Country Context
In 2011, Bangladesh Bank, the country’s central bank, issued Mobile Financial Services (MFS) Guidelines defining a model where MFS must be bank-led, but partnerships with MNOs are forged to reach customers. Two MFS providers have emerged as early leaders: BRAC/bKash and Dutch Bangla-Bank/DBBL. Financial inclusion is part of the central bank’s strategic plan, and the Bank aims to ensure these products meet the needs of the traditionally underserved segments of society. Priorities include: expanding access to financial services to women, poor and rural populations; and b) formalizing financial services by promoting registered transactions (versus the current majority use of over-the-counter services). Read more.
Key Metrics
Source: FII Survey of Bangladesh, conducted September-November 2013; sample size=[6,000]
 Mobile Phone | Total | Male | Female | Urban | Rural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Own Mobile Phone | 58% | 72% | 44% | 69% | 53% |
| Own or Can Borrow Mobile Phone | 95% | 96% | 95% | 95% | 96% |
| Own Sim Card | 59% | 72% | 45% | 69% | 54% |
| Own or Can Borrow Sim Card | 94% | 95% | 93% | 94% | 94% |
 Bank Accounts | Total | Male | Female | Urban | Rural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Own Bank Account | 18% | 21% | 16% | 26% | 14% |
| Own or Have Access to Bank Account | 20% | 23% | 17% | 51% | 16% |
| Active Bank Account User (Past 90 Days) | 12% | 14% | 10% | 18% | 9.0% |
 Mobile Money Use | Total | Male | Female | Urban | Rural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Have Ever Used MM | 22% | 31% | 13% | 26% | 21% |
| Active MM User (past 90 days) | 18% | 26% | 10% | 22% | 17% |
| Registered MM User | 3.4% | 5.8% | 1.0% | 4.6% | 2.9% |
| Registered Active MM User | 2.8% | 4.5% | 1.0% | 3.7% | 2.3% |