When access to credit decides who moves forward
Access to finance continues to shape who benefits from economic growth in Sri Lanka, where nearly half of adults remain outside the formal financial system and rural communities struggle to reach basic banking services. Limited access to credit forces many households and small businesses to rely on informal lenders, leaving them vulnerable to financial shocks and stalled development.
During the recent GABV Asia-Pacific Chapter meeting in Colombo, banking leaders highlighted how inclusive finance can transform livelihoods. Initiatives such as Sarvodaya Development Finance’s mini-ATMs in remote villages are reducing travel time, cutting costs, and bringing essential banking closer to underserved communities. However, regulatory barriers and high costs still limit wider scale-up.
From Sri Lanka to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States, values-based banks are demonstrating how digital tools and sustainable lending models can expand financial inclusion while supporting social and environmental progress. As the financial sector evolves, ensuring meaningful access to credit is becoming a defining test of both resilience and responsibility.