To celebrate Women’s World Banking’s 45th anniversary, we are showcasing the voices of individuals from around the world who have shaped and touched Women’s World Banking journey. These are stories from across Women’s World Banking’s reach from the women we serve and our customers, to allies and women in leadership who have contributed to women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion.
Meet Gyanwati, a business correspondent (Sakhi) at the Bank of Baroda in India. In 2021, we worked with Bank of Baroda to launch the Jan Dhan Plus Program, connecting women to the advantages of saving and giving them access to formal credit. 1,000 women, like Gyanwati, were hired as banking agents, to provide doorstep access to low-income women who were otherwise excluded, and motivate them to join savings and microinsurance programs.
“I feel good. I got a chance to do something for myself and my family.”
Women banking agents like Gyanwati not only have the potential to reach 5 million more Indian women customers, but also provide an opportunity for women employees to diversify their revenue streams, increasing their economic stability.
Women’s World Banking is dedicated to economic empowerment through financial inclusion for the nearly one billion women in the world with no or limited access to formal financial services. Using our sophisticated market and consumer research, we turn insights into real action to design and advocate for policy engagement, digital financial solutions, workplace leadership programs, and gender lens investing.
As part of our current strategy, we’ve helped provide 37 million women in emerging markets – targeting 100 million by 2027 – access and use of financial products and services that are transforming women’s lives, households, businesses and communities, and driving inclusive growth globally.
Help us reach the nearly billion women still excluded from the formal financial system. Donate now.
