BRIDGING THE GENDER GAP IN DIGITAL BANKING

THRISSUR, INDIA By helping financial institutions build women-focused agent networks, more women are able to connect digitally to their bank accounts. Our agents operate in rural communities and are trained and supported by financial institutions to accept cash deposits and withdrawals on behalf of the bank.

Renju (above, right), is an agent banker in Thrissur, India. Renju travels around on her moped and serves more than 900 women in the local area. These women spend their weeks managing their small businesses and providing for their families, saving what earnings they can. Renju offers them much-needed access to financial services that they would not otherwise have access to, due to the distances they have to travel.

Renju uses her tablet to verify identities using an iris or a fingerprint scan. The transaction is logged digitally, and an SMS alert is sent out verifying that the deposit has been accepted and processed. With a trusted local woman as the agent, women clients are often much more at ease conducting digital transactions.