Commercial Financial Services

"How Young Consumers Could Shape Vietnam's Banks"

Global Assets — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:12:31 -0400

This article from The McKinsey Quarterly presents an overview of Vietnam's banking sector (both domestic and foreign institutions), and discusses the differences in consumer preferences between the country's younger and older generations.

"Segmenting the Markets for Savings Among the Poor Across Countries"

Global Assets — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:58:48 -0400

This report from Bankable Frontier Associates, a consulting firm based in Boston, includes findings that: (a) the "strong take-up in South Africa of a new category of basic bank accounts demonstrates the strong desire for appropriate formal products among those who have never banked before;" and (b) "merely ope

"Lessons from South Africa: Innovations and Opportunities in Underbanked Services"

Global Assets — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:43:57 -0400

This report published by the Center for Financial Services Innovation in April 2008, "provides an overview of the service innovations observed in South Africa, many of which provide important insights for U.S. institutions."

"Optimal Capital Structure: The Role of Savings in MFIs: Overview and Pakistan Case Study"

Global Assets — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:45:16 -0500

This presentation by Ellen Seidman provides an overview of the benefits of savings for individuals, and the benefits of mobilizing savings for microfinance institutions. It then discusses savings and MFIs in the Pakistan context. Seidman is Executive Vice President at ShoreBank Corporation;

"Mobilizing Savings From the Urban Poor in Pakistan: An Initial Inquiry"

Global Assets — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:33:13 -0500

This research paper, published in 2008 by Widening Harmonized Access to Microfinance (WHAM) and Shorebank International, "explores the demand side equation of savings mobilization from the poor," according to the paper's introduction.

An "Acccount for Life" in South Africa?

Global Assets — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:40:41 -0500

This report, published by FinMark Trust of South Africa in 2003, seeks to answer the question: "Would an Account for Life (AFL) promote access to financial services for low income South Africans?," according to the report's introduction.

"Just How Transformational Is M-Banking?"

Global Assets — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:37:40 -0500

This paper, published by FinMark Trust of South Africa in February 2007, "asks how mobile banking (m -banking) has changed, or will change, access to basic banking accounts. It analyzes recent data from South Africa on financial service

"Who Are the Clients of Savings Banks?"

Global Assets — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 11:32:11 -0500

This report, "Who Are the Clients of Savings Banks?: A Poverty Assessment of the Clients Reached by Savings Banks in India, Mexico, Tanzania and Thailand," was published by the World Savings Banks Institute (WSBI).

"Banking in a Global Market: A Financial Institution Guide for Offering International Remittance Services"

Global Assets — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:51:16 -0500

This report was published in 2007 by Appleseed, a non-profit network of 16 public interest justice centers in the U.S. and Mexico.

"Building Inclusive Financial Sectors for Development"

Global Assets — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:45:26 -0500

This 182-page report, published by the United Nations in 2006, "aims to help policymakers develop national policies and strategies for building inclusive financial sectors."

"Safe and Accessible: Bringing Poor Savers Into the Formal Financial System"

Global Assets — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:23:42 -0500

This report, published by CGAP in 2006, discusses the needs of poor people that want to save, and ways that the formal financial system can satisfy these needs.

"Low-Income Households' Access to Financial Services: International Experience, Measures for Improvement, and the Future"

Global Assets — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:12:52 -0500

This paper, published by the Asian Development Bank in 2007, "discusses different dimensions of the problem of access to finance of low-income people and provides cross-country experience in improving access to highlight the diversity of approaches that different countries follow.

"Best Of WSBI member trainings on savings mobilisation: TEN YEARS OF SHARING INNOVATIONS IN THE SAVINGS MARKET"

Global Assets — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:23:50 -0500

The World Savings Banks Institute published this report in 2007. The report presents "a selection of ten case-studies of successful savings mobilisation campaigns" from institutions in countries including Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Mexico.

"A Billion to Gain? A study on global financial institutions and microfinance"

Global Assets — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:07:38 -0500

The publication, published in November 2006 by ING Bank, aims to provide an update of international banks’ activities and future plans regarding microfinance; and to describe how international banks can contribute to providing financial services to the poor.

CGAP Technology Program Projects

Global Assets — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:59:26 -0400

The Technology Program of Consultative Group to Assist the Poor "aims to understand how technology can make financial services accessible to all people, regardless of their income, education level, or place of residence," according to the program's website.

"Microfinance & ICICI Bank" - India

Global Assets — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:07:59 -0400

In this presentation delivered in June 2007, ICICI Bank on India offers an overview of microfinance, microfinance institutions, and financial intermediation models. It goes on to offer an outlook on the "way forward" for the field of microfinance.

Consulting Work on Savings-- Australia

Global Assets — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 14:51:49 -0400

A Global Assets Project Initiative

Saver Plus initiative - Australia (ANZ Bank and partners)

Global Assets — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:13:58 -0400

Saver Plus is a financial literacy and matched savings program developed to help people on low incomes set and achieve a savings goal, and establish a long-term savings habit.

Learn$ave - IDA Program in Canada

Global Assets — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:33:30 -0400

The Canada Learn$ave IDA program, an eight year nationwide initiative, is the single largest matched savings account demonstration in the world.