Launched in 2021 by eight people in a shared room, fintech firm ABHI began by asking why workers must wait for payday to access earned wages. Despite early doubts, the company introduced Earned Wage Access, payroll lending, and working capital solutions for small merchants.
Years later, ABHI acquired a struggling microfinance bank, taking nearly two years to restore its financial health. The institution operates under a microfinance banking licence through branch and branchless channels, defining itself as a technology company holding a financial licence.
Gold-backed lending currently serves as its largest business, alongside Earned Wage Access, payroll lending, merchant and SME finance, deposits, and payments. The upcoming listing will mark a first of its kind on the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
ABHI draws inspiration from international markets, noting how Nubank shaped perceptions of Brazilian fintech, Kaspi.kz influenced views on Kazakhstan, and PB Fintech established benchmarks in India while Paytm faced a tougher debut. The State Bank of Pakistan, the Pakistan Stock Exchange, and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan worked through the unprecedented listing process without an established template.
The company emphasizes that investing in ABHI Microfinance Bank provides exposure to the next phase of growth, with the leadership viewing upcoming opportunities as the most substantial yet.
