Can payment systems do more than move money? That question took centre stage as more than 100 financial sector stakeholders gathered in Kigali for the Rwanda Bankers' Association's third Annual Banking Research Conference to explore how payments can power financial inclusion, innovation and a more integrated financial system.

The stakeholders from across Rwanda’s financial ecosystem, included industry leaders, researchers, policymakers and regulators.

The conference was held on June 25, 2026 under the theme: "The Pursuit of an Integrated Financial System: Harnessing Payments to Drive Sector-Wide Impact and Inclusion.”

It brought together banking institutions, fintechs, regulators, academia, and development partners for discussions on the role of integration in driving inclusion and advancing the payments ecosystem within Rwanda’s financial sector.

The conference was held with the support of partners including IF Groups, and Access to Finance Rwanda, and the National Bank of Rwanda.

From expanding access to impact

In his welcome address, Tony Francis Ntore, Chief Executive Officer of RBA, said Rwanda's financial sector must now shift its focus from expanding financial access to ensuring financial services deliver tangible economic benefits for individuals and businesses.

"We’ve made significant progress on access to financial services, more people are now connected, digital channels are growing, and new products are coming to market faster than before. But access alone is no longer enough. The key measure now is whether these services are actually improving people’s financial lives,” Ntore said.

"So, the question is no longer how do we expand access, but how do we turn connectivity into meaningful economic outcomes, where payments do more than transfer money, and instead enable credit, savings, insurance, investment, and broader participation in the economy,” he added.

A keynote on collaboration and ecosystems

Delivering his keynote address, the Managing Director of Equity Bank Rwanda and Chair of the RBA Council, Hannington Namara, noted the growing importance of collaboration in shaping the future of the financial services sector.

He reminded participants that the strongest and most effective financial systems are built through ecosystems that work together.

"As Rwanda continues its journey toward becoming a regional financial hub, collaboration will be our greatest competitive advantage. Banks, fintechs, regulators, and technology providers each have a role to play in building a financial system that is innovative, resilient, and inclusive,” he said.

He also challenged stakeholders to consider how every payment, especially in sectors like agriculture, can become a pathway to greater opportunity, and how payments can be transformed from simple transactions into drivers of inclusive economic growth.

Academic research and evidence-based policy

The core of the conference was the presentation of four research papers and one proof-of-concept demonstration, tackling key issues including:

• Transactional access as an entry point to formal finance;
• Prospects for, and barriers to, cross-border e-payments within the East African Community;
• A proof-of-concept dashboard for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) payment data;
• Access-usage imbalances in digital financial inclusion among women, youth, and rural communities in Rwanda;
• Institutional voids and fintech innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A cross-sector dialogue

The conference also featured a panel discussion on the role of interoperability, regional payment infrastructure and collaboration between banks and fintechs in building a more integrated and inclusive financial system.

Moderated by Arnold Kwizera, the panel brought together Patience Mutesi, Managing Director of BPR Bank Rwanda Plc; John Bosco Sebabi, Deputy CEO of PAPSS; Jean Claude Gaga, Managing Director of Airtel Money Rwanda; and Victor Vusumuzi, Vice President and Head of Business Development for East Africa at Mastercard.

The presence of PAPSS on the panel underscored the regional dimension of the conference’s agenda, reflecting the role of cross-border payment systems in supporting trade, remittances, and regional integration across East Africa.

Expected outcomes

The conference is expected to yield several concrete outputs:

• Policy recommendations for regulators and policymakers;
• Market insights to inform product design, partnerships, and innovation strategy;
• The RBA Working Paper Series, Volume III;
• Strengthened collaboration across the financial ecosystem.

By exploring how an integrated payments ecosystem can drive sector-wide impact, the 2026 RBA Research Conference reaffirmed Rwanda’s ambition to build a more connected, resilient, and inclusive financial system, one where payments do not merely move money, but connect opportunity across the economy.

This year’s conference builds on the work of the RBA Research Centre, established through a partnership between the Rwanda Bankers’ Association and Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR).