Financial services can provide the unbanked poor the opportunity to climb out of poverty and weather personal financial crises. Financial products such as credit, savings, payments, and insurance must be coupled with behavior change and education programs to ensure informed decision making by new banking customers.

Desired Equilibrium

Every individual or enterprise has equitable access to quality financial services, enabling them to reduce financial vulnerability by increasing incomes and economic opportunity.

Ways Skoll social entrepreneurs are addressing the issue:

• Providing financial education and services for under-served individuals (Aflatoun, Fundacion Capital, Kashf Foundation, Slum Dwellers International, Water.org)
• Utilizing targeted financing and technology for micro-business loans (Fundacion Paraguaya, Kiva, Nidan, One Acre Fund, Proximity Designs)
• Filling small and medium enterprise funding gaps and building private markets (Building Markets, Kiva, Root Capital)