Banks which require depositors to show proof of employment and to make a large initial deposit discriminate against the woman entrepreneur whose modest deposits may build up over time. Banks also are not usually located near the markets in urban areas where many of their potential clients from the small scale and informal sectors operate. They tend to be wary of banks which in turn are reluctant to serve such clients. Special institutions to assist women entrepreneurs must be encouraged. However, these organizations must balance flexibility and prudence in order to ensure that women's special needs are met and that their savings are safe.
Governments can also play a key role in promoting flexibility regarding collateral.
They can do this by pushing through legislative changes to laws dealing with property rights, the right to hold other assets, inheritance provisions, credit policies, etc. For example, in Sri Lanka women's gold jewelry can be used legally as collateral for a bank loan. This recognizes that much of a woman's wealth may be held in gold rather than in more commonly accepted forms. Regarding property rights, it is interesting to note that women may often be denied their legal rights to hold title to land. In India, no federal law prohibits women from inheriting land but provincial-level statutes do.