Asante et al., (2017) stated that financial innovation comprised the creation, utilisation and popularisation of various types of new financial instruments, technologies, markets and institutions. Fostel and Geanakoplos (2016) added to this description and stated that financial innovation could be considered to be a process involving the development, formulation, spread and usage of new, both radical and incremental, products, processes, platforms and technologies, which resulted in changes in the conducting of financial operations. Gubler (2011) stated that innovation, which involved the creation of commercially beneficial, new products, processes and services was inherent to the process of human development. Various individuals and entities have,over the years searched for new forms to react to various environmental opportunities and challenges and have in the process brought about numerous revolutions (Gubler, 2011; Fostel&Geanakoplos, 2016). Such innovative activity has affected, amongst other things, the area of finance and improved economic wellbeing and prosperity (Nejad&Estelami, 2012; Fostel&Geanakoplos, 2016). Financial innovation can be considered to be related to the modernisation of financial systems or practices and includes new, altered and transformed financial instruments (Nejad&Estelami, 2012; Beck et al., 2016). The examination of history revealed the continuous development of financial innovation in various places and timeframes (Nejad&Estelami, 2012; Beck et al., 2016). Such innovations occurred, for example in Sumer, Egypt, Italy, China and Europe. A bill of exchange was developed by Chinese merchants in the 9th century (Fostel&Geanakoplos, 2016; (Nejad&Estelami, 2012).
Recent years have witnessed the development and spread of a wave of financial innovation across the developing countries, which in turn have resulted in the generation of important alterations in the financial environment (Beck et al., 2016; Asante et al., 2017). Whilst such a process of innovation has varied from state to state, it has also been characterised by (1) the creation of new and innovative financial products and markets, (2) securitisation and the replacement of bank loans with financial instruments that are marketable and where interest is influenced by market considerations, (3) the impact of deregulation on the liberalisation of practices in national markets, (4) globalisation, involving th