Financial Inclusion in Rwanda: an Analysis of Role Played by Commercial Banks

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to analyze the role played by commercial banks on financial inclusion in Rwanda. Rwanda which is seen as a model of fast development in Africa has set a target of 90% financial inclusion by the year 2020. This target was almost achieved in 2016 where 89% were financially included but only 26% have accounts with commercial banks. This study reveals that all the three dimensions of financial inclusion i.e. access, penetration and usage of commercial banks have increased from 2004 to 2016. This research found that almost 40% of respondents have accounts in the commercial bank. The rest of respondents have accounts either in microfinance institutions or in SACCOs. The findings show again that 67.7% of people who took loans, took them from commercial banks. Although commercial banks play a great role, there is a long way to go for Rwanda to be formally included because only 26% have an account in commercial banks according to Finscope Survey 2016. On this matter, the government of Rwanda should put more efforts to computerize MFIs and SACCOs as they serve 65% of the population in Rwanda. The government of Rwanda should set policies that support microfinance and SACCOs for them to offer better services at the standards of commercial banks as this would help in having a big number of citizens formally included and it may contribute to its economic growth.