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Business Standard
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
35% bank account holders in India had inactive accounts in 2021: World Bank
More than a third of bank account owners in India in 2021 had an inactive account—defined as one with no deposits, withdrawals, or incoming or outgoing digital payments in the past year—according to the latest World Bank report on financial inclusion. Released on Wednesday, the report titled Global Findex 2025 estimates that 35 per cent of account owners in India in 2021 had an inactive account—seven times the 5 per cent average for all developing economies, excluding India. 'One reason for India's high share of account inactivity may be that many of these accounts were opened as part of the Indian government's Jan Dhan Yojana scheme to increase account ownership. Launched in August 2014, the programme had by April 2022 brought an additional 450 million Indians into the formal banking system,' the report noted. The share of adults with an inactive account in India remained about the same between 2017 and 2021. On the other hand, in high-income economies, virtually all account owners had an active account in 2021. The report also observed that in developing economies, women account owners are, on average, 5 percentage points more likely than men to have an inactive account. In India, this gender gap was more pronounced: 42 per cent of women account owners had an inactive account compared to 30 per cent of men—a 12 percentage point difference. Additionally, nearly half of Indian respondents with inactive accounts cited reasons such as distance from financial institutions, lack of trust, and no perceived need for an account. 'As for other reasons, nearly 40 per cent said they did not have enough money to use an account, and about 30 per cent cited not feeling comfortable using an account by themselves,' the report noted. Interestingly, more men with an inactive account (34 per cent) than women (26 per cent) said they did not feel comfortable using an account independently. The report is based on a representative survey of about 128,000 adults across 123 economies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes updated indicators on access to and use of both formal and informal financial services, including cards, mobile phones, and internet usage for digital payments. Globally, in 2021, 76 per cent of adults had an account at a bank or a regulated institution such as a credit union, microfinance institution, or mobile money service provider. Account ownership worldwide increased by 50 per cent between 2011 and 2021—from 51 per cent to 76 per cent.
Al-Ahram Weekly
15-07-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Mobile tech fueled financial inclusion boom in developing economies in 2024: WB's Global Findex 2025 - Tech
Developing countries are experiencing an unprecedented rise in financial inclusion, with more adults than ever now owning a bank or mobile-money account, according to the World Bank Group's newly released Global Findex 2025 report. The momentum is reshaping personal finance in low- and middle-income economies, driving formal savings and unlocking new opportunities for inclusive economic growth. The Global Findex 2025 provides a comprehensive look at how financial services—especially mobile and digital—are shaping the future of inclusive development. In 2024, 40 percent of adults in developing economies reported saving in a financial account—a 16 percent increase from 2021 and the fastest progress recorded in more than a decade. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the share of adults saving formally jumped by 12 percentage points to 35 percent, reflecting a significant shift toward more structured financial behaviours. Mobile phone technology has played a key role in this leap. Ten percent of adults in developing countries now use mobile money accounts to save—double the 2021 figure. According to the report, this surge in digital financial inclusion is transforming how people manage money and enabling governments to expand access to credit, improve welfare delivery, and support long-term investment. 'Financial inclusion has the potential to improve lives and transform entire economies. Digital finance can convert this potential into reality, but several ingredients need to be in place. At the World Bank Group, we're helping countries strengthen digital IDs, build cash-transfer programs, modernize payment systems, and remove regulatory roadblocks,' said World Bank Group President Ajay Banga. The report also noted that global account ownership had reached nearly 80 percent—up from just 50 percent in 2011. Yet, 1.3 billion adults remain unbanked. Of those, almost 900 million own a mobile phone, including 530 million with smartphones—highlighting the untapped potential for further inclusion. 'More people than ever have the financial tools to invest in their futures and build economic resilience, including women and others previously left behind. This is real progress,' said Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation, which supports the Global Findex. The gender gap is also narrowing. In low- and middle-income economies, women's account ownership nearly doubled—from 37 percent in 2011 to 73 percent in 2024—driven by mobile financial services and digital wage and welfare transfers. However, the report warned that rising digital engagement brings new risks. While 86 percent of adults globally own a mobile phone (68 percent of whom use smartphones), only half of adults in developing economies use a password to protect their devices, leaving them vulnerable to financial fraud and data theft. Digital payments are proliferating. In 2024, 42 percent of adults in developing countries made an in-store or online merchant payment via mobile phone or card, up from 35 percent in 2021. More governments and employers are now channelling payments directly into accounts, a shift that reduces leakages and improves transparency. The report also includes regional highlights. In East Asia and the Pacific, 86 percent of adults own smartphones, and 83 percent have account access—the highest digital connectivity worldwide. In South Asia, account ownership is largely driven by India, where 90 percent of adults are financially included. Sub-Saharan Africa leads globally in mobile money usage, with account ownership rising from 49 percent in 2021 to 58 percent in 2024. In the Middle East and North Africa, account ownership grew from 45 percent to 53 percent, while formal saving rose from 11 to 17 percent. In Latin America and the Caribbean, over half of account holders use them digitally. Europe and Central Asia lead developing regions in internet use and mobile penetration. In Egypt, 74.8 percent of eligible citizens aged 15 and above had active financial accounts by the end of 2024, according to the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). That figure translates to around 52 million Egyptians—out of an eligible population of 69.6 million—managing their finances through formal channels, including banks, Egypt Post, mobile wallets, and prepaid cards. The CBE attributed this progress to ongoing coordination with strategic partners across the financial ecosystem—including commercial banks, government ministries, and regulatory bodies. Their collective efforts have focused on advancing economic inclusion, particularly for women, youth with disabilities, and entrepreneurs. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
