March 11, 2025
Despite growing financial inclusion worldwide, nearly one billion women remain unbanked, limiting their access to essential economic opportunities. In a bold effort to bridge this gap, Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women’s World Banking, is leading a global initiative to ensure women have access to banking, credit, and financial tools that can transform their lives.
Women entrepreneurs, particularly in developing economies, continue to face significant barriers to securing credit, despite evidence that they are more likely than men to reinvest in their families and communities. The challenge stems from restrictive banking policies, lack of financial literacy, and deeply ingrained gender biases.
However, the rise of digital financial services—such as mobile banking and digital lending—offers new hope. Governments and financial institutions are being urged to design products tailored to women’s needs, provide loan guarantees, and ease collateral requirements that often disadvantage female borrowers.
“Financial inclusion is not just about bank accounts. It’s about economic independence, dignity, and the power to make choices,” said Iskenderian. “We must dismantle systemic barriers that keep women from fully participating in the economy.”
As countries push for greater financial inclusion, targeted efforts—such as supporting women-owned businesses, expanding mobile money access, and integrating financial education into community programs—are proving essential in closing the gender wealth gap.
With initiatives like Women’s World Banking leading the charge, the world moves one step closer to ensuring economic empowerment for all women, regardless of their background or geography.
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