The Global Findex database : financial inclusion and the role of the post office

With a widespread presence in rural and poor areas, post offices can play a leading role in advancing financial inclusion. Yet little is known about the types of clients that post offices reach through their financial service offerings and how they might differ from those of traditional financial institutions (such as commercial banks). The Global Findex database can be used to help understand the characteristics of clients who bank at post offices worldwide and develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of how post offices can increase financial inclusion.