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Intensifying competition means long neglected rural populations may soon have access to some of the most technologically advanced financial services in the world. (Source photos by Kosaku Mimura and Getty Images) 
Business Spotlight

Fintechs and traditional lenders do battle across Southeast Asia

Competition intensifies as digital services leapfrog legacy financial systems

AKITO TANAKA, Nikkei Asia chief business news correspondent | Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE -- Southeast Asia's tech giants are in an intensifying battle with large conventional banks over the region's burgeoning digital banking services.

As "superapp" providers such as GoTo and Grab look to bolt banking onto their expanding range of services, and existing players use the region as a sandbox for digital experimentation, long neglected rural populations may soon have access to some of the most technologically advanced financial services in the world.

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