Financial Access Survey: Fintech, a Catalyst for Financial Services Access, Innovation, and Growth
High-quality, timely data are critical for evidence-based policymaking. Several global sources provide valuable insights on fintech products, but challenges remain, including limited coverage, outdated information, and lack of standardization.
The IMF’s Financial Access Survey (FAS) attempts to address these gaps: as of October 2025, 163 economies reported data, up from 158 in 2024. The FAS 2024–2025 pilots tested more than 100 fintech variables—including e-money, e-wallets, mobile money–enabled loans and deposits, fintech lending, P2P/marketplace lending, equity crowdfunding, and neobanks—with plans to integrate selected data into regular FAS reporting.
This report presents findings from the latest FAS round and the 2024-2025 Pilot exercises, complemented by additional data sources, to assess the growth of the fintech industry and its implications for financial access, financial use, and financial stability. The report is structured as follows:
- Section 1 discusses the macro-critical importance of financial access and use.
- Section 2 analyzes fintech's evolution and its impact on financial access and use.
- Section 3 examines the barriers that constrain fintech-driven financial access.
- Section 4 highlights ongoing FAS initiatives aimed at addressing fintech-related data gaps.
- Section 5 concludes with key takeaways.
