Conditional Cash Transfers and Financial Access: Increasing the Bang for Each Transferred Buck?

Abstract

This article discusses the potential benefits and challenges that may arise if CCT programmes were to deposit transfers directly into recipients’ savings accounts. Over 33 countries around the world use CCT programmes as a strategy to fight poverty. Depositing the transfers into a savings account could give millions of households access to the formal financial system. Using the scarce evidence to date, we highlight opportunities that could help the combination of CCTs and formal savings accounts to bring financial inclusion to their recipients.