The global financial infrastructure company Tala , has once again been recognized as CNBC World’s Top FinTech.
This marks the second consecutive year the company has received the prestigious accolade, underscoring its significant role in serving underserved communities across various emerging markets, including East Africa.
The repeated recognition is a testament to Tala’s innovative approach and its deep commitment to financial inclusion.
Annstella Mumbi, General Manager for Tala-Kenya, emphasized the significance of the award. “Being named CNBC’s Top FinTech again is a tremendous honor and a powerful validation of our mission,” Mumbi stated. “It is proof that serving a population nobody else has dared to serve creates significant impact and financial value.”
The rigorous evaluation process conducted by CNBC and Statista involved assessing over 2,000 fintech firms globally.
Companies were scored based on a balanced methodology, with 40% weighting on overarching metrics and 60% on segment-specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), ultimately identifying the top 250 firms. Tala’s consistent placement highlights its sustained growth, expanding scale, and enduring excellence in its operations.
Since its inception in 2011, Tala has made a substantial impact, disbursing over $6 billion (approximately KSh 775.2 billion) in loans to more than 11 million customers across East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
The company leverages sophisticated machine learning models, trained on billions of data points accumulated over a decade of customer relationships.
These models provide unique insights into populations that are largely unrepresented in traditional financial systems and even in large language models (LLMs).
With an impressive industry-leading repayment rate of 95%, Tala demonstrates that providing financial services to underserved populations at scale is not only socially impactful but also financially sustainable.
This latest CNBC award adds to a growing list of notable recognitions for Tala. The company has appeared on Forbes Fintech 50 for nine consecutive years, spent five years on CNBC’s Disruptor 50 list, and earned a place on Fortune’s Impact 20 list.
Mumbi concluded by reaffirming Tala’s ongoing dedication.
“Winning this award again highlights our continued efforts to promote financial literacy, deliver reliable products, and cultivate strategic partnerships that strengthen local ecosystems.”
The company’s focus remains on expanding financial access and empowering individuals in markets where traditional financial services often fall short.
