Agent Banking in a Highly Under-Developed Financial Sector : Evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Cull, Robert ; Gine, Xavier ; Harten, Sven ; Rusu, Anca Bogdana

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: microfinance;    agent banking;    financial inclusion;    financial institutions;    non-bank financial institutions;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7984
RP-ID  :  WPS7984

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

The paper provides evidence on thenumber and volume of financial transactions undertaken byagents (local businesses that double as more convenient,lower cost alternatives to formal branches) of the largestmicrofinance institution operating in the DemocraticRepublic of Congo. More important than agents’ personalcharacteristics, transactions are higher in low-income,densely populated areas with high levels of commercialdevelopment. This finding suggests that the agent networkhas been best at supporting financial transactions among theurban poor. In addition, branding and effective liquiditymanagement are strongly linked to agent activity.