www.worldbank.org/lacfinance

The goal of the World Bank’s Finance Group is to develop and disseminate among client countries a better understanding of new developments in the financial industry and its regulators. Financial systems play a key role in sustained economic growth.  In normal times, the benefits of financial systems reach a broad public; financial intermediation allows for productive investments to grow, for payments to settle transactions, and for improved and more stable living standards for the elderly, the ill and the poor.   Topic brief

Access to Financial Services in Brazil
This study evaluates the present levels of access to financial services in Brazil, as well as government policies that have an impact on access. Based on those findings, it explores options for increasing access in the future. This study seeks to evaluate present levels of access to financial services and government policies adopted which impact upon access. Based on these findings, it explores options for increased future access to financial services in Brazil. It launches a process of measuring financial access in Brazil, both from the point of view of supply, looking at data gathered by regulators, over a ten year period, and of assessing access from the point of view of users - individuals and households - in eleven urban areas, through a survey of 2,000 individuals.    More