The Foundations of Financial Inclusion: Understanding Ownership and Use of Formal Accounts

58 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Franklin Allen

Franklin Allen

Imperial College London

Asli Demirgüç-Kunt

World Bank

Leora F. Klapper

World Bank; World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

Maria Soledad Martinez Peria

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Date Written: December 1, 2012

Abstract

Financial inclusion -- defined here as the use of formal accounts -- can bring many welfare benefits to individuals. Yet the authors know very little about the factors underpinning financial inclusion across individuals and countries. Using data for 123 countries and over 124,000 individuals, this paper tries to understand the individual and country characteristics associated with the use of formal accounts and what policies are effective among those most likely to be excluded: the poor and rural residents. The authors find that greater ownership and use of accounts is associated with a better enabling environment for accessing financial services, such as lower account costs and greater proximity to financial intermediaries. Policies targeted to promote inclusion -- such as requiring banks to offer basic or low-fee accounts, exempting some depositors from onerous documentation requirements, allowing correspondent banking, and using bank accounts to make government payments -- may be especially effective among those most likely to be excluded. Finally, the study the factors associated with perceived barriers to account ownership among those who are financially excluded and find that these individuals report lower barriers in countries with lower costs of accounts and greater penetration of financial service providers. Overall, the results suggest that policies to reduce barriers to financial inclusion may expand the pool of eligible account users and encourage existing account holders to use their accounts with greater frequency and for the purpose of saving.

Keywords: Access to Finance, Banks & Banking Reform, Emerging Markets, Debt Markets, Economic Theory & Research

Suggested Citation

Allen, Franklin and Demirgüç-Kunt, Asli and Klapper, Leora F. and Martinez Peria, Maria Soledad, The Foundations of Financial Inclusion: Understanding Ownership and Use of Formal Accounts (December 1, 2012). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 6290, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2188803

Franklin Allen (Contact Author)

Imperial College London ( email )

South Kensington Campus
Exhibition Road
London, Greater London SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom

Asli Demirgüç-Kunt

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Leora F. Klapper

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States
202-473-8738 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://econ.worldbank.org/staff/lklapper

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

1818 H. Street, N.W.
MSN3-311
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Maria Soledad Martinez Peria

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20431
United States

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