Invite you to the release of a new CGAP Focus Note
Could A Mobile Phone Replace A Bank Branch?
Join us for the release of a new CGAP Focus Note, which addresses the policy
implications of branchless banking. Regulating Transformational Branchless
Banking: Mobile Phones and Other Technology to Increase Access to Finance is
based on assessments of policy and regulation in seven key countries, including
interviews with hundreds of people from governments, the private sector, and
international organizations in Brazil, India, Kenya, Pakistan, the Philippines,
Russia and South Africa. Basic, everyday financial services are out of reach
for more than two billion people in developing countries. But the rapid growth
of branchless banking - including mobile phone banking - is reducing the cost
and expanding the availability of such services.
While much of the current buzz is around mobile phones, other branchless banking
applications are gaining traction as well. Brazil?s increase in access to
finance has been accomplished largely through the more than 95,000 banking
"correspondents" - local merchants and post offices that act as agents for
banks, equipped with card-swipe and barcode-reading point-of-sale (POS)
terminals. In Russia, a broad network of bank ATMs, POS terminals, and online
e-money providers offer transaction services outside of traditional branch
offices.
Thursday, February 7 2008
4:00 - 6:00 pm
World Bank J Building, Auditorium J1-050
A reception will follow the presentation
For non bank staff, please RSVP to InfoShopevents@worldbank.org
Chaired by
Elizabeth Littlefield
CEO of CGAP and Director, World Bank
Discussed by
Gautam Ivatury
Manager, Technology Program
Tim Lyman
Senior Policy Adivsor
Mark Pickens
Microfinance Analyst
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About the InfoShop
The InfoShop is the public information center of the World Bank and serves as a
forum for substantial debate on international development. Our extensive events
program consists of more than 250 events over the past two years and has hosted
many internationally recognized speakers including Queen Noor, Francis Fukuyama,
Jeffrey Sachs, Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglitz, Thomas Friedman, and Carly Fiorina.
The InfoShop functions as the only publicly accessible space at headquarters and
provides internal and external audiences with over 15,000 titles published by
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issues.
For more information, visit: www.worldbank.org/infoshop
Comments about the events program: http://go.worldbank.org/TDG9T8O9K0
About CGAP
CGAP (the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) is a consortium of 33 bilateral
and multilateral development agencies and private foundations committed to
building financial systems that work for the poor in developing countries.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., and housed at the World Bank, CGAP is a
global resource center for the microfinance industry, setting standards,
offering technical and advisory services, training, and information on best
practices, in addition to providing funding for innovative projects. CGAP's
Technology Program, co-funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, seeks
technology approaches that help provide a variety of financial services to poor
and excluded people, at large scale and in a viable way, within a regulatory
system that encourages their development. For more information, please visit
http://www.cgap.org/technology.
About DFID
DFID, the Department for International Development, leads the British
Government?s fight against world poverty. DFID supports long-term programs to
help eliminate the underlying causes of poverty. DFID also responds to
emergencies, both natural and man-made. Its work forms part of the global goal
to attain the eight ?Millennium Development Goals? by 2015. DFID works directly
in over 150 countries worldwide, with a budget of some £5.9 billion in 2006. For
more information, please visit http://www.dfid.gov.uk.
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