This March Alliance members marked International Women’s Day 2026 by hosting a range of local events for women as well as new marketing campaigns and research reports. Below is a snapshot of what members across the network have been up to:
LXME (India) marked IWD by launching a research report titled, Unlocking Her Wealth: The Untapped Economy. The report confronts the fact that just 25 percent of investors in India are women, and at retirement, women hold 40 percent less wealth than men with equivalent careers. LXME closes that gap by designing a financial journey that reflects women’s financial needs and behaviors: starting with payments, nudging toward savings habits, then embedding investing. The results are compelling: 59 percent of women who start investing on the platform do so within their first month, and those who invest through the platform typically double their invested amounts within six weeks.
BRAC Bank’s TARA Women Banking launched a range of limited-time benefits for TARA customers: lifestyle gift vouchers awarded with digital savings account openings, annual fee waivers on credit cards with minimal spend, cash reward for new customer referrals, and bonus rewards points on debit card usage. The initiative was designed to foster immediate engagement that builds lasting habits, deeper trust, and stronger relationships—driving continued momentum in customer acquisition, activation, and transaction growth beyond the March-April campaign period.
Ecobank Group has reported a 194 percent increase in lending to women-led businesses last year, with total loans reaching a record $780 million, up from $265 million in 2024. Key to this rapid growth is the bank’s Ellevate program, which operates in 26 African countries, supporting 103,000 female entrepreneurs. Individual countries have tailored their programs, including issuing a gender bond in Côte d’Ivoire–– the first of its kind in West Africa.
KCB Kenya enhanced its FLME (Female-Led and Managed Enterprises) proposition through three flagship activities in March. The month opened with the unveiling of a branded KCB FLME rally car for the WRC Safari Rally Kenya recognized as the World Rally Championship’s most grueling event, characterized by rocky, unpredictable terrain. Driven by a mother-daughter duo who run a garage and auto spare business, the pair were also featured in an IWD Dinner that included 300 women in business as well as KCB senior executives. A virtual IWD webinar on March 6, co-hosted with the bank’s Biashara Club, drew women entrepreneurs from ten countries.
National Bank of Egypt (NBE) hosted a three-day trade fair for women entrepreneurs trained through the Women Rise Bundle — a package combining workshops, mentorship, credit support, and market access. The bank marked the month with the theme “You Are Essential,” gifting employees branded copper accessories and creating photo booths with a shared social media hashtag.
Stanbic Zambia ran a month of programs under its Anakazi proposition, spanning rural communities, urban markets, schools, and government. The team traveled 800 kilometers to partner with WoundCare on an event honoring women who carry physical and emotional scars; staged a financial literacy event in a Lusaka market that used a dance and drama group to make banking concepts accessible to everyday vendors; and partnered with youth organization Pawesa to teach savings fundamentals to young women in schools. Capping off the month was the Anakazi Dinner Gala celebrating women excelling in their fields, attended by Zambia’s Vice President.
Members are welcome to share their program innovations and updates by emailing: info@financialallianceforwomen.org
