{
  "id": 7540165,
  "title": "SBP concludes first Regulatory Sandbox cohort, four fintechs clear testing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/sbp-concludes-first-regulatory-sandbox-cohort-four-fintechs-clear",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-15T10:56:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40439594/sbp-concludes-first-regulatory-sandbox-cohort-four-fintechs-clear-testing"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has concluded the inaugural cohort of its Regulatory Sandbox, a program aimed at fostering the development of innovative fintech solutions. Launched in August 2025 as part of SBP Vision 2028, the first cohort concentrated on three key areas: technology-driven solutions for remittances, open banking, and remote onboarding of merchants. Six fintech companies were selected to participate in the sandbox and test their respective solutions between January and June 2026. Throughout the testing period, SBP provided essential support and regulatory guidance to the participants. Four of the six companies successfully showcased their solutions: Taptap Send UK Limited & UBL for remittances, and Digi Khata, Switch Retail, and Neem Exponential Financial Services for open banking. It is essential to note that achieving success in the sandbox does not automatically grant regulatory approval. The successful participants must still secure the necessary authorization and approval from SBP before commercializing their products or services. Looking ahead, SBP plans to continue leveraging the Regulatory Sandbox to encourage fintech and banking firms to develop and introduce user-centric, technology-driven solutions that enhance financial services accessibility and efficiency.",
  "summary": "The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has concluded the first cohort of its Regulatory Sandbox, launched in August 2025 under SBP Vision 2028. “The first cohort focused on three themes: technology-enabled solutions for inward remittances, open banking, and remote onboarding of merchants,” said SBP in a statement on Tuesday. The central bank said that six participants were shortlisted and invited to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}