She has also highlighted the fact that the main parties are not discussing the issue and it is being sidelined and systematically ignored and calls for ‘financial apartheid’.

Financial Inclusion ensures everyone has access to affordable, convenient financial services like bank accounts, loans, insurance, and investments, aiming to eliminate barriers for marginalised groups.

Highlighting fintech’s role in financial inclusion, Tynah Matembe, founder of Edinburgh-based Moneymatix urged the next government to prioritise financial inclusion for all, as millions are still left behind, especially people of color.

She believes closer collaboration with the fintech industry is essential to create innovative solutions for customer engagement and financial access. By integrating cutting-edge technology with regulatory support, financial services can become universally accessible, affordable, and user-friendly.

Matembe believes it is time for radical measures that tangibly involve POC and the fintech industry in critical discussions to prioritize dismantling the staggering disparities that plague the UK’s financial system in a crucial bid to safeguard fair and stable economic growth for the UK.

Addressing the reason why she thinks the issue is not part of the Election narrative Matembe said: “Politicians might think that financial inclusion is already being adequately addressed through existing policies and programs, or that it is an issue being handled by financial institutions and regulatory bodies rather than needing direct political intervention –unfortunately this is not the reality for POC”.

Today she advocates polices that foster fintech innovation to revolutionise financial access and in doing so publishes her own manifesto for change, commenting: “We have suffered ridicule, oppression, and systematic denial of financial opportunities for too long in an untenable, degrading structure designed to enslave and maintain an oppressive class structure which leaves POC at the bottom of society, similar to colonial Britain.”

She added: “I have prepared this manifesto simply because all the main parties are ignoring the issue of financial inclusion. Through this manifesto, I hope to expose the shocking realities of financial exclusion.

“As a first-generation migrant, I am writing from first-hand experience, and I will continue to speak out until my message is heard.  Hopefully the new parliament adopts some of my practical solutions to ensure everyone in the UK can access essential financial services.

Financial exclusion is a crisis affecting millions of people, locking them out of the financial systems that should support them. This exclusion perpetuates cycles of poverty, limits economic growth, and destabilises communities.

Matembe added: “Simply put, we are not accounted for, and there is no real appetite to account for us. We go unseen, set aside by almost every player’s inherent bias as poor, needy, and unable”.

Matembe’s manifesto, combines unique education, signposting, tailored curated products and services to address the intersecting issues causing poverty and financial exclusion and hopes the fintech industry will get behind her campaign for change.

She continued: “Now is the time to drive forward the financial inclusion agenda. The election provides a unique opportunity to implement targeted policies and practical initiatives that involve strategic partnerships, deeply embedded in the communities they seek to serve.

“It is imperative that both the community and thought leaders like us, are an integral part of this process, ensuring that initiatives are grounded in real-world needs and expert insights. Political parties vying for power must demonstrate a solid commitment to making financial inclusion a cornerstone of their policy agenda.

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“Financial inclusion is a fundamental human right that must be a major election issue in dealing with Britain’s economic challenges. Implementing focused policies, infrastructure investment, and financial literacy promotion is not a luxury but a must.”

“This manifesto is a rallying cry for justice, equality, and economic prosperity. It is a call for radical change. The financial exclusion of People of Colour is a stain on our society and a massive economic blunder. The time for empty promises and superficial changes is over. We demand genuine, impactful actions to dismantle the financial apartheid and pave the way for a truly inclusive economy.”

Her final message to the new Government is: “The ball is in your court. Engage with us, listen to us, and take decisive action. The future of our nation’s economic health depends on it. Together, we can dismantle the hidden financial apartheid and build a fairer, stronger UK.”