Viewpoints

Many people who have an account use it rarely or cannot access the broader services they need - from everyday payments and affordable credit to savings, insurance and investments. The challenge is therefore not simply to open more accounts, but to make financial services genuinely useful.

Entering the Islamic Banking market does not require launching a dedicated Islamic bank, creating a full product portfolio or investing in major technology transformation. Sometimes, one product is all it takes.

At one end, FIs can outsource most of their payments environment, reducing their operational responsibility but potentially limiting their flexibility. At the other, they can retain greater control and freedom while taking on more of the complexity of operating the platform. Between these two ends sit different combinations of control, choice, changeability and responsibility.

Cash remains deeply embedded across Latin America and the Caribbean, but prepaid is creating new ways for people and organisations to access and manage digital payments. We spoke to Carlos Seer, Associate VP & Business Development Director in LAC, about the market, its strongest use cases and what comes next.

Brazil’s prepaid market is large and established, although its recent performance is more nuanced than headline growth suggests. The country had 74 million active prepaid cards at the end of 2025, and prepaid-card transactions grew 2.2% in the second half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. But prepaid’s future will be shaped by more than card numbers.

Customer expectations have fundamentally changed. In a world where groceries arrive in hours, taxis appear in minutes, and digital services are available instantly, waiting several days for a payment card feels increasingly out of step. The challenge for banks isn't simply issuing cards quickly; it's giving customers the freedom to choose how they receive them.

As customer expectations continue to evolve and banks seek new ways to balance growth, efficiency and customer experience, instant card issuance has become a strategic capability that delivers measurable value across the entire card lifecycle.

For millions of consumers, the ATM remains one of the most frequent physical touchpoints they have with their bank - and every interaction shapes their perception of the brand.

As digital banking becomes the primary customer interface, the ATM's value lies in doing fewer things - but doing them exceptionally well.

For years, the ATM has been a key customer touchpoint for traditional banks. Today, neobanks are taking a different approach.