Ghana’s leading digital banking platform is recognized for redefining access to credit through data-driven innovation and inclusive financial infrastructure

Accra, Ghana – 24 March 2026. Affinity Africa,  Ghana’s leading digital banking platform, has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2026. The annual ranking shines a spotlight on businesses around the world that are shaping industry and culture through their innovations. Affinity Africa ranked No. 6 in the Europe, Middle East and Africa category.

Fast Company recognized Affinity Africa for expanding access to affordable, transparent and inclusive financial services for individuals and MSMEs through its mobile-first platform and agent network. Powered by data-driven underwriting, the platform enables traditionally excluded customers to access credit for the first time. At the core of this recognition is Affinity’s proprietary technology platform, which powers one of the most competitive loan portfolios in the market, redefining lending in Ghana by delivering affordable, transparent, and sustainable credit to underserved customers at scale.

The recognition underscores the urgency of this mission: across Africa, more than 400 million adults—and 11 million in Ghana alone—remain unbanked, while over 90% of MSMEs lack access to formal credit, despite representing the backbone of the economy and the majority of employment.

“Financial exclusion is not a marginal issue, it is one of the biggest constraints to economic growth across Africa,” said Tarek Mouganie, Founder and CEO of Affinity Africa. “At Affinity, we are rethinking financial services from the ground up, using technology and data to build a system that is not only more accessible, but fundamentally more efficient and scalable. This recognition from Fast Company reinforces our belief that the most meaningful innovation in banking is that which expands access.”

Affinity Africa launched publicly in October 2024 to challenge the status quo, introducing a full suite of free financial services—from personal and SME savings accounts to payments, transfers, investments, and one of the most affordable credit offerings in the country. Designed for individuals and businesses historically excluded from traditional banking, the platform removes the cost and complexity that have long limited access to financial services.

Since launch, Affinity Africa has grown to over 130,000 customers, driven almost entirely by word of mouth—demonstrating that when financial services are built around accessibility, transparency, and zero fees, adoption follows rapidly.

The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s hallmark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To determine honorees, Fast Company’s editors and writers review companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. The result is a globe-spanning guide to innovation today, from early-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world. 

“Our list of the Most Innovative Companies is about spotlighting organizations that don’t just adapt to change—they drive it,” said Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “The companies we honor this year are redefining what leadership looks like in 2026, pairing bold ideas with measurable impact and turning breakthrough innovation into real-world value. They are setting the pace for their industries and offering a blueprint for what sustained innovation can achieve.”

The full list of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies honorees can now be found at fastcompany.com. It will also be available on newsstands beginning March 31, 2026.

We’re making banking with Affinity even better.

From 1st March 2026, deposit fees would be removed, so you can fund your accounts without worrying about extra charges.

At the same time, to keep our services running smoothly, we are introducing small, capped fees on selected outflow transactions.

Why we made this change

To provide a reliable banking experience on Affinity, we work with trusted service providers, and as a result, certain transactions including deposits, carry associated processing costs. However, we listened to your feedback telling us that being charged when funding your account felt like being penalised for saving, and that is not the experience we want to create. So to ensure we are being fair to you, our cherished customers, and being sustainable as a business, we have now made a deliberate shift. Instead of charging you when you are putting money in and growing your savings, we have removed the 1.75% deposit fee (capped at GHS 30) completely because saving and funding your account should not feel like a penalty. The only services that will attract fees on Affinity are transfers to third-party recipients due to the transaction processing fees charged by our service providers.

With this update, from 1st March 2026, these transactions will carry a 0.75% fee capped at GHS 10.

Growth Account interest rate 🚀

As market rates move, so do savings rates.

And following the recent decline in Bank of Ghana Treasury Bill Rates which guide how savings products are priced across the industry, effective 1st March 2026, we will be adjusting the Growth Account interest rate to 5% p.a. This keeps our interest rates above average across the market and ensures we continue delivering a strong, sustainable savings experience.

Your money remains safe.

Your returns remain competitive.

And your Growth Account continues to do what it’s designed to do, help you build steadily and confidently.

What is NOT changing?

Everything else that you have grown to love about us:

• • Transfers to your own mobile wallets remain free
• • No monthly fees on your Affinity accounts
• • Transfers to yours and other Affinity accounts remain free

All the more reason to invite your friends, family and colleagues to Affinity and enjoy great benefits!

Why Affinity still hits different?

You still get:

• • Up to 11% p.a. interest on your deposits
• • Boost accounts to lock and grow your savings
• • Instant loans of up to GHS10,000 when you need quick cash
• • A fully-digital, stress-free banking experience
• • Low transaction fees
• • Readily available customer support when you need it
• • A reward when you bring others onboard

So whether you’re saving, spending, or sending, you’re still winning with Affinity. Because with Affinity, You Are In 💜

Accra, Ghana – 16 February 2026. Affinity Africa, Ghana’s leading digital banking platform, has joined forces, for the second time, with the Cisco Foundation and FINCA Ventures through a program aimed at advancing financial resilience across Africa. This funding is designed to support the acceleration of financial resilience across Africa by expanding Affinity’s financial education initiatives and increasing access to fair, digital financial services for underserved communities.

