By Ramatolie Saho, Senior Associate, Product Development, Women's World Banking

During Women’s World Banking’s Making Finance Work for Women Summit last November, Chief Product Development Officer Anna Gincherman moderated a conversation with three leading banks to understand how they are reaching underserved market segments, including women and youth, through innovative savings products.

The panel discussion highlighted several important lessons for commercial banks downscaling to meet the needs of underserved populations. Learn about these key downscaling lessons by clicking here.

About Women's World Banking

Women’s World Banking is a technical service provider for one of UNCDF’s MicroLead projects.  The project is in Malawi and works with NBS Bank to support its new strategy to downscale into rural areas. In order for more low-income women to have access to financial products than ever before, Women’s World Banking works closely with its global network of 40 financial institutions from 29 countries to create new credit, savings, and insurance products specifically designed for the unique needs of women.

About UNCDF MicroLead

MicroLead is a UNCDF-managed global initiative challenging regulated FSPs to develop and roll-out deposit services which respond to the rural vacuum of services. With the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The MasterCard Foundation and the LIFT Fund in Myanmar, MicroLead works with a variety of FSPs and technical service providers to reach rural markets, particularly women, with demand-driven, responsibly priced products offered via alternative delivery channels such as rural agents, mobile phones, roving agents, point of sales devices and group linkages. This is combined with financial education, so customers not only have access but can effectively use quality services.