Ezulwini– Eight years after Eswatini recorded an 87% financial inclusion , the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) has launched a new nationwide consumer survey to determine whether access to financial services has translated into meaningful financial well-being for households and businesses.
Launching the FinScope Eswatini 2026 Consumer Survey in Ezulwini CBE Complex on Friday, Central Bank Governor Dr Phil Mnisi said the study would measure how the country’s financial landscape has evolved since the last survey done in 2018, amid rapid growth in digital finance, major regulatory reforms and emerging challenges such as climate change and cyber fraud.
The survey, which will be conducted in partnership with the Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre (ESEPARC), the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and FinMark Trust, is expected to generate evidence that will guide future financial inclusion policies and market reforms.
Dr Mnisi said while the 2018 survey found that 87% of emaSwati had access to financial services, policymakers now needed to understand whether those services were being used effectively and improving people’s financial resilience.
“The 87% financial inclusion rate was an important achievement at that time, but access alone is not the ultimate measure of success,” he said.
“We must now ask whether people are actively using financial services and products, whether these products meet their needs and whether they are improving the financial well-being and resilience of households and businesses.”
He said the 2026 survey would provide nationally representative data on access, usage and the quality of financial services, enabling authorities to build a financial sector that is more consumer-centred and impactful.
The Governor said the financial sector had undergone significant transformation since the last survey. Among the key developments were the enactment of the Consumer Credit Act, the introduction of the Eswatini Payment Switch to improve digital payment interoperability, the launch of the National FinTech Strategy 2025–2030 and the implementation of Market Conduct Rules aimed at strengthening consumer protection.
He said the survey would assess whether these reforms had resulted in greater financial inclusion, improved consumer confidence and better financial outcomes.
The Governor said the study would also examine emerging issues that have become increasingly important over the past eight years, including the adoption of digital financial services, the rise of financial and cyber fraud, climate-related risks and persistent inequalities in access to financial services.
He said particular attention would be paid to women, youth, persons with disabilities and rural communities to determine whether they had benefited equally from financial innovation.
“The findings from this survey will help us understand what is working well, where gaps remain and where further reforms may be required,” he said.
The results will also be used to assess progress under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2023–2028 and provide financial institutions with insights to develop products that are more affordable, accessible and responsive to consumer needs.
Declaring the project officially launched, Dr Mnisi urged all stakeholders to support the exercise, saying quality data was essential for evidence-based policymaking.
“Through this collective effort, we are investing in knowledge and evidence that will inform sound policy decisions, drive meaningful reforms and shape a financial system that is more inclusive, resilient and sustainable,” he said.
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