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. The first section highlights the core conclusions to...

Brazil has a well-defined banking supervision process supported by a legal framework that grants the Banco Central do Brasil (BCB) broad enforcement powers for corrective action and weak bank resolution. This assessment of the Basel Core Principles (BCP) for effective supervision was conducted...

This report is a full assessment of Brazil's compliance with the Insurance Core Principles (ICPs) of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), as adopted in October 2011. Regulation and supervision of the insurance industry in Brazil is largely the responsibility of the...

The Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios - Brazil Securities Commission (CVM) has made substantial progress since the 2002 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). In 2002 the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) assessment rated 8 principles fully implemented and 22...

The development of a far reaching correspondent banking network is one of the key factors behind Brazil's success story in financial inclusion. Between 2005 and 2011, the number of correspondents approximately doubled to more than 160,000. The Central Bank encouraged financial institutions to...

This annual report covers the period from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002, and is prepared by the Executive Directors of both the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). The first of two volumes discusses the World Bank's...

This report combines a study undertaken in two phases of the Benin financial sector. Phase 1 of the study, conducted in 2003, provided a diagnostic of the financial system and focused on the state and performance of commercial banks, microfinance institutions, insurance companies and the pension...

Sri Lanka has made significant achievements in the provision of financial services in some areas, but there are still critical market segments that remain underserved, especially for small and rural enterprises. Low-income households could also benefit from access to a more diverse set of...

There has been significant development of Mali's banking sector in recent years, but it remains shallow, and access to banking services is limited. With the opening of a new bank in 2014, there are now 14 commercial banks operating in Mali. There has been a positive evolution of the banking...