“Can a smartphone-data-driven microlender become the dominant digital bank for the underbanked across Africa and India?”
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.)
Branch International discloses Branch Microfinance Bank Kenya (in-house), Branch International Finance Company Limited Nigeria (in-house) and Branch India NBFC (in-house) as its banking providers, according to the Embedded Finance Index 2026.
Branch International does not disclose a bank charter of its own; its banking services are provided through Branch Microfinance Bank Kenya (in-house), Branch International Finance Company Limited Nigeria (in-house) and Branch India NBFC (in-house).
Branch International processes payments through Branch wallet / mobile money payouts (self-operated).
Branch International's cards run on Visa.
Branch International's lending and capital products are provided by Branch (in-house, regulated entities in IN/KE/NG/TZ).
The Embedded Finance Index 2026 maps 4 layers in Branch International's stack: Payments / PSP (Branch wallet / mobile money payouts (self-operated)); Banking / BaaS (Branch Microfinance Bank Kenya (in-house), Branch International Finance Company Limited Nigeria (in-house) and Branch India NBFC (in-house)); Card network (Visa); Lending (Branch (in-house, regulated entities in IN/KE/NG/TZ), Branch personal loans (smartphone-based microloans) and MSME loans up to ~$6,000 (Kenya, via Solv partnership)).
Branch International was founded by Matt Flannery and Daniel Jung and is founded in 2015, headquartered in San Francisco, CA, USA.
Branch International has raised $170M+ (disclosed) in total (latest round: Series C, 2019 ($170M)).
Get a read on where your own stack stands against Branch International and the rest of its category — what they built versus bought, which providers they use, and where the gaps in your own strategy and competitive set actually are.