How Pasio is helping rural users trust and use digital finance

Across villages and small towns in Sri Lanka, India, and Cambodia, a steady but significant shift is taking place. More and more rural families are using digital tools to transfer money, take out loans, manage expenses, and even run small businesses. But while access is growing, understanding still lags.

That’s where digital financial literacy comes in.

‍Why digital literacy matters now more than ever

In recent years, mobile phones and UPI have reached even the most remote areas. Many rural entrepreneurs now receive digital payments or have bank accounts linked to mobile apps. But for first-time users, especially older adults, digital finance can feel intimidating or confusing.

Simple questions like:

“How do I check my balance?”

“Is this message a scam?”

“How can I repay a loan online?”

can become barriers to usage.

Without the right guidance, people risk making mistakes, falling for fraud, or avoiding digital tools altogether.

That’s why many microfinance institutions (MFIs) are stepping in, not just to offer digital products, but to teach people how to use them.

‍How MFIs are responding

More MFIs are now introducing digital literacy campaigns alongside their loan offerings. These include:

1. Group training sessions on mobile banking

2. WhatsApp-based tips on avoiding scams

3. Community workshops on using apps in local languages

4. One-on-one handholding for first-time users

The goal is simple: build confidence, not just access.

At Pasio, we believe this is essential because when people feel comfortable using digital tools, they utilize them more meaningfully, independently, and safely.

‍How Pasio is paving the way

From the start, Pasio was built with rural entrepreneurs in mind, and we’ve seen firsthand how digital literacy can open doors. Our approach goes beyond; it’s about building trust and understanding, every step of the way. Here’s how:

‍1. Simple, local-language learning through our community

Every week, we send out short, practical educational messages through WhatsApp, in local languages, using videos and images.

Topics range from:

- How to check your loan status

- Recognizing a fake message

- How to avoid scam links

to

- How to use your Pasio online shop more effectively.

These aren't long lessons, they’re everyday nudges that build confidence slowly, steadily.

‍2. On-ground support and demonstrations

Our partner field teams regularly conduct small group sessions in villages, demonstrating how to use the Pasio mobile app, how to check loan status, or how to update shop listings online.

We encourage questions, make space for mistakes, and celebrate small wins.

‍3. Co-creating tools that feel familiar

Digital literacy is also about design. That’s why every feature on the Pasio app is shaped by user feedback. If something feels too complex, we simplify it. If a term isn’t understood, we change it.

When users feel that the tool speaks their language, they engage with it more confidently.

‍A long road, but a promising one

Digital finance isn’t just about transactions. For many rural users, it’s about agency, knowing what’s happening with their money, making informed choices, and taking control of their futures.

The demand for digital financial literacy is only growing. And at Pasio, we’re committed to meeting that demand, not with one-time trainings, but with steady, community-based learning that meets people where they are.

One message, one session, one confident user at a time.

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