Financial Education + Inclusion
FINANCIAL EDUCATION + INCLUSION
GOLD
Kiva - Open Financial Opportunity for All
Kiva is closing the global financial access gap—reaching 5.6 million people in 90+ countries with $2.1 billion in loans at a 96% repayment rate.
In 2024, Kiva’s global community of lenders provided $188 million in loans to 401,744 borrowers across 95 countries, reinforcing Kiva’s commitment to financial inclusion and resilience. Building on a strategic vision to reach 10 million people with $4 billion in loans by 2028, Kiva continues to channel capital to underserved populations through nearly 300 local partnerships. 89% of borrowers reported improved quality of life, 80% experienced increased business income, and 85% enhanced their financial skills, according to surveys across 55 lending partners. Kiva’s tools—like real-time impact dashboards and the Gender Equity Assessment Rating (GEAR), introduced in 2024—equip institutions to expand their reach and measure progress. Kiva unlocks a cycle of opportunity, proving that inclusive finance can deliver meaningful, measurable change at scale.
GOLD
Good Return - Investing in Good: Increasing the power of capital
Launched in 2020, Good Return’s Impact Investment Fund surpassed expectations, turning a $1 million investment into $5.05 million in loans for over 600 entrepreneurs (90% of whom were women) through a guarantee scheme. The Fund addresses a critical investment gap across the Asia-Pacific region for SMEs requiring capital between $5,000 to $100,000 in order to grow.
Using a blended-finance vehicle, the Fund leverages raised capital from socially-minded investors to generate income and employment for people living in poverty, with a focus on women and gender equitable practices. Meanwhile, it maintains the raised capital and provides a positive financial return to investors that is similar to a cash deposit with an Australian bank.
As the Fund enters its final year, Good Return is launching a second, evergreen fund. This will continue the guarantee model, while also providing debt to FSPs for whom liquidity is a key constraint.
SILVER
NatWest Group - Financial Foundations: money skills and confidence for adults
Financial Foundations is NatWest Group’s financial education programme for adults, designed to help participants to take control of their money and future. As the UK’s biggest bank for business, and one that serves millions of households, the programme leverages the bank’s extensive commercial and community relationships to deliver free, impartial money guidance workshops to groups of adults in the workplace, further education institutions, and community organisations - reaching people where they live and work.
Delivered by trained bank colleagues, the programme facilitates more open conversations about money in everyday settings. During successful experimentation in the north of England in 2024, the programme delivered 270 workshops to 5,200 people. With a network of 750 trained facilitators now in place, NatWest Group aims to leverage bank wide collaboration to reach 52,000 people through the workshops by the end of 2025, encouraging on average 1k people a week to improve their financial wellbeing.
ONE TO WATCH
ESquared (E2) Enterprise and Employability & Nationwide Building Society - Signing Banks UK
ESquared would like to showcase Signing Banks UK (SBUK), working with the Deaf Inclusion Industry Group (DIIG) set up by Kathryn Townsend, the Disability and Access Ambassador for Banking, Kathryn’s group was set up in 2022, ESquared created SBUK in 2023. Together we are seeking to close the gaps between banking and their deaf customers.
The result: firms have introduced services which increase accessibility for deaf customers and improved inclusive practice. This has been evidenced by surveys published by the Lending Standards Board (LSB) in the three years, 2023, 2024 and 2025. In that time DIIG membership has grown from 12 to 38 firms.
The impact: a sector-wide uplift with deaf accessibility services almost ubiquitous across DIIG members and an uptake of inclusive technology. SBUK’s network of lived experience experts are beginning to influence product design. Proving what is possible when lived experience, expertise, and a shared commitment come together.
ONE TO WATCH
Lloyds Banking Group & Channel 4 - Black in Business
Black owned businesses in the UK face disproportionate barriers to success, with only 0.24% of Venture Capitalist funding reaching Black entrepreneurs. Recognising this injustice, Lloyds in partnership with Channel 4 launched Black In Business—an initiative designed to break down barriers, elevate Black entrepreneurs, and give them the visibility they deserve.
In its second year, Black In Business has already transformed the trajectory of five Black-owned businesses, providing them with £150,000 of Channel 4 advertising airtime, the creation of their own TV commercial by Black owned production company Quiet Storm, and mentorship from leaders at Lloyds and Channel 4. More than just a programme, Black In Business is a movement, tackling deep-rooted inequalities and amplifying Black entrepreneurial excellence on a national stage.