Matthew Saal

Head, Digital Finance
IFC

Matthew was previously Associate Director in the Local Currency and Capital Markets Development initiative of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He previously covered banks, non-bank financial institutions, and equity funds as sector coordinator for financial institutions in the Office of the Chief Economist. Matthew contributed to initiatives on mobile money and SME finance as part of broader financial infrastructure and financial access investment programs, has advised the African Development Bank on initiatives and partnerships in digital financial services, and is involved in sourcing and vetting potential financial technology investments. Prior to joining EBRD in 2010, Matthew worked in emerging markets finance, private equity, venture capital, strategy and business development, consulting, and international economics.

Matthew has had a longstanding focus on financial services and financial technology, including:

• Automated valuation and portfolio optimization systems at Morgan Stanley
• FIG strategy consulting, including technology strategy and payments infrastructure for global banks; and
• Strategy and business development for a fintech startup co-inventor of the patented business processes for invoice financing
• Venture development at LabMorgan, JPMorgan’s e-financial services venture arm
• Private equity fund focused on emerging markets banks, looking to drive product innovation to deliver financial access
• Mentor at Startup Bootcamp and Barclays Techstars Fintech accelerators in London

Matthew has written on banking, macroeconomic policy, financial systems structure, trade, and monetary policy instruments. He holds an A.B. in Chemistry from Princeton and an M.Phil. in Economics from Oxford, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar.