment where more people can access modern and efficient financial services.

An essential pathway for the success of these data-sharing infrastructures will be instant payments, which will enable inclusion and the creation of more data on users’ financial behavior, allowing the development of more use cases. Pix in Brazil, for example, was efficient in this approach, including more than 75 million people and generating more behavioral data about users.

Brazil has stood out in use cases in the region thanks to the advanced framework implemented. What is essential for the success of this infrastructure is precisely the creation of use cases, and we can already see the industry innovating from it. For example, Palenca is allowing financial institutions to access gig economy data for credit evaluations. This is particularly relevant in a market where many workers do not have formal income and, therefore, have difficulty accessing traditional financial services. Banco do Brasil has also implemented solutions that allow users to better aggregate and manage their financial information, helping them better understand their financial situation across different accounts. Another relevant case is BBVA, which, through the analysis of financial transactions via Open Finance, had a significant social impact. After Hurricane Odile in Mexico, BBVA helped the Mexican government identify which regions were recovering more slowly, allowing for more effective and targeted resource allocation.

Open Finance is proving to be a powerful tool for financial inclusion in Latin America, not only by including more people but also by making the Latin American financial system more efficient. With recent advancements in Chile and Colombia and the interest of countries in the region in adopting instant payments, we will likely see more relevant use cases in Latin America. Open Finance has immense opportunities, and the main one is to ensure that those who did not participate in the financial system have the opportunity to benefit from it.

Walter Pereira

FDATA LATAM REgion Director

Financial inclusion remains a global challenge, with millions lacking access to vital financial services. Yet, within this challenge, lies an opportunity for innovation and collaboration. At Ozone API, we see open banking as pivotal in fostering financial inclusion worldwide. And it’s not just us that thinks so. A number of regulators are putting financial inclusion objectives at the heart of open banking and open finance frameworks. Done well it can create the right conditions to drive significant societal impact. Regulations must however be defined in a way that balances innovation with consumer protection and data privacy.

Put simply, open banking helps to remove some of the very real and significant barriers to financial inclusion. Through access to customer permissioned data, lenders can make more informed decisions, enabling previously excluded groups to get access to credit. It also creates the conditions which allow innovative providers to more effectively target underserved segments. Combining their specialist sector focus with the power of traditional banking and using partnerships to drive better solutions. And finally it helps reduce the cost and friction of payments, ensuring digital payment solutions can spread to more parts of society.

Open banking revolutionises access to banking services, especially in regions like Latin America where cash transactions dominate due to high card payment costs and traditional credit bureaus lack insight into large sections of the population. Additionally, open banking addresses credit history challenges, enabling rapid credit profile building for gig workers in regions like the Middle East. This unlocks access to financial services and empowers individuals to achieve financial goals.

Cross-border collaboration and data sharing among regulators are key to the future of financial inclusion. Enabling consent-based access across jurisdictions allows individuals to use their open banking-based credit history globally, though challenges like regulatory alignment and data privacy persist.

Timely regulatory interventions are crucial to accelerate financial inclusion. Prioritising regulations, facilitating data sharing, promoting interoperability, and safeguarding consumer rights will foster an inclusive environment that encourages innovation and expands financial access for all.

Technologies like open banking, digital payments, and blockchain propel financial inclusion by lowering costs and improving access to credit. Conversely, technologies exacerbating exclusion, such as restrictive data practices, must be re-evaluated to align with inclusivity and affordability principles.

In conclusion, advancing financial inclusion demands collective efforts from stakeholders. At Ozone API, we’re committed to leveraging our expertise, our technology and partnerships to drive change and create a more inclusive financial future for all. Specifically, we help regulators develop the rules and standards needed to enable a secure open finance ecosystem. We also provide robust, proven open finance infrastructure to banks and financial institutions, to reduce the time and cost of implementation, thereby speeding up the benefits of addressing critical challenges such as financial inclusion.

Huw Davies

Co-founder & Co-CEO of Ozone API an FDATA Global Member

From a North American perspective, financial inclusion is a critical issue that hinges on the balance of robust regulatory frameworks, consumer protection, and innovation in financial services. In Canada, financial inclusion has been significantly shaped by the government’s initiative towards an Open Banking regime as announced in the 2024 Budget. The 2024 Budget was powered by the vision that consumers and small businesses should exert full control over their financial data. It paints a picture of an ecosystem where tailored financial products and services aren’t just a possibility but a standard. The Consumer-Driven Banking Framework established by the Canadian government is set to enhance financial inclusion through meticulously designed policies. For instance, it permits applications that develop credit scores, aiming to boost financial outcomes for “credit invisibles.” This strategy not only safeguards consumer data but also fosters innovations that dismantle barriers to access.

In the United States, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Section 1033 rulemaking is illustrative of a paradigm where consumer rights to access their financial data are placed at the heart of financial inclusion. This regulation, a component of the Dodd-Frank Act, is anticipated to unleash a wave of fintech innovations, thereby expanding the reach of financial services to historically underserved communities. This rulemaking envisions an inclusive financial sector where information is democratically available, allowing for a competitive environment that could lower costs and improve services for consumers.

Both Canada’s and the United States’ approaches underscore the importance of defining financial inclusion not just in terms of access but also in the quality of engagement between consumers and financial services. Use-cases and technologies that have been pivotal include digital identity verification, mobile banking, and personalized financial management tools. These innovations are instrumental in removing traditional barriers, like the need for physical bank branches in rural or low-income urban areas, thus changing the geography of financial services.

However, with innovation comes the challenge of ensuring equitable access and guarding against digital divides that could perpetuate or even exacerbate exclusion. In this regard, both countries are at a juncture where the question isn’t just which technologies should be embraced but how they can be deployed responsibly. As regulations like Canada’s Consumer-Driven Banking Framework and the United States’ Section 1033 come to fruition, a vigilant and adaptive approach is needed—one that continuously assesses the inclusivity of these innovations and the unforeseen barriers they may create. Moving forward, it’s crucial that both nations continue to foster environments where technology serves as a bridge rather than a gatekeeper to financial inclusion.