Banking the Poor Through Everyday Stores

Innovations, Vol. 6, No. 1, Spring 2011

14 Pages Posted: 4 Dec 2010 Last revised: 28 Jun 2011

Date Written: December 3, 2010

Abstract

This paper reviews the opportunities and strategic choices facing banks considering branchless banking options. Technology, and in particular the spread of real-time mobile communications networks, permits financial service providers to delegate 'last mile' cash management and customer servicing functions to third-party retail outlets. By making basic deposit, withdrawal, and payment functions available securely through retail shops that exist in every village and neighborhood, there is an opportunity to dramatically increase the physical footprint of financial service providers in developing countries and to transform the basic economics of low-balance savings.

Keywords: Branchless Banking, Financial Access, Financial Inclusion, Microfinance

Suggested Citation

Mas, Ignacio and Almazán, Mireya, Banking the Poor Through Everyday Stores (December 3, 2010). Innovations, Vol. 6, No. 1, Spring 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1719580

Ignacio Mas (Contact Author)

Tufts University ( email )

Medford, MA 02155
United States

Mireya Almazán

Independent ( email )

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
947
Abstract Views
3,633
Rank
45,113
PlumX Metrics