Nairobi — Digital lender Tala has been named the world's top fintech company by CNBC for the second time, reinforcing its growing global presence and focus on financial inclusion in emerging markets.
The company, which operates across East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, was selected from over 2,000 global fintechs evaluated by CNBC and research firm Statista.
The ranking considered a range of performance metrics, with 60 percent weighted toward sector-specific indicators and 40 percent based on broader business performance.
Tala Kenya General Manager Annstella Mumbi said the recognition is evidence of the company's long-term commitment to reaching underserved populations with accessible financial services.
Founded in 2011, Tala says it has disbursed more than $6 billion to over 11 million customers in markets where access to formal credit remains limited.
The company leverages alternative data and machine learning to assess creditworthiness, and it reports a repayment rate of 95 percent.
The CNBC award adds to a growing list of accolades for Tala, which has been listed on Forbes' Fintech 50 for nine consecutive years and previously featured in CNBC's Disruptor 50 and Fortune's Impact 20 rankings.
The firm says its strategy includes promoting financial literacy and expanding local partnerships to deepen access to credit and financial tools in its core markets.