The collaboration focuses on empowering women, informal workers, and those previously excluded from the formal financial system. By leveraging targeted funding and technical assistance, the program enables social enterprises like Affinity to scale sustainable, community-focused solutions that bridge critical gaps in finance and technology.

Affinity is one of Ghana’s fastest-growing digital banking platforms, now serving more than 125,000 customers nationwide — 65% of whom were previously unbanked and 60% are women. After pioneering Ghana’s first fully digital onboarding (eKYC) and developing proprietary underwriting technology, Affinity is enabling fair, data-driven lending for informal workers who have long been excluded from the formal financial system, while deepening financial literacy and inclusion across the country.

The grant will support Affinity’s capacity to scale its impact, providing more individuals and small businesses with the tools to build credit and plan for their financial future. This initiative reinforces a shared commitment to sustainable growth and the expansion of formal banking to those in the informal sector.

Charu Adesnik, Executive Director, Cisco Foundation said, “The Cisco Foundation is dedicated to investing in social enterprises that drive tangible progress and close critical gaps in opportunity. Affinity Africa’s success in reaching the unbanked—particularly women and informal workers—demonstrates the transformative power of inclusive technology. We are proud to support their mission to deepen financial literacy and build a more equitable financial ecosystem in Ghana.”

“This recognition represents a strong vote of confidence in Affinity’s model and impact to date, and in our role in reshaping how financial services reach those historically excluded. With the support of the Cisco Foundation and FINCA Ventures, we’ll continue strengthening our impact in Ghana, expanding access to fair, transparent, and digitally enabled financial solutions for all,” said Tarek Mouganie, Founder and Group CEO of Affinity Africa.

Since its launch, Affinity has raised a total of US$13 million in funding to bridge the financial services gap in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its branchless, low-cost model offers 24/7 banking services, including savings, payments, and loans, specifically tailored to users with varying levels of digital literacy.

• A few months ago, we teased some big upgrades. Well… they’re finally here!

• We’ve just rolled out a major update to the Affinity app — focused on helping you save more easily, stay in control, and keep your account secure. Whether you joined Affinity to build better financial habits or you just want a more intuitive and secure experience, these changes are for you.

✨ Here’s what’s new

🌱 Affinity Boost accounts: Save with purpose

• We are introducing Affinity Boost: a smarter way to save & grow your money.

• You can now create Boost accounts which are non-transactional, goal-based savings accounts with high-yields and unmatched flexibility. You can top-up your account anytime or even automate deposits (daily, weekly or monthly) to reach your goals faster!

• Whether you’re saving for rent, travel, or an emergency fund, with Boost you can track your progress and grow your money on your own terms.

• Create multiple Boost accounts for different purposes—whether you’re aiming small or dreaming big, there’s room for all types of goal setting.

• • Set a custom goal name
• • Set a target amount, a goal end-date and lock your funds away
• • Top-up your account manually or automatically (daily, weekly or monthly deposits)
• • Track your progress towards your goal
• • Earn interest while saving

📊 Your Personal Dashboard

• Your new Personal Dashboard gives you a clear, visual snapshot of your finances.

• • Track your savings and spending over time
• • View your top recipients
  • See how you are spending across services and categories

• Your personal dashboard is designed to help you track spending over time and make more confident and informed financial decisions.

• We’re just getting started, keep an eye out for more powerful updates coming soon…

💰 Monthly interest on your Growth!

No more waiting for quarterly payouts! Your Affinity Growth account now pays interest of up to 8% every month, so you get to see your earnings sooner.

Reminder: You get 10 free withdrawals per month on your Growth account. If you go over, you won’t earn interest that month, so save smart and stay on track with your interest earnings.

🔒 Smarter security, built in

Your safety matters to us, and we’re always working to strengthen how we monitor for suspicious activity, while keeping things simple for you.

Here are some of our latest upgrades:

• • Biometric login & transaction approval: You can now use your fingerprint or Face ID to log in and approve transactions. It’s faster, easier, and adds an extra layer of protection.

• • New device checks: If you try to make a transaction from a device we don’t recognise, we’ll send you a one-time passcode to confirm it’s really you.

• • Optional location prompts: You may be asked to share your location when making transactions. It’s completely optional, but helps us improve how we monitor for unusual activity on your account.

Reminder: While we’ve added new safeguards, your PIN and device security are still key. Never share your details with anyone, even people you know.

We’re building Affinity to grow with you and we’re excited for what’s coming up soon!

Update your Affinity app on the App Store or Play Store and explore the new Affinity experience and let us know what you think. Your feedback helps shape what’s next.

With Affinity, #You’re IN