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Key Points
- Egypt’s first fintech unicorn is investing $10 million to open 100 branches and extend digital lending services to Pakistan’s unbanked population.
- MNT-Halan’s Neuron Core Banking system leverages AI to assess credit risk, enabling access to financial services for Pakistan’s largely unbanked population.
- After securing $400 million in 2023, MNT-Halan expanded into Türkiye, Pakistan, and the UAE, strengthening its foothold in digital finance.
MNT-Halan, Egypt’s first fintech unicorn led by tech entrepreneur Mounir Nakhla, is investing $10 million to extend its services into Pakistan. The company plans to open 100 new branches and expand its digital lending platform by the end of 2025, with a clear mission to improve financial inclusion for Pakistan’s vast unbanked community.
Aggressive expansion strategy
MNT-Halan’s Pakistan entry aligns with its broader strategy to tap into emerging markets. The company aims to serve 200,000 customers and grow its loan book to $500 million within five years, leveraging its AI-powered credit infrastructure.
"By the end of 2025, we will have invested $10 million to drive local expansion, digital transformation, and product innovation," said Mounir Nakhla, the founder and CEO of MNT-Halan.
Pakistan remains heavily reliant on cash transactions, with micro and small retailers depending on informal lending channels.
MNT-Halan sees an opportunity to disrupt the market by offering AI-driven lending solutions, including mobile wallets, BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) services, and SME financing. The company also plans to introduce Shariah-compliant financial products tailored for women entrepreneurs and agriculture financing.
With Pakistan’s household debt-to-GDP ratio at just 3-4 percent, Nakhla sees a largely untapped credit market. "Pakistan has a $33 billion cash economy, with daily transactions exceeding $175,000—a massive opportunity for digital financial services," he noted.
AI-Powered lending & super app rollout
At the core of MNT-Halan’s fintech strategy is Neuron Core Banking, its AI-driven risk assessment system that optimizes credit decisions, enhances fraud detection, and streamlines lending using alternative data models.
By analyzing behavioral and transactional data, the system enables lending to unbanked consumers with no formal credit history.
The company is also gearing up to launch the Halan Super App, a mobile-first platform that simplifies loan applications, financial management, and payments, reducing reliance on traditional banking infrastructure.
Expanding across emerging markets
Founded in 2018, MNT-Halan has rapidly grown into a leading MENA fintech powerhouse. In early 2023, it became Egypt’s first fintech unicorn after securing a $400 million investment, pushing its valuation beyond $1 billion.
MNT-Halan has since expanded into Türkiye and Pakistan and also launched in the UAE in December 2024. The company’s acquisition of Turkish lender Tam Finans—which added a $300 million loan portfolio—further cements its position as a dominant player in emerging markets.
With over 7 million users, MNT-Halan continues to reshape the digital finance ecosystem, offering loans, prepaid cards, e-wallets, e-commerce financing, gold investments, and money market funds.
