Bank Accession Research Articles

Financial inclusion: a catalyst for financial system development in emerging and frontier markets

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between financial inclusion and financial system development in emerging and frontier markets.Design/methodology/approachUsing data across 35 countries over 19 years (2004–2022), the improved GMM estimation technique reveals that financial inclusion significantly contributes to the development of financial systems.FindingsThe study uses a segmented approach, dividing financial development indices into subindices: financial depth, financial access and financial efficiency. Indicators of bank financial inclusion show a positive and highly significant relationship with bank depth and access but a negative relationship with bank efficiency. Similarly, indicators of the debt market and stock market financial inclusion demonstrate positive relationships with market depth and access but negative relationships with debt and stock market efficiency. The study further examines composite indexes of financial inclusion for bank, debt and stock market segments, finding strong and highly significant relationships with market development. These results underscore the importance of promoting financial inclusion across all segments of the financial sector to achieve an inclusive financial system.Practical implicationsThe implications of this research highlight the need for policymakers and practitioners to implement policies and regulations that enhance financial inclusion and foster the development of robust financial systems. By extending access to mainstream financial instruments and services, financial institutions can stimulate financial intermediation and support, thereby accelerating the development of the banking, debt and stock markets.Originality/valueThe study is robust to the use of several indicators of financial inclusion and financial development, and it forms part of the early studies that examine the close relationship between the two variables.

Job turnover rates and the Nigerian banking industry: Benefits, causes, challenges, and policy recommendations

The study focuses on the essential causes of high job turnover rates in order to improve employee retention, reduce costs, and improve organizational performance. The study focused on two selected Banks in Asaba, Delta State: First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Access Bank branches at Nnebisi Road, Asaba, Delta State. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted in the study. The total population is 100, which consists of the employees of First Bank Nigeria Plc and Access Bank. The probability sampling methodology employed was a stratified random procedure. The findings of the study revealed that poor management practices, low pay, and the working environment have a significant effect on the performance of the banking sector. The findings emphasized the significance of initiatives like opportunities for growth and development, competitive pay and benefits, fostering a happy work environment, and lowering employee turnover rates. The study concludes that the relationship between job turnover rates and performance is complex and may be prejudiced by a diversity of factors, including individual differences, organizational culture, and external factors such as economic conditions and industry trends. The study recommends that banks create a positive work environment that fosters a sense of community, respect, and open communication. This can include initiatives such as employee recognition programs, open-door policies, and regular team-building activities.

The Influence of Bank Image, Accessibility, and Customer Relationship Management on Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty at Islamic Banks in Makassar City

Purpose: To test and analyze partially the effect of bank image, accessibility, and customer relationship management on customer satisfaction at Islamic banks in Makassar City. To test and analyze the partial effect of bank image, accessibility, and customer relationship management on customer loyalty through customer satisfaction at Islamic banks in Makassar City. Theoretical framework: To test and analyze partially the effect of bank image, accessibility, customer relationship management, and customer satisfaction on customer loyalty at Islamic banks in Makassar City Design/Methodology/Approach: The population is 145,280 customers, and the sample is 400 customers. Methods of data collection using a questionnaire. The sample collection method is purposive sampling. The analytical method uses the Structural Equation Model (SEM). Findings: The results of the study show that: Bank image, accessibility, and customer relationship management partially have a positive and significant effect on customer satisfaction at Islamic banks in Makassar City. Bank image, customer relationship management, and customer satisfaction partially have a positive and significant effect on customer loyalty at Islamic banks in Makassar City. Research, Practical & Social implications: Accessibility has a positive and insignificant effect on customer loyalty at Islamic Banks in Makassar City. Bank image, accessibility, and customer relationship management partially have a positive and significant effect on customer loyalty through customer satisfaction at Islamic banks in Makassar City. Originality/Value: Loyal customers do not make accessibility the main factor in creating a loyal attitude but prioritize the image of Islamic Banks and Customer Relationship Management as factors that contribute significantly directly to loyalty.

Optimization and characterization of antileukemic l-asparaginase produced by Fusarium solani endophyte

l-asparaