Microfinance Banks and Financial Inclusion

Journal
Review of Finance
ISSN
1572-3097
ISSN-Digital
1875-824X
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2016-05-03
Author(s)
;
;
Kirschenmann, Karolin
DOI
Abstract
We examine how the geographical proximity to a microfinance bank affects financial inclusion. We study the expansion of the branch network of ProCredit banks in South-East Europe between 2006 and 2010. We report three main findings: First, ProCredit is more likely to open a new branch in areas with a large share of low-income households. Second, in locations where ProCredit opens a new branch the share of banked households increases more than in locations where it does not open a new branch. Third, this increase is particularly strong among low-income households, older households, and households which rely on transfer income.
Language
English
Keywords
Access to finance
Microfinance
Bank-ownership
Mission drift.
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Oxford Univ. Press
Publisher place
Oxford
Volume
20
Number
3
Start page
907
End page
946
Pages
40
Official URL
URL
Subject(s)

economics

business studies

finance

Division(s)

SBF - Swiss Institute...

SEW - Swiss Institute...

University of St.Gall...

SoF - School of Finan...

Eprints ID
220936
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