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Regional foreign banks and financial inclusion: Evidence from Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Florian Léon

    (FERDI - Fondation pour les Etudes et Recherches sur le Développement International, CERDI - Centre d'Études et de Recherches sur le Développement International - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UCA - Université Clermont Auvergne)

  • Alexandra Zins

    (LARGE - Laboratoire de recherche en gestion et économie - UNISTRA - Université de Strasbourg - L'europe en mutation : histoire, droit, économie et identités culturelles - UNISTRA - Université de Strasbourg - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

Regional foreign banks expanded quickly over the past decade in developing and emerging countries and have a growing influence in banking systems. We question whether the development of African regional foreign banks, also called Pan-African banks, influences financial inclusion of firms and households. To this end, we combine the World Bank Global Findex database and the World Bank Enterprise Surveys with a hand-collected database on the presence of regional foreign banks. We find that Pan-African banks presence increases firms' access to credit and limited evidence that they favor financial access of the middle class by restoring confidence in banks. We suggest that this impact is related to the adoption of an aggressive strategy aiming at gaining market shares rather than through the exploitation of informational and technological advantages.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian Léon & Alexandra Zins, 2020. "Regional foreign banks and financial inclusion: Evidence from Africa," Post-Print hal-04234514, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04234514
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2019.03.012
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    Cited by:

    1. Alicia Girón & Amirreza Kazemikhasragh & Antonella Francesca Cicchiello & Eva Panetti, 2022. "Financial Inclusion Measurement in the Least Developed Countries in Asia and Africa," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(2), pages 1198-1211, June.
    2. Ozili, Peterson K, 2025. "Macro Determinants of Global Financial Inclusion: Evidence from World Data," MPRA Paper 126305, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Sobiech, Anna L. & Kgari, Lechedzani & Nguyen, Linh & Wilson, John O.S., 2025. "Implicit guarantees and bank stability: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    4. Hu, Yue & Liu, Chang & Peng, Jiangang, 2021. "Financial inclusion and agricultural total factor productivity growth in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 68-82.
    5. Olatunji A. Shobande & Simplice A. Asongu, 2021. "Financial Development, Human Capital Development and Climate Change in East and Southern Africa," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 21/042, African Governance and Development Institute..
    6. Adeabah, David & Abakah, Emmanuel Joel Aikins & Tiwari, Aviral Kumar & Hammoudeh, Shawkat, 2023. "How far have we come and where should we go after 30+ years of research on Africa's emerging financial markets? A systematic review and a bibliometric network analysis," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    7. Besong, Susan Enyang & Okanda, Tellma Longy & Ndip, Simon Arrey, 2022. "An empirical analysis of the impact of banking regulations on sustainable financial inclusion in the CEMAC region," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(1).
    8. Iddrisu, Abdul Malik & Danquah, Michael, 2024. "The financial inclusion agenda: Examining the role of conventional banks in deepening access to formal credit," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 48(2).
    9. Lovena Ramdani & Sharanam Abbana & Ferina Marimuthu, 2024. "Enhancing Operational Risk Management in the Mauritian Banking Sector: A Structured Approach," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 14(4), pages 1-8, July.
    10. Zhai, Shixian & Peng, Chao & Sheng, Yu, . "Assessing the impact of digital financial inclusion on agricultural total factor productivity in China," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 26(3).
    11. Dong, Jiajia & Dou, Yue & Jiang, Qingzhe & Zhao, Jun, 2022. "Can financial inclusion facilitate carbon neutrality in China? The role of energy efficiency," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    12. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Chih-Wei & Ho, Shan-Ju, 2022. "Financial aid and financial inclusion: Does risk uncertainty matter?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    13. repec:igg:jamtr0:v:4:y:2022:i:1:p:1-13 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Shahid Manzoor Shah & Amjad Ali, 2022. "A Survey on Financial Inclusion: Theoretical and Empirical Literature Review," Journal of Policy Research (JPR), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 8(4), pages 310-330, December.
    15. Weidong Chen & Xiaohui Yuan, 2021. "Financial inclusion in China: an overview," Frontiers of Business Research in China, Springer, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, December.
    16. Mohsin Shabir, 2024. "Does Financial Inclusion Promote Environmental Sustainability: Analyzing the Role of Technological Innovation and Economic Globalization," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 19-46, March.
    17. Jackson Paschal & Nyanjige Mayala & Amembah A. Lamu Amos, 2024. "Influence of Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Enhancing Debt Management Literacy among Members in Moshi Municipality, Tanzania," Business Management and Strategy, Macrothink Institute, vol. 15(2), pages 260-282, December.
    18. Guillermo Boitano & Deybi Franco Abanto, 2020. "Challenges of financial inclusion policies in Peru," Revista Finanzas y Politica Economica, Universidad Católica de Colombia, vol. 12(1), pages 89-117.
    19. Saidane, Dhafer & Sène, Babacar & Désiré Kanga, Kouamé, 2021. "Pan-African banks, banking interconnectivity: A new systemic risk measure in the WAEMU," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    20. Sopani Gondwe & Tendai Gwatidzo & Nyasha Mahonye, 2025. "Cross-border banking and bank stability: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(2), pages 196-213, June.
    21. Peterson K. Ozili, 2021. "Financial inclusion research around the world: A review," Forum for Social Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(4), pages 457-479, October.
    22. Ozili, Peterson Kitakogelu & Adamu, Ahmed, 2021. "Does financial inclusion reduce non-performing loans and loan loss provisions?," MPRA Paper 109321, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    23. Ben Krishna & Satish Krishnan & M. P. Sebastian, 2023. "Examining the Relationship between National Cybersecurity Commitment, Culture, and Digital Payment Usage: An Institutional Trust Theory Perspective," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 1713-1741, October.
    24. Léon, Florian, 2020. "The provision of long-term credit and firm growth in developing countries," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 66-78.
    25. Kassouri, Yacouba & Kacou, Kacou Yves Thierry, 2022. "Does the structure of credit markets affect agricultural development in West African countries?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 588-601.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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