Forthcoming Report of Financial Access 2010

April 22, 2010    

Financial Access 2010, the second in a series of annual surveys conducted by CGAP and the World Bank, was launched in February with a report due in the fall. The survey seeks to gather data from financial regulators (central banks or bank superintendents) in over 150 countries. Last year the survey collected data from 139 countries and we expect this year’s survey will reach even more.

Financial Access 2010 is collecting key statistics on the use of financial services and the regulations that affect access to financial services. This year the survey focuses on four areas:

How did levels of access and usage of financial services change in 2009?
In addition to the basic financial access statistics gathered last year, for the first time, Financial Access 2010 will measure annual changes in the number of deposits and loan accounts. Regular data collection using a consistent methodology is building a reliable set of indicators that measures access to financial services worldwide.

What is the role of financial regulators in implementing financial inclusion policies?
A number of government agencies and ministries share the responsibility for implementing financial access policies. The survey asks questions about what policies fall under the purview of financial regulators, and the level of priority and resources they dedicate to the issue of financial inclusion and its measurement. Financial Access 2010 will summarize the survey results and map existing practices, recent reforms, and challenges faced by financial regulators in this area.

What is the state of financial consumer protection regulation and enforcement around the world?
The survey asks detailed questions about existing consumer protection regulations, the nature of supervisory and enforcement mechanisms, and regulatory powers. The recent financial crisis has led to an increased interest in consumer protection issues and Financial Access 2010 will map existing practices and discuss challenges in relation to the implementation of financial consumer protection reforms.

Can we monitor the levels of small and medium enterprise (SME) financing based on the data available to financial regulators?
This year’s survey collects data on the volume and number of SME loans. SMEs play an important role in supporting sustainable, diversified, and long-term growth. Access to financial services is one of the major constraints to SME growth and this topic has attracted renewed attention in the wake of the financial crisis. The G-20 is committed to identifying lessons learned about innovative approaches and providing financial services to SMEs, as well as promoting successful regulatory and policy approaches. Financial Access 2010 will map existing practices in monitoring levels of SME financing by regulators and discuss the challenges related to the collection of consistent global estimates.