Financial inclusion
Fed official suggests reforms to tackle ‘credit deserts’
Brainard advocates greater geographical flexibility in banks’ obligations; FDIC chair appears to agree
Arab countries must improve funding of small businesses – IMF’s Lagarde
SMEs make up 96% of Arab world’s businesses but get only 7% of bank loans – IMF chief
RBI can remove barriers to micro-credit – Acharya
Central bank looking to solve information problems in a “fundamental way”, says deputy
Islamic finance is for everyone, Malaysia’s Zahid says
Bank Negara Malaysia assistant governor stresses inclusiveness of Islamic finance
Mexico unveils measures to foster financial inclusion
Plan intends to promote digital payments, facilitate access to credit and deepen capital markets
Bahrain launches new repo instrument to foster interbank lending
Move comes after IMF directors back government’s attempt to diversify oil-based economy
Palestine launches financial inclusion strategy
PMA hopes to push inclusion rate up to at least 50% by 2025
Fintech could help financial inclusion - South African deputy governor
Sarb’s Groepe praises Singapore’s one-stop data repository
Mobile phones boost financial inclusivity in Cambodia – paper
Phone users more likely to open financial accounts
Standard-setters can only partially support inclusion – BIS’s da Silva
Standard-setters can balance risks and opportunities, but cannot tackle deeper structural issues
Fed assessing effects of community bank closures in rural areas – Quarles
Decline in community banks over last two decades concentrated in institutions with less than $100 million
Bank of Canada launches education website
Central bank widens efforts to educate Canadian students on finance
Bank of Canada launches new communication initiative
Central bank hopes new publication will promote financial literacy among Canadians
Number of bank accounts in Malawi up 64 % in six months – governor Kabambe
Digital financial services reducing the number of people unbanked in Malawi, says governor
Financial literacy of Italians below G20 average – Bank of Italy
Less than half of survey respondents are able to calculate a simple interest rate
KYC regulation impinging on financial inclusion – Sarb
Fintech firms could help under-served customers through a “digital identity”
Small depositors do not pose greater run risk – BIS paper
Authors say their findings imply financial inclusion need not create instability
Financial literacy is ‘essential’, says Fed’s Bostic
Atlanta Fed president says financial literacy is key component to achieving employment mandate
Mobile money taking off in Rwanda – report
Central bank documents an increase in both users and volume of transactions
Thailand set to approve banking agents amid inclusion push
Financial inclusion effort allows people wider access to banking services
Banking ‘deserts’ do not explain financial exclusion – NY Fed economists
Absence of nearby banks fails to explain “unbanked” share of population
Change in fees could lead to ATM ‘deserts’ – MP Nicky Morgan
Chair of UK Treasury committee concerned that changes to ATM networks could threaten financial inclusion
Mauritius governor opens new currency museum named after first governor
Museum ‘Aunauth Beejadhur’ will exhibit Mauritian currency throughout the ages
Schoolgirl takes over management of Paraguay’s central bank
Alejandra Belén attended a board meeting and gave official address during her day in office