Banking the Unbanked

Child Savings Accounts: A Primer

Global Assets — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:35:39 -0400

Child Savings Accounts: A Primer

This primer describes the concept of Child Savings Accounts (CSAs), various purposes for and features of the accounts, impacts CSAs can have on a child’s development, and obstacles that impede the widespread provision of the accounts.

Microsave Briefing Notes on Grameen II #2

Global Assets — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:54:33 -0400

This document discusses how Grameen II has revolutionized the process of accepting deposit by providing its services not only to the members, but also to the general public.

The document describes the various characteristics associated with

Reaching the Hard to Reach: Comparative Study of Member-Owned Financial Institutions in Remote Rural Areas

Global Assets — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:47:43 -0400

The Coady International Institute conducted this study on member-owned financial institutions (MOIs).

Keeping Britain posted: How post office banking could save the network and combat financial exclusion

Global Assets — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:52:46 -0400

This paper, published in 2008 by The New Economics Foundation of the U.K., discusses the costs of financial exclusion in the U.K. and argues that the government could "make post offices a central part of its commitment to greater financial inclusion."

"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.

"Banking Options for Children in Situations of Vulnerability, Compounded by HIV/AIDS"

Global Assets — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:01:44 -0400

This discussion paper, published in December 2007 by the India HIV/AIDS Alliance, aims to explore "the need for institutional banking facilities for those children who have no fixed address, guardian or parent" and recommend "policy and legal changes that may facilitate the provision of bank

"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."

"Integrating Savings into Care and Support of Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Uganda"

Global Assets — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:39:52 -0400

This presentation presents lessons from the SUUBI and SEED research programs that test the impact of children's development accounts (CDAs) on educational planning and HIV/AIDS prevention attitudes of orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda.

"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.

Australia National Indigenous Money Management Agenda (NIMMA) Project

Global Assets — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:22:29 -0500

The NIMMA project is run by Reconciliation Australia, a not-for-profit established in 2000 that works to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. It investigates money management and banking issues for Indigenous individuals and their families, including promoting financial literacy.

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

"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.

Children's Development Bank

Global Assets — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:37:45 -0500

Children's Development Bank is a bank "for street and working children for their economic empowerment facilitated by adults, managed by children." The bank operates in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The bank is an innitiative of Butterflies, a childrens' rights NGO based in India.

"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.

"Savings and the Poor: the methods, use and impact of savings by the poor of East Africa"

Global Assets — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:44:57 -0500

MicroSave, a research organization, published this study in 1999.

"Measuring the Impact of Microfinance: Taking Stock of What We Know"

Global Assets — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:26:36 -0500

This paper published by Grameen Foundation USA in December 2005, "surveys the most significant microfinance impact evaluations that have been published as of mid-2005 and guides readers through interpreting the results and reliability of each study."