Rapid economic growth in Asia has been going hand in hand with increased savings. But many Asians still lack access to bank accounts, and domestic savings are often invested abroad, not domestically. Domestic financial resources must therefore be better mobilized to secure funding if Asia is to continue growing. Countries in Asia urgently need to explore new strategies to improve financial access. One important option is postal financial inclusion.
The book explains the benefits and needs of postal financial inclusion in Asia; presents strategies of postal financial inclusion, ranging from a simple model of postal savings to full-fledged banking services; assesses national regulations needed to expand postal financial inclusion; studies the challenges and opportunities arising from new technologies; and derives policy recommendations that will promote postal financial inclusion.
The book was also published in print by the Brookings Institute.