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Less attention has been given to well-being and other household characteristics that influence clients’ access to micro-credit among women households especially. The paper investigates the determinants of access to credit by 320 women entrepreneurs in the Mfantsiman Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. Data for the study was collected in June-July 2010 from six communities including Mankessim, Saltpond, Anomabu, Biriwa and Yamoransa. Sturctured questionnaires were used to collect the data from women entrepreneurs. The results of the study indicate that clients’ well-being influences access to credit amount. Clients who have been in business for long time are likely to access larger loan amounts. Marital status and education do not influence access to credit. Among the recommendations are that microfinance should not only target clients with high well-being scores but those with low well-being scores since the original aim of microfinance is to lift the poor out of poverty. It is important to give credit to aged business owners instead of young ones. Giving credit to married women because their husbands could serve as guarantors does not matter much but rather women who do not have husbands also need to benefit from micro-credit.

Financial inclusion, especially the adoption of fintech, has emerged as a crucial avenue for removing the financial access divides in developing countries, including Bangladesh. Following the comprehensive analysis, this article intends to outline Bangladesh's recent experiences with fintech-based financial inclusion, identify the short-comings and hence make policy suggestions. Being a descriptive research, cross-sectional and observational research approaches are applied for the explanatory analysis of secondary data. Results suggest an urban-rural gap in the implementation of digital financial services, with urban areas consistently having higher rates of fully online branches and a greater number of financial machines. Despite this, the sharp rise in the issuance of active cards is a positive sign suggesting an expansion of consumer base and an adoption of electronic modes of payment. Moreover, inter-bank electronic fund transfers and online banking have experienced increasing uptake, revealing a progressing trend towards digital transactions within the banking industry. Additionally, the study identifies a speedy growth in the number of mobile financial services accounts in both urban and rural areas. This study adds to the exchange of ideas regarding financial inclusion by carrying out a detailed study of Bangladesh's digital financial transformation, exemplifying the accomplishments, obstacles, and future research directions. It highlights the need for targeted policies and ongoing research efforts to build inclusive financial systems to serve the entire society’s interest. Nevertheless, the observations will have both theoretical and practical significance, contributing towards building capability in harnessing technology for sustainability, community uplifting, and shaping a brighter future.  

In the past decade, Southeast Asia has seen the development of financial inclusion, as evidenced by the growth of the penetration, availability, and usage dimensions of financial inclusion. This study analyses the impact financial inclusion has on economic growth, represented by GDP per capita growth, and unemployment using data from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia. The authors employed panel data regression with fixed effect and random effect models to analyse the data. The results show that the number of commercial bank branches and outstanding loans statistically significantly affect GDP per capita growth, while the number of saving/deposit accounts does not. All three variables are shown to have a statistically significant impact on unemployment.

The purpose of this study is to examine the drivers of the ownership and use of mobile accounts as compared to those of financial institution accounts in Côte d’Ivoire. In this perspective, individual level data from the Global Findex 2017 database were used to carry out simple probit and Heckman probit estimations. The results revealed that the ownership of mobile accounts is associated with determinants related to individuals in the least vulnerable strata of society (wealthier and more educated individuals and individuals in the labour force), while their use is associated with determinants related to individuals in the most vulnerable strata of society (women and individuals out of the labour force). On the other hand, the ownership and use of financial institution accounts are associated with the determinants related to individuals in the least vulnerable strata of society. Therefore, the delay between the financial institution accounts’ penetration rate and that of mobile accounts in Côte d’Ivoire may be explained by the greater use of mobile accounts by individuals in the most vulnerable strata of society, which represent the large share of the unbanked.

The paper investigates whether financial literacy influences financial inclusion in Uganda on the premise that there are currently few to no studies that investigate this causality and the general lack of consensus on an appropriate measure for financial literacy. It uses data from the FinScope (2018) consumer survey on Uganda and applies Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to construct a composite financial literacy index of the adult bankable population (16 years and older). The index is then regressed - alongside other demand-side control variables, against a measure of financial inclusion using logistic models. Our measure of financial literacy significantly and positively affects financial inclusion in Uganda even in the presence of variables like age, gender, income, and education. Individuals who make financial ends meet, plan for their financial future welfare, seek financial advice, and are receptive towards technology, are 'ceteris paribus', more likely to be financially included than not. Technology and mobile money adoption enhance financial inclusion while more men are financially included than women. While the dataset is limited to demand-side variables of Uganda and cannot be generalised, comparative cross-country studies with robust datasets are needed to provide further insights. The paper advances a novel approach for measuring financial literacy for developing economies while contributing to efforts to standardize an international measure. It also provides empirical insights to support the notion that financial literacy should be addressed more holistically and recommends this approach for improving financial inclusion in Uganda and globally.

This study presents a thematic literature review aimed at understanding the systemic barriers that Black African women face when accessing bank loans in South Africa, as well as the critical role that the humanities can play in addressing these issues. In the context of the persistent economic instability facing South Africa, the small business sector has become a vital source of income and resilience for Black women. Despite this, their economic potential remains constrained by limited access to bank loans. Guided by an intersectionality framework, the study discusses the systemic barriers that contribute to the financial hardships and exclusion of Black African women. It further explores how gender-sensitive and humanities-informed approaches can contribute to more inclusive financial services. This includes emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive financial products, bias awareness training, and supportive policy frameworks. The review calls for strategic interventions to improve economic empowerment among Black African women entrepreneurs. Central to these interventions is the role of humanities faculties in facilitating Short Learning Programs and Skills Training Programs that provide business training, helping women manage finances and scale their ventures sustainably through enhanced financial literacy. This increased knowledge can improve their chances of success, even in the absence of formal funding. Conducting Afrocentric research is another avenue to uncover the barriers and address the current financial exclusion that Black women in South Africa experience. Gender equality in financial inclusion must remain one of the fundamental building blocks for steady and positive economic growth in South Africa.

