Agent Banking and Financial Inclusion

Abstract

Access to financial services has always been limited in Bangladesh. The need for financial inclusion has thus largely surfaced in the country. As a result, agent banking services were implemented via an inclusive digital financial program across rural and unbanked areas of Bangladesh. Despite having a significant impact upon financial inclusion across developing countries, literature in this realm lacks in-depth investigations on agent banking and its impact on financial inclusion. This study thus aims to represent the overall aspect of agent banking and its association with financial inclusion in the setting of the developing country of Bangladesh. For this research, a case study approach has been employed. The study highlights that agent banking is an effective and credible way of entrenching financial deepening across the unbanked areas of Bangladesh. Moreover, the study emphasizes that agent banking can secure access to financial services for the rural poor and generate wholesome development for Bangladesh.