Daira and ABHI Microfinance Bank partner to expand digital credit in Pakistan
LAHORE, Pakistan — January 27, 2026 — Daira and ABHI Microfinance Bank announced a partnership to integrate banking infrastructure with Daira’s lending technology, delivering digital credit and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions to underserved households in Pakistan. The collaboration marks the first bank-fintech partnership of its kind in the country, leveraging proven integration models to advance financial inclusion.
Announcement Specifics
Daira, a Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)-licensed digital-only non-bank financial company (NBFC) operating under FinVolution Group’s Finleap division, surpassed 1.5 million registered users as of January 2026. The platform, established in October 2024, secured its BNPL license in June 2025.
The partnership combines ABHI Microfinance Bank’s regulated banking capabilities with Daira’s digital lending platform to provide transparent credit access. Transaction volumes and financial terms of the agreement remain undisclosed. The initiative targets low-income households requiring cash-flow management tools, focusing on segments traditionally excluded from conventional banking services.
Industry Context
Pakistan’s fintech sector continues to expand through strategic bank-fintech collaborations designed to bridge gaps in conventional banking infrastructure. Digital NBFCs like Daira concentrate on serving underserved market segments, with regulatory emphasis on consumer protection frameworks amid rising demand for digital financial services.
The partnership establishes a operational model for responsible digital lending in South Asia’s third-largest economy. Pakistan’s transition toward digital finance infrastructure reflects broader regional patterns in emerging markets, where technology-enabled financial services address accessibility challenges in populations with limited banking penetration.
Regional Implications
The collaboration supports economic activity by extending credit access to households previously unable to secure traditional banking products. The model positions Pakistan within the growing network of South Asian markets deploying technology-driven financial inclusion strategies, though implementation remains focused exclusively on domestic operations without cross-border expansion plans.
The partnership positions Daira to serve excluded segments using established bank-fintech collaboration frameworks, contributing to Pakistan’s evolving digital financial ecosystem. ABHI Microfinance Bank gains technology infrastructure to scale digital service delivery while maintaining regulatory compliance under SECP oversight.
Sources: Fintech News, Business Recorder, The Nation
