I&M Bank executives spotlight financial innovation, data governance at IFF 2026

Executives from I&M Group have underscored the growing role of innovation, digital infrastructure and responsible data governance in expanding financial inclusion across Africa’s rapidly evolving financial sector. During panel discussions and roundtables at held at Inclusive FinTech Forum (IFF) 2026, on March 10, in Kigali, the leaders shared perspectives on how financial institutions can leverage innovation, while balancing regulatory compliance, data protection and trust in increasingly digital banking environments. Zahidi Mustafa, the CEO and Managing Director of I&M Bank Tanzania, joined the panel discussion “Beyond Access: Financing Underserved Communities through Infrastructure-Led Inclusion,” where he highlighted the role of partnerships and digital platforms in expanding access to financial services. The CEO of I&M Bank Uganda, Robin Bairstow also contributed to the roundtable “Regulations, Innovation and Trust: A Joint Conversation on Data Sovereignty in Africa,” which brought together regulators, financial institutions, fintech leaders, and cloud technology providers to examine how data can be securely governed in cloud-based banking environments while supporting innovation across the sector. ALSO READ: I&M Bank surpasses Rwf 1 trillion in total assets, reports 46% profit surge Mustafa underscored the role of innovation in reducing friction within financial ecosystems and expanding access to financial services such as money transfer noting that in Tanzania, they eliminated charges for transfers between banks accounts and mobile wallets event though it has an impact on their short-term revenue. “Sometimes innovation is not only about building new technology, but about removing barriers that prevent people from fully using financial services, we made the decision to eliminate charges for transfers between own bank accounts and mobile wallets, even though it had an impact on our short-term revenue. We believe reducing friction in the system encourages greater usage and strengthens partnerships across the financial ecosystem,” he explained. He also noted that I&M Bank Tanzania is exploring solutions that leverage existing mobile wallet networks to support micro-loans tailored of the realities of their market. “Looking ahead, we are also exploring solutions that leverage existing mobile wallet networks to support micro-loans, last-mile financing for small businesses, and savings products tailored to the realities of our markets. Financial inclusion requires practical, scalable solutions that respond to how people actually live, transact, and save,” he added. ALSO READ: I&M Bank, Rwanda Green Fund partner to drive agritech SMEs’ growth During the roundtable on Regulations, Innovation and Trust: A Joint Conversation on Data Sovereignty in Africa, Bairstow highlighted how the rapid evolution of digital banking infrastructure is introducing new layers of complexity in compliance, data management, and cybersecurity. Drawing from his experience leading core banking system transformations across multiple markets, Bairstow noted that financial institutions today must navigate far more sophisticated data environments than in the past, particularly as banks adopt cloud-based technologies and third-party platforms. “Banking systems today operate across multiple layers of data, from databases and warehouses to cloud environments. While this has created enormous opportunities for efficiency and innovation, it has also introduced new compliance responsibilities around data security, auditability, and third-party oversight,” he said. He explained that regulators are increasingly scrutinising not only banks’ internal systems but also the compliance standards of external technology providers, especially as more institutions rely on cloud infrastructure for critical operations. Bairstow emphasised that while cloud adoption is expanding rapidly across the financial sector, concerns around regulatory oversight, cybersecurity risks, and system resilience continue to shape how banks approach digital transformation.

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I&M Bank executives spotlight financial innovation, data governance at IFF 2026