Halan Microfinance Bank (“the Bank”), a Pakistani microfinance bank owned by MNT-Halan, Egypt and the MENA region’s first fintech unicorn, has received a national license from the State Bank of Pakistan, allowing it to expand outside of the Sindh province to the rest of the country.
The national license permits the Bank to launch and manage financial services, including branchless banking, cards, mobile banking, retailer-based transactions, and wallet services. These services will complement the Bank’s current product suite, which includes microfinance, salary advances, pensions, current accounts, and savings accounts.
The Bank targets the financially underserved by offering unsecured and low-ticket funding with minimal documentation, fast processing, and competitive monthly instalments. The Bank offers funding specifically for women, agricultural workers, and commercial vehicle. This inclusive model enables micro entrepreneurs, small traders, and low-income segments to achieve financial independence, often without collateral.
Mounir Nakhla, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MNT-Halan, said, “Securing a national license is a major step in our journey to serve more people and businesses across Pakistan. This milestone would not have been possible without the continued support of the State Bank of Pakistan. Since we began investing in the country, we’ve experienced exceptional collaboration from both government and non-government stakeholders. Our success in Pakistan is a strong example of how MNT-Halan can rapidly deploy technology and expertise to scale across new markets.”
Christos Argyriou, Chief Executive Officer at Halan Microfinance Bank, added, “Our innovative customer-centric model has driven rapid growth, increasing our business locations from 19 to 49 in 12 months. The national license will enable us to reach 300 within three years as we address the financial needs of Pakistan’s underbanked communities.”
The Bank’s commitment to financial empowerment is part of MNT-Halan’s global mission to revolutionize access to financial services through technology. MNT-Halan’s acquisition of the Bank in 2024, formerly Advans Microfinance Bank, is part of a global expansion that currently includes Turkey and the United Arab Emirates in addition to its home country Egypt. Across these markets, MNT-Halan has disbursed over US $13 billion and served more than 8 million customers to date.
