Cyclos for Financial Inclusion Services

01/11/2025

A digital platform for inclusive, affordable financial services

Organizations working in financial inclusion aim to provide access to financial services for populations traditionally excluded from the formal banking system. These include rural communities, informal workers, small entrepreneurs, women's groups, and low-income households.

Cyclos is a proven payment and account management platform that supports inclusive finance initiatives worldwide. Its flexibility, affordability, and openness make it particularly well suited for community-based and development-oriented financial models.

Why Cyclos for Financial Inclusion?

Cyclos enables organizations to build secure, low-cost, and scalable financial systems without requiring a full banking infrastructure.

Key strengths include:

  • Digital accounts and wallets

  • Multiple mobile app operating system support: iOS, Android, kaiOS

  • Low barrier channels: SMS, USSD, and QR codes

  • Support for group-based financial models

  • Low operational costs

  • Open-source customizable technology 

These characteristics align closely with the realities of financial inclusion projects.

Savings and Loan Groups (VSLAs)


What are Savings Groups?

Savings and Loan Groups (also known as VSLAs) or village banking are community-based groups where members save together and access small loans from pooled funds.

Digitalizing Savings Groups with Cyclos

Cyclos can digitize savings groups by:

  • Managing group and member accounts

  • Recording savings, loans, and repayments

  • Ensuring transparency and traceability

  • Reducing manual bookkeeping errors

Case example: CRS – Central America

Organizations such as Catholic Relief Services have used Cyclos to support savings groups, improving collecting, reporting, and analyzing data on savings groups in Central America.

Mobile Wallets for Inclusive Finance


What are Mobile Wallets?

Mobile wallets allow users to store value digitally, send and receive payments, and access basic financial services using a phone.

How Cyclos helps

Cyclos enables organizations to:

  • Create digital wallets for clients

  • Support peer-to-peer payments

  • Integrate agents and cash-in/cash-out points

  • Operate closed or semi-closed payment systems

Case Example: Nchemty – Cameroon

Nchemty uses Cyclos to power mobile wallets tailored to local needs, supporting digital inclusion in Cameroon.

Financial Agents and Last-Mile Access


What Are Financial Agents?

Financial agents act as local service points for deposits, withdrawals, bill payments, and account support—especially in rural or underserved areas.

Digital Tools for Agents

Cyclos supports:

  • Agent accounts and commissions

  • Cash-in / cash-out workflows

  • Transaction limits and controls

  • Monitoring and reporting

Case Example: Mobicash – East Africa

Mobicash uses Cyclos to manage agent-based payment services, extending financial access beyond traditional banking infrastructure.

Micropayments for Local Economies


What are Micropayments?

Micropayments enable small, frequent transactions—essential for low-income users and small businesses.

Closed-Loop Payment Networks

Cyclos supports closed or semi-closed payment networks that:

  • Encourage spending with local merchants

  • Reduce dependency on cash

  • Keep value circulating locally

Case Example: MiChera – El Salvador

MiChera, supported by FUSAI, uses Cyclos to facilitate micropayments, consumer credit, and local economic activity.

Other Financial Inclusion Use Cases

Cyclos is also used for:

  • Remittances and domestic financial transfers

  • Subsidy and aid distribution

  • Cooperative finance

  • School fee payments

  • Social protection programs

Its modular design allows each project to be tailored to local realities and regulations.

How CyclosForge supports Financial Inclusion Projects

CyclosForge helps organizations move from concept to impact by providing:

  • Use-case design and platform modeling

  • Cyclos configuration and customization

  • Mobile and agent workflows

  • Training and operational support

  • Long-term platform maintenance

With experience across Latin America, Africa, and Europe, CyclosForge understands both the technical and social dimensions of financial inclusion.

👉 Contact CyclosForge to discuss your financial inclusion project and check if Cyclos can be your long-term software partner.

Free consultation