All Publications
Women Agents for Financial Inclusion: Exploring the Benefits, Constraints, and Potential Solutions
This working paper explores the benefits of having more women agents, the challenges they face, and potential solutions to promote their participation in the DFS ecosystem.
Women’s Agent Network—the Missing Link in India’s Financial Inclusion Story: A Supply-Side Perspective
The business correspondent model in India enables the banking system to expand its outreach at a low cost and offer essential financial services in remote and underserved areas. This paper share a supply-side perspective on challenges and opportunities for expanding women agent network in India.
Tax Reforms to Increase the Viability of Business Correspondents
This policy note argues that two key taxation issues are hindering the sustainability and attractiveness of the business correspondent model in India and that addressing them could help advance financial inclusion.
State of Agent Banking in Himachal Pradesh
Based on extensive fieldwork spanning approximately 1000 person-days across 301 locations, this report aims to advance the understanding of India's agent banking model. It presents operational practices of the banking agents as well as the financial behavior of rural banking clients.
Agent Network Journeys Toward the Last Mile: A Cross-Country Perspective December 2020
This Focus Note reveals three distinct journeys country stakeholders have taken to extend the reach and quality of rural agent networks in China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, and Kenya.
Self-Help Group Members as Banking Agents for Deepening Financial Inclusion
This study shares insights from the rural financial institutions program and demonstrates how self help group members as banking agents or customer service points could deliver last mile banking services to the rural community in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.