Seunfunmi Joshua
In 2024, saving money is crucial, particularly in countries like Nigeria where economic inflation and the rising cost of living are pressing issues.
Fortunately, the digital age has brought forth a variety of innovative savings platforms that simplify saving and managing your finances. Whether you’re saving for emergencies, a major purchase, or retirement, these apps offer a range of features and benefits to meet your needs.
From automated savings to budget tracking and investment options, we’ve put together a list of five (5) top savings platforms that you should consider using in 2024.
Piggyvest
PiggyVest is an app designed to help the average Nigerian save and invest money more easily. It was the first online “Savings & Investment” app in West Africa. Originally launched as “Piggybank.ng” in January 2016, it started as a platform for savings only and operated in this way for 3 years.
In April 2019, the platform rebranded to “PiggyVest” and began offering direct investment opportunities to users in addition to savings. With approximately 4 million users, PiggyVest has become one of the leading apps in Nigeria for savings and investment banking.
Piggyvest’s Finance Roundtable in Lagos on February 13, 2023, gathered fintech experts and stakeholders to discuss findings from a survey of over a thousand Nigerians. The focus was on enhancing financial inclusion and aligning products with diverse needs, leading to collaborative strategies for positive change in Nigeria’s financial sector.
Cowrywise
Cowrywise is a digital wealth management platform aimed at the young generation of Nigerians and Africans. It focuses on simplifying and democratizing access to savings and investment products, offering a wide range of options including regular savings, emergency savings, halal savings, savings circles, and money duo. Cowrywise also provides a variety of investment options such as naira and dollar mutual funds, making it a dominant player in the market.
For users who opt to earn interest, Cowrywise offers the opportunity to invest their savings in treasury bills, government bonds, and high-quality commercial papers.
Additionally, Cowrywise is known for its expertise in financial education in Nigeria.
Ladda
In 2020, Ladda (getLadda) introduced its first version to the market as an android app. This app enables users with a low-risk tolerance to invest their money in high-interest savings. Currently, the app offers investment opportunities in naira and dollar mutual funds, providing an annual return of approximately 7%.
Ladda allows users to create and manage their savings portfolios, add funds at any time, withdraw as needed, and take control of their finances for a more financially independent life.
Users can tailor their portfolios to their budgets and financial goals by selecting from various investment options and regularly contributing a fixed amount of money to them.
Risevest
Risevest is a digital platform that helps people in Africa invest in opportunities around the world that are worth more in dollars. It’s for everyone, whether you’re just starting or know a lot about investing. Risevest offers a mix of investments in US stocks, real estate, and other assets that can outperform inflation.
With Risevest, you can set up your investments to happen automatically. Their “Build Wealth Plan” also guides you on how to plan for your future financially. You’ll get a mix of investments that are chosen for you and spread out globally to make more money and reduce risks.
As your financial guide, Risevest gives you tips on how to make smart investment decisions to reach your financial goals faster.
Bamboo
With Bamboo, you can begin investing with just N15,000 in any company you choose. Bamboo’s partnerships enable users to own portions of shares in various companies.
Their fractional investing technology lets you invest any amount you like in your preferred publicly listed US company, a group of companies known as an ETF, other African companies, mutual funds, or fixed income products from around the world.
Additionally, Bamboo provides education on the fundamentals of investing and helps you get started on your investment journey quickly.
Final Thoughts
In 2024, saving and investment platforms are incredibly useful for managing your money wisely. They’re designed to help everyone, whether you’re new to saving or have experience. These platforms offer features like automatic saving, investment options, and spending tracking. By using these apps, you can take control of your finances and work towards a more secure future.
Cheers to achieving more financial goals and reaching new milestones!
