This Brief, a joint effort of CGAP and the GSM Association, discusses the results of the first study on mobile money and the unbanked—those without access to formal financial services—estimated to be almost 4 billion worldwide.

CGAP conducted a pilot policy diagnostic mission in Phnom Penh in February 2009 to assess the Cambodian consumer protection policy environment for low-income and/or inexperienced customers.This report is based on the findings of interviews conducted during the mission as well as desk research.

CGAP conducted a pilot policy diagnostic mission in Malaysia in May 2009 to assess the Malaysian consumer protection policy environment for low-income and/or inexperienced customers.

The report finds that Myanmar’s banking sector so far has found it commercially challenging to extend financial access to the poor. As a result, fewer than 20 people out of 100 have access to formal financial services, with most people relying on family savings or costly alternatives such as informal money lenders.