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Title: Improving Access to Banking: Evidence from Kenya

Author(s): Franklin Allen, Elena Carletti, Robert Cull, Jun Qian, Lemma W Senbet and Patricio Valenzuela

Publication Date: February 2014

Keyword(s): bank account, bank penetration, Equity Bank, microfinance and minority language

Programme Area(s): Development Economics and Financial Economics

Abstract: Using household surveys and bank penetration data at the district-level in 2006 and 2009, this paper examines the impact of Equity Bank?a leading private commercial bank focusing on microfinance?on the access to banking in Kenya. Unlike other commercial banks in Kenya, Equity Bank pursues distinct branching strategies that target underserved areas and less privileged households. Equity Bank presence has a positive and significant impact on households? use of bank accounts and bank credit, especially for Kenyans with low income, no salaried job and less education, and those that do not own their own home. The findings are robust to using the district-level proportion of people speaking a minority language as an instrument for Equity Bank presence. It appears that Equity Bank?s business model?providing financial services to population segments typically ignored by traditional commercial banks and generating sustainable profits in the process?can be a solution to the financial access problem that has hindered the development of inclusive financial sectors in many African countries.

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Bibliographic Reference

Allen, F, Carletti, E, Cull, R, Qian, J, Senbet, L and Valenzuela, P. 2014. 'Improving Access to Banking: Evidence from Kenya'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=9840