Business News
Branch International secures $170m funding to finance expansion drive
In its bid to reach large number of the under-banked, Branch International (@branch_ng) has partnered Foundation Capital and Visa to raise a $170 million series C financing.
In collaboration with Foundation Capital and Visa, Branch International has raised a $170 million series C financing for the under-banked.
Joining this round of investment are existing investors, which include –Andreessen Horowitz, Trinity Ventures, Formation 8, the IFC, CreditEase, and Victory Park. Other new investors are: Greenspring, Foxhaven, and B Capital.
Charles Moldow of Foundation Capital, who will be joining the Branch Board of Directors, said he has known the Branch team since the company’s inception.
“After tracking them for years, it has become clear to me that emerging markets are one of the biggest growth areas for fintech. Our history of successful fintech investments is evidence that we know how to spot true innovators, like Branch. The team has executed incredibly well and is poised to become the cross-border financial super-app.” -Moldow
Branch International and Visa in new partnership
The two companies share a vision of bringing financial access to billions of people who are still un-reached by banks.
Visa’s investment in Branch will help expand financial access across the African continent, while fuelling new expansion in India and Latin America.
Branch and Visa will team up to offer virtual prepaid debit card numbers to customers
around the world. This avails un-banked Branch customers the option to receive credit
at any physical ATM, bypassing the need for a bank account.
Traditional barriers such as a credit score and bank account make financial accessibility
a challenge for over 2 billion people in the world. Yet, many in under-served markets,
have a financial tool right in their pockets – their mobile phones.
By tapping into the rise of mobile technology worldwide, Branch aims to radically expand financial access, making full global inclusion a reality in our lifetime.
What you should know about Branch International
Founded in 2015, Branch International delivers world-class financial services to the mobile generation.
With offices in San Francisco, Lagos, Mexico City, Mumbai, and Nairobi,
Branch is a global, socially-conscious company that uses the power of data science and
mobile technology to reduce the barriers of delivering financial services in emerging
markets.
With over 3 million customers and 13 million loans processed, Branch
International has disbursed over $350 million. In addition to credit, Branch intends to
roll-out to high-yield savings accounts to customers this year.
Coronavirus
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
On the 6th of March 2021, 195 new confirmed cases and 10 deaths were recorded in Nigeria
The spread of novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Nigeria continues to record significant increases as the latest statistics provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reveal Nigeria now has 158,237 confirmed cases.
On the 6th of March 2021, 195 new confirmed cases and 10 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.
To date, 158,237 cases have been confirmed, 137,645 cases have been discharged and 1,964 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
A total of 1.54 million tests have been carried out as of March 6th, 2021 compared to 1.49 million tests a day earlier.
COVID-19 Case Updates- 6th March 2021,
- Total Number of Cases – 158,237
- Total Number Discharged – 137,645
- Total Deaths – 1,964
- Total Tests Carried out – 1,544,008
According to the NCDC, the 195 new cases are reported from 17 states- Lagos (70), Kaduna (22), Abia (20), Edo (18), Kano (10), Akwa Ibom (9) Rivers (7), FCT (7) Borno (6) Bauchi (5), Osun (5), Oyo (5), Plateau (3), Ekiti (3), Niger (2), Ogun (2) and Zamfara (1).
Meanwhile, the latest numbers bring Lagos state total confirmed cases to 56,374, followed by Abuja (19,328), Plateau (8,939), Kaduna (8,623), Oyo (6,761), Rivers (6,651), Edo (4,645), Ogun (4,419), Kano (3,830), Ondo (3,066), Kwara (2,953), Delta (2,582), Osun (2,449), Nasarawa (2,248), Enugu (2,078), Katsina (2,060), Gombe (2,010), Ebonyi (1,951), Anambra (1,811), Akwa Ibom (1,588), and Abia (1,568).
Imo State has recorded 1,551 cases, Borno (1,297), Bauchi (1,232), Benue (1,188), Adamawa (942), Niger (917), Taraba (863), Ekiti (825), Bayelsa (779), Sokoto (769), Jigawa (496), Kebbi (401), Cross River (334), Yobe (288), Zamfara (221), while Kogi state has recorded 5 cases only.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: Western diplomats warn of disease explosion, poor handling by government
Lock Down and Curfew
In a move to combat the spread of the pandemic disease, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days, which took effect from 11 pm on Monday, 30th March 2020.
The movement restriction, which was extended by another two weeks period, has been partially put on hold with some businesses commencing operations from May 4. On April 27th, 2020, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari declared an overnight curfew from 8 pm to 6 am across the country, as part of new measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19. This comes along with the phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos, and Ogun States, which took effect from Saturday, 2nd May 2020, at 9 am.
On Monday, 29th June 2020 the federal government extended the second phase of the eased lockdown by 4 weeks and approved interstate movement outside curfew hours with effect from July 1, 2020. Also, on Monday 27th July 2020, the federal government extended the second phase of eased lockdown by an additional one week.
On Thursday, 6th August 2020 the federal government through the secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 announced the extension of the second phase of eased lockdown by another four (4) weeks.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State announced the closed down of the Eti-Osa Isolation Centre, with effect from Friday, 31st July 2020. He also mentioned that the Agidingbi Isolation Centre would also be closed and the patients relocated to a large capacity centre.
Due to the increased number of covid-19 cases in Nigeria, the Nigerian government ordered the reopening of Isolation and treatment centres in the country on Thursday, 10th December 2020.
On 26th January 2021, the Federal Government announced the extension of the guidelines of phase 3 of the eased lockdown by one month following the rising cases of the coronavirus disease in the country and the expiration of phase 3 of the eased lockdown.
On 28th February 2021, the federal government confirmed that the first tranche of Covid-19 vaccines will arrive in Nigeria on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021.
READ ALSO: Bill Gates says Trump’s WHO funding suspension is dangerous
Manufacturing
CBN tasks multinationals on domestic production as P&G signs $35m deal to produce Oral-B locally
The CBN Governor has called on multinationals operating in the country to work towards the production of their goods in Nigeria.
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April 9, 2019 at 3:45 pm
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April 9, 2019 at 3:45 pm
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Treasure
April 9, 2019 at 9:25 pm
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