In an innovative effort that reinforces its commitment to financial inclusion and the promotion of financial literacy in Mozambique, Access Bank Mozambique has recently launched the Finance Glossary, entitled Mundo das Finanças (World of Finance). This document, made available in digital format on the bank’s website, presents a compilation of the financial and banking terms most commonly encountered in everyday life, with explanations written to be clear and accessible. The pioneering character of this project lies in the translation of the glossary into six of the most widely spoken mother tongues in the country, making financial knowledge easier to access for a significant part of the Mozambican population.
The languages included in this translation effort cover Changana, predominant in Maputo province, Emakhuwa, dominant in Nampula province, Cindau, spoken in Sofala, Cinyungwa, characteristic of Tete province, Cithswa, spoken in Inhambane, and Ciwutee, used in Manica province. The inclusion of these languages not only shows Access Bank’s commitment to recognising and valuing Mozambique’s linguistic and cultural diversity, but also reinforces the bank’s role in promoting financial empowerment in an equitable and comprehensive way.
The Finance Glossary was designed as an educational tool, intended for all Mozambicans, regardless of their level of financial or educational literacy. The terms included in the document include technical concepts such as Inflation, Microfinance, Credit Card, Debit Card, Amortisation, Assets, Expiry and VAT. These concepts are presented concisely and intelligibly, with the aim of democratising access to financial knowledge, enabling a clear and practical understanding of their application in the banking and financial context.
Marco Abalroado, Managing Director of Access Bank Mozambique, stressed the importance of this initiative, saying: "This glossary is an educational tool that aims to equip our customers with solid and accessible financial knowledge, enabling them to make informed and conscious decisions. It is not just an informational resource, but also a bridge to financial inclusion. By being translated into the main local languages, we ensure that financial knowledge is within everyone’s reach, regardless of their background or level of prior education."
This project is part of a broader Access Bank strategy, which has long been committed to initiatives that aim to promote financial inclusion and increase the population’s financial literacy. The creation of this glossary in local languages is a significant milestone in this process, considering that in many regions of the country access to financial information in languages understood by local communities remains limited. The translation effort reflects the bank’s awareness of language barriers as significant obstacles to financial inclusion in Mozambique and demonstrates its willingness to mitigate these challenges.
By making financial and banking terms easier to understand, the glossary aims to benefit not only the bank’s customers but also the general public, by fostering better management of personal finances, providing a deeper understanding of credit and savings options, and promoting more active participation in the national financial system. In addition, making the glossary available in digital format, through the bank’s website, ensures that this resource is accessible to a wide audience, regardless of their geographical location. Such access is especially relevant in a context where the use of technology is growing in Mozambique, although many still struggle to find educational materials available in their native languages.
The Mundo das Finanças glossary thus constitutes a crucial tool for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of how the banking and financial system works, ranging from the ordinary customer to small entrepreneurs and managers of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which often form the backbone of the local economy.
With this initiative, Access Bank Mozambique reaffirms its commitment to the development of a more inclusive, informed and empowered society, grounded in financial education and respect for Mozambique’s cultural and linguistic diversity. This commitment underlines the bank’s long-term vision of positioning itself not only as a provider of banking services, but as a catalyst for social transformation, promoting a more financially informed society in which everyone, regardless of their language or level of schooling, can take part in and benefit from the financial system.
