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FINANCE - Despite Los Angeles being known for reinvention, many residents still find money management harder than it needs to be. Gig work is common, rent continues to climb, and most people don’t have easy access to reliable financial services. We can clearly see that the city does have the brains and the tech to fix this. Still, no solid changes are being made. That’s why looking at what other countries are doing can help highlight what LA could learn from and do differently.
A solid example is Kenya. The country’s M-Pesa turned cell phones into digital wallets where millions of people could safely pay bills and send money. Brazil is another example where Pix is so common that even taxi drivers, shopkeepers, and street vendors accept it. These successes aren’t flashy examples. They’re proof that fast and affordable tools can replace outdated systems.
Consumer preferences in everyday leisure activities are having an effect on their expectations in financial matters, too. Online entertainment platforms showcase this shift in user expectations. For example, in the iGaming industry, players typically look for sites that provide quick access to funds, choosing platforms based on how instant withdrawal casinos operate without verification. The reason for their appeal lies in the ability to manage money without unnecessary barriers or delays. The same expectations go for financial matters. More and more banking customers are following this model, leading to a surge in demand for speed, transparency, and flexibility in financial transactions. No longer solely judged on security, convenience is one of the reasons more people are willing to adopt new systems.
Another big lesson is transparency. In parts of the world where banks had a bad reputation, new programs won people over by being upfront about costs and avoiding hidden fees. That honesty mattered more than branding. Los Angeles could use the same strategy. For households juggling multiple jobs or side hustles, knowing exactly what a loan or service will cost is important. Trust grows when the numbers add up and nothing feels buried in the fine print.
Small loans have also transformed lives abroad. Microfinance programs in South Asia gave women the means to start home-based businesses, while peer-to-peer lending platforms in Africa helped farmers buy tools or seed. The amounts were modest, but the impact was large. Los Angeles has no shortage of freelancers, independent workers, and small entrepreneurs who run into walls when they try to borrow. A micro-lending model could give them breathing room to grow without relying on high-interest credit cards.
Cryptocurrency and blockchain bring another angle. In places where inflation eats away at savings, people turned to digital currencies as a safer option. For Los Angeles, the more relevant piece might be international transfers. Immigrant workers send billions of dollars abroad every year, often paying high fees for the privilege. If blockchain-based platforms could reduce those costs, the money saved would stay in families’ pockets rather than going to middlemen. With LA’s strong tech base, the city could test these solutions responsibly.
Access alone isn’t enough. People need the knowledge to make smart decisions about the tools in front of them. Financial literacy programs in Asia and Africa paired mobile banking with workshops or community events that explained how to save, borrow, and avoid scams. Los Angeles, where dozens of languages are spoken daily, could borrow that idea. Partnerships with local nonprofits or schools could spread the know-how needed to make sure residents benefit from the financial services available to them.
Barriers are also social. People without legal status, workers with irregular incomes, or families new to the country often struggle most. Successful programs abroad proved that designing with inclusivity in mind pays off. That might mean offering services in Spanish, Korean, or Tagalog, or creating flexible savings plans for workers whose paychecks vary from week to week. If Los Angeles commits to that kind of design, it would reflect the city’s diversity while closing stubborn gaps in financial access.
No matter what, progress is always going to be faster when governments and private companies work together. We’ve seen this in other examples where countries have encouraged collaboration between fintech startups and regulators. The end result from this collaboration is a stronger, more trustworthy system. Los Angeles could replicate this. Yes, city leaders don’t have to reinvent the wheel. That said, they do need to create space where innovation can thrive. This is all while protecting residents. When done right, financial access becomes more than a policy goal. Instead, it becomes part of daily life for the people who need it most.
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