The Presidents / Chief Executives Officers

All Authorized Branchless Banking Providers

Dear Sirs/Madams,

Women Branchless Banking Agents under Banking on Equality Policy

The presence of women Branchless Banking (BB) agents is essential to aid women’s adoption of digital financial services, especially in rural areas. Women are more likely to comfortably approach, enquire and use digital financial services from a women BB agent. However, currently only 1% of BB agents are women. Cognizant of this, under the Banking on Equality Policy, SBP is introducing following measures to improve ratio of women BB agents in Financial Institutions:

1. All BB providers shall formulate a clear and well-documented ‘Gender Mainstreaming in Agents Strategy’ (GMAS) duly approved by its Board, with a goal to reach 10% women in their agent portfolio. It shall be developed and implemented in line with the Framework for BB Agent Acquisition & Management and cascaded down the line to concerned employees for strict compliance as per the following timelines:

2. All BB providers will submit the progress against the above targets to SBP on quarterly basis.
3. SBP, as it deems fit, shall carry out inspection and/or diagnostic study of BB service providers and their agents to monitor compliance of mandatory requirements of maintaining women agents.
4. All BB providers shall undertake training programs for women BB agents on ongoing basis.
   The said instructions are immediately applicable on all Authorized Financial Institutions (AFIs) providing BB services.

Please acknowledge receipt.