On Fri, Oct 10, 2025 at 6:48 PM Javier Borkenztain <[email protected]> wrote:
> > On Fri, Oct 10, 2025 at 6:37 AM Sifiso Mtetwa <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> +1 for this… The word Undeserved does not really speak to the community >> mission. Unbanked well that’s closer and coupled with emerging markets then >> it’s perfect. >> > > What I meant when I brought up the concept of "underserved" is to > highlight that we all need better and easier financial services. No matter > where you are, whether in New York or Kampala, you are getting bad > services; hence, you are underserved. > Thanks for this explanation of "Underserved" and I'd like to add that banking around the world can always leave something to be desired. Today banking has permeated far wider than when I first got involved with the Mifos projects. However, I see our Fineract platform as disrupters of the Fintech space and in the current context charting pathways to finance that go beyond traditional. > The term "underserved" is broader, and nowadays, most Fineract users -that > I am aware of- are not banks; they are trying to outperform banks in > specific verticals. So I don't like the concept of "unbanked." We don't > need to be "banked." We need to be allowed to freely and > effortlessly transact with anyone in the world. > Certainly and why not! One of the core elements of the Open Source community and ASF projects is that we can dare to dream. I'd like to believe that compared with companies our pursuit of excellence need not necessarily be curtailed by profitability bottom lines, though community efficiency and productivity is certainly important. Rather the motivation and power of will we have to continue to build and evolve something great with lasting global impact is the primary driver. Having said the above, I see that though many of us are involved through organisations we work with or represent, we are here as individuals, as people who believe in something common and that we can bring value to the common ideal. We welcome both for profit and non profit companies and individuals here joined in this common vision and mission. It is heartening to see the active discussion on our mission. This shows at least to me, the passion and interest in our community. Finally, I'd like to circle back to the definition which James proposed and I agree it fits our purpose give or take minor rephrasing. A 2 part definition: *Definition: Apache Fineract is an open-source core banking platform providing a * *flexible, extensible foundation for a wide range of financial services. * *[Method]: By making robust banking technology openly available,[IMPACT] it lowers barriers **for institutions and innovators to reach underserved and unbanked **populations.* -Terence Monteiro. > Last but not least, the term "emerging markets" also narrows down the > scope of the project; we need to aim higher. We need to be > >> >> *From:* Kapil Panchal [mailto:[email protected]] >> *Sent:* Thursday, 09 October 2025 16:54 >> *To:* [email protected] >> *Subject:* Re: Change in mission of the community [DISCUSS] >> >> >> >> I think the entire business is cast aside by the explicit usage of >> adjectives unbanked and underbanked? These words risk shifting the focus >> from *empowerment through technology* to *deficiency in users*. There >> have been great projects that have failed, choice of words matters? I would >> choose words like "emerging markets"," *financially evolving segments*" >> or something in that parlance. >> >> >> >> On Thu, Oct 9, 2025 at 7:18 PM Terence Monteiro <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> On Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 11:23 PM Javier Borkenztain <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> +1 with this version. >> >> >> >> *Apache Fineract is an open-source core banking platform providing a >> flexible, extensible foundation for a wide range of financial services. By >> making robust banking technology openly available, it lowers barriers for >> institutions and innovators to reach underserved and unbanked populations.* >> >> >> +1 to this version >> >> >> -Terence Monteiro. >> >> On Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM James Dailey <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> +1 to modification. >> >> >> >> * Apache Fineract is an open-source core banking platform providing a * >> >> >> >> >> *flexible, extensible foundation for a wide range of financial >> services. By making robust banking technology openly available, it lowers >> barriers for institutions and innovators to reach underserved and >> unbanked populations.* >> >> >> >> We need three PMC members to vote yes on this +1 >> >> If we need a bigger discussion, please call that out in your response. >> >> >> >> Thanks, >> >> >> >> >> >> On Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 8:20 AM Paul <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Practically perfect. >> >> I would remove the qualifier "smaller" in the last sentence, because >> small is undefined and can be misleading. >> >> >> >> *Apache Fineract is an open-source core banking platform providing a * >> >> >> >> >> *flexible, extensible foundation for a wide range of financial >> services. By making robust banking technology openly available, it lowers >> barriers for smaller institutions and innovators to reach underserved and >> unbanked populations.* >> >> >> >> Paul >> >> >> >> On Wed, Oct 8, 2025 at 9:44 AM Ádám Sághy <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hi James, >> >> >> >> I second this. >> >> >> >> Regards, >> >> Adam >> >> >> >> On 2025. Oct 6., at 21:01, James Dailey <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> Hi community - Recently, Felix was re-writing the README. He proposed a >> different description. >> >> >> >> Note that the official ASF listed description is: >> >> The mission of Apache Fineract is the creation and maintenance of >> software >> >> related to a core banking platform that provides a reliable, robust, and >> >> affordable solution for entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and >> service >> >> providers to offer financial services to the world's underbanked and >> unbanked. >> >> >> >> That change of mission was already discussed so, I think, we should >> simply use that: >> >> https://lists.apache.org/thread/556hwmw9xs05x17nc6db0mjf9ontdvto >> >> >> >> We changed the description in Oct 2022 >> >> https://lists.apache.org/thread/556hwmw9xs05x17nc6db0mjf9ontdvto >> >> >> >> As a matter of best practice, the README should have been changed to >> reflect that change, but wasn't. >> >> >> >> I am ok with Felix's new description: Any supporters? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> *Apache Fineract is an open-source core banking platform providing >> a flexible, extensible foundation for a wide range of financial >> services. By making robust banking technology openly available, it lowers >> barriers for smaller institutions and innovators to reach underserved and >> unbanked populations.* >> >> >> >> Felix wrote >> >> 1. In particular in light of recent discussions on the mailing list, the >> >> current description of the Fineract project at the top is imprecise: >> >> >> >> > Apache Fineract: A Platform for Microfinance >> >> > Fineract is a mature platform with open APIs that provides a >> >> reliable, robust, and affordable core banking solution for financial >> >> institutions offering services to the world’s 3 billion underbanked and >> >> unbanked. >> >> >> >> I suggest the following instead: >> >> >> >> > Apache Fineract: Fintech for everyone >> >> > Apache Fineract is an open-source core banking platform providing a >> >> flexible, extensible foundation for a wide range of financial services. >> >> By making robust banking technology openly available, it lowers barriers >> >> for smaller institutions and innovators to reach underserved and unbanked >> >> populations. >> >> >> >> This reflects better the reality. But due to the significance of this >> >> change, I would like to hear your opinion first. >> >> -- >> >> -- >> >> Paul >> >>
