Policy Principles for Expanding Financial Access

Abstract

Despite the rapid growth in finance worldwide over the past quarter- century—now interrupted by the global financial crisis—many low-income households and small firms remain excluded from access to many financial services, especially in developing countries. While traditionally seen by many financial-service providers (FSPs) as less attractive customers, a growing number of mainstream FSPs have joined micro finance firms in extending the range of their service provision, and important advances have been made in expanding access.financial, services,developing countries, micro finance