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Branch International

“Can a smartphone-data-driven microlender become the dominant digital bank for the underbanked across Africa and India?”

Founded2015
HQSan Francisco, CA, USA
FoundersMatt Flannery, Daniel Jung
Total raised$170M+ (disclosed)
Latest roundSeries C, 2019 ($170M)
IndustryFintech / Lending
The story

Branch launched in 2015 as a smartphone-based microlender for emerging markets, using alternative data from device permissions to underwrite small personal loans starting at $2. After raising $170M in 2019 alongside a Visa partnership, it expanded into a broader neobank model — adding virtual debit cards, savings, money transfers, and bill payment — and obtained a microfinance banking license in Kenya. Today the business is anchored in India (NBFC), Kenya (MFB), Nigeria, and Tanzania, positioning itself as a pan-African/Indian digital bank rather than a pure lender. (Note: distinct from the US-based payouts/wallet company Branch Messenger / branchapp.com.)

Last 12 months
2024-02
2025-03
Product timeline
2015
Branch founded in San Francisco by Matt Flannery (Kiva co-founder) and Daniel Jung to offer smartphone-based microloans in emerging markets.· pivot
2017
Branch International Financial Services Private Limited incorporated in India as an RBI-registered NBFC.· lending
2019
Raised $170M Series C and announced Visa partnership for virtual prepaid debit cards in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.· card
2020
Acquired/launched Branch Microfinance Bank in Kenya, becoming Kenya's first neobank.· banking
2024
Branch MFB Kenya partnered with Solv Kenya to extend MSME loans up to Ksh 1M (~$6,000).· lending
Regulated entities
3
regulatory licences held by Branch International
Licence types, jurisdictions and registered entities are in the Embedded Finance Index report.
The stack
4 layers disclosed in Branch International’s embedded-finance stack
Payments / PSP
Branch wallet / mobile money payouts (self-operated)
Banking / BaaS
in the full report
Card network
in the full report
Lending
in the full report
Accounting gap: none
5 more providers across 3 layers, with confidence-scored evidence and source URLs, are in the Embedded Finance Index report.