This study examines the effects of Mobile Financial Services (MFS) on the growth and composition of bank deposits in Bangladesh over the period 2015-2024 based on bank-level panel data for 26 commercial banks. Using Fixed Effects (FE), Random Effects (RE), and Generalized Least Squares (GLS) estimation and controlling for COVID-19 dummy, the study finds that MFS transaction volume has a negative and statistically significant effect on deposit growth. This indicates that rising mobile financial activity slows the pace at which banks accumulate deposits. However, MFS positively and significantly affects both current and savings deposit levels, consistent with the financial inclusion channel through which mobile platforms channel funds into the formal banking system. The effect on total deposits and fixed deposits is statistically insignificant, indicating no direct substitution at the aggregate or long-term deposit level. Bank size and loan-to-deposit ratio are the most consistent determinants across all models. Non-performing loans negatively affect depositor confidence. The COVID-19 pandemic dampened deposit growth and total deposit accumulation but exerted limited influence on current and savings deposit levels. These findings suggest that MFS and traditional banking are complementary rather than substitutive, and that well-designed policy interventions can harness MFS-driven financial inclusion to strengthen rather than undermine the deposit base of commercial banks in Bangladesh.

The research investigated the degree to which client appraisal relate to financial sustainability among Microfinance Institutions in Tanzania. Grounded on Resource Based View Theory, the study employed an explanatory research design whereby data was collected from a sample of 291 microfinance institutions from Dodoma, Iringa and Shinyanga regions. Semi-structured questionnaire in form of 5-point Likert scale was used to collect data which were analysed through inferential method. Research findings revealed that credit terms negatively influenced financial sustainability, whereas integration capabilities significantly and positively affected financial sustainability. Research findings further revealed that introduction of dynamic capabilities into the structural model improved the coefficient of determination (R²) value from 0.150 to 0.218, confirming their moderating role. Specifically, integration capability amplified the positive impact of internal control (IIC → SI, β = 0.157, p = 0.006), while sensing and learning did not significantly alter base relationships.  Moreover, the research findings indicated that R² of 0.218 (adjusted R² = 0.175) accounted for approximately 22 percent of the variance in financial sustainability, reflecting the combined influence of loan delinquency strategies and dynamic capabilities.  The study concludes that financial sustainability of MFIs in Tanzania depended not only on internal management practices, but also on external environmental conditions and institutional maturity, thereby necessitating multi-level policy interventions. The study recommends that MFIs in Tanzania adopt context-sensitive credit policies, such as granting of grace periods or seasonal repayment structures, especially for clients in agriculture and informal sectors. Also, strengthening learning systems including provision of staff training, knowledge sharing, and performance reflection could complement integration capabilities to boost long-term sustainability. Finally, MFIs should adopt adaptive management frameworks that combine governance, data analytics, and collaborative networks to manage delinquency dynamics.

Small and medium-sized businesses, or SMMEs, are vital to the global economy because they foster innovation, job creation, and economic expansion. Their success and performance depend largely on external support from other organizations, including financial institutions. The objective of this research was to investigate the extent to which financial assistance affects SMMEs' overall performance. Officials from financial institutions and SMMEs in the Vhembe District Municipality comprised the study population. 16 research participants were chosen for the sample using stratified random sampling. An interview guide was used to gather data from the participants. Data was analysed using Atlas.ti. The results indicate that the effect of the financial support leads to business sustainability, business/ local economic growth, and relationship building. By encouraging SMMEs' sustainability and local economic growth in Vhembe District, where outside investment from financial institutions serves as a crucial enabler for innovation and job creation, this study emphasizes the importance of financial support in bolstering entrepreneurial ecosystems. It highlights the stakeholder links between financial officials and SMMEs, encouraging cooperative solutions that improve regional development plans and business performance.

Financial inclusion has been enhanced by the use of mobile money in the informal sector in many countries since the turn of the millennium, mostly by increasing financial use by the previously unbanked and those working in the informal sector. The study was motivated by the fact that there is an increase in mobile money use in the informal sector, and therefore, it ought to present the major determinants of mobile money use in Harare’s informal sector by traders operating in this sector. There is a need to look at the determinants of mobile money use by informal traders, as the transactions reported in this sector are significant to the economy. Data was collected from five districts within Harare using a questionnaire that was drawn from a simple random sample among 273 informal traders. A logistics regression model was used for the study model estimation. The findings were that gender, cost, awareness and group membership significantly determine mobile money use by informal traders in the sampled districts in Harare. Results obtained confirmed a priori economic expectations concerning variables in the chosen model. The significant variables were recommended to policymakers, new players intending to offer mobile money services and existing mobile money service providers. There is a need to understand the determinants of mobile money use by informal traders in order to produce relevant policies that further enhance financial inclusion.