Njuguna Ndung'u: Agent banking
Remarks by Prof Njuguna Ndung'u, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, at the official
opening of the workshop on Agent Banking, Nairobi, 14 January 2010.
* * *
Chief Executives of Commercial Banks here present;
Distinguished Guests;
Colleagues;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Allow me at the outset to thank you for accepting our invitation to attend this workshop. It is
indeed important that this morning we are addressing the issue of Agent Banking, a concept
we are keen to see take root innovatively in Kenya. The Central Bank has convened this
workshop for three critical objectives:
•
The first objective is to demystify this new banking model and show how it works;
•
Secondly, to showcase how it has worked successfully in other countries as a
platform for financial reach, inclusion and financial deepening;
•
Finally, to build consensus amongst market players on how Agent Banking can work
in Kenya supported by regulatory framework.
As you are aware, the Finance Act, 2009 that became operational at the beginning of this
month has amended the Banking Act to enable use of third party agents by banks. Banks will
therefore be able to leverage on additional cost effective distribution channels to offer
financial services. This initiative is informed by the need to leapfrog access to financial
services in Kenya. The National Financial Access Survey of 2009 shows that 32% of Kenya's
bankable population remains totally outside the orbit of financial services and many more
being served by the informal financial system.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Vision 2030 is premised on a safe, efficient and inclusive financial
system where savings and investment rates will more than double. The financial sector is
expected to play a pivotal role in mobilizing the substantial resources required to finance the
envisaged flagship projects. We must therefore explore and implement innovative models
that will deepen Kenya's financial sector to support savings and investment growth.
The Central Bank of Kenya continues to support innovations that will broaden financial
inclusion for the majority of Kenyans. In doing so, we will need to focus on safeguards to
ensure that the integrity and safety of the financial sector is not threatened. But above all, the
cost of financial services should decline to encourage financial inclusion and reach at all
corners of the country.
It is appropriate at this stage to highlight the key steps that the Central Bank has undertaken
up to now with regard to Agent Banking:
•
Initially, extensive reviews of the knowledge base in this area were undertaken to
enhance our understanding of this model.
•
Secondly, a study was commissioned to review practices in other countries in Latin
America, Asia and Africa. Bankable Frontier Associates, an international
consultancy firm that undertook the study will be presenting their findings shortly.
•
Third, to uncover some practical insights on the model, a team from the Central
Bank, the Ministry of Finance and the Kenya Bankers Association undertook a
knowledge exchange tour of Brazil and Colombia. These two countries have to a
large extent successfully implemented Agent Banking.
My colleagues will be sharing their insights from this knowledge exchange later today. Let
me thank the Alliance for Financial Inclusion and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for
supporting this exchange that we believe will transform the platform of financial services in
Kenya, and to a large extent the lives of Kenyans.
Ladies and Gentlemen: We have therefore so far gained invaluable insights on the Agent
Banking model. These insights will contribute to the development of a robust regulatory
framework for Agent Banking services in Kenya. Today's forum offers an invaluable platform
to also get feedback from industry practitioners as we develop implementation plans for
Agent Banking. It is only through forums such as this that epitomize private public
partnerships that we are able to achieve the aspirations of Vision 2030.
Ladies and Gentlemen: I also want to address fears that the Agent Banking model in Kenya
is inappropriate - that it will kill Microfinance Institutions and SACCOs. On the contrary, it will
speed up their activities. Vision 2030 envisages an inclusive financial system with space for
different players to serve the majority of Kenyans. They will develop their market niches in
line with their relative comparative advantages and strengths. In this scenario, the Agent
Banking framework will play a complementary role for all players in the market. So these
fears are misplaced. But this forum will also serve to expound this line further.
As I draw to a close, it is important to underscore that the Central
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Bank will continue to be guided in its financial sector policy initiatives by the following tenets:
• First, in conjunction with the Government, the creation of an enabling environment
for financial sector players.
•
Second, public private partnerships will continue to be at the core of our initiatives.
In the case of Agent Banking, today is just but the beginning of our dialogue. As we
implement the model, we will continue to engage market players to ensure it works
for the benefit of Kenyans.
•
Third, for many years, the banking sector could not reach all the corners of the
country - it was expensive to erect branches - now, with this new innovation, they
do not have to - they only need to look out for the appropriate agent.
•
Finally, we will continue to promote innovations while ensuring that there are
adequate safeguards to foster financial sector safety and soundness.
I am sure this workshop will expound on these important dimensions and provide the Central
Bank with the richness of policy interpretation.
It is now my distinct pleasure to declare this workshop officially open.
Thank you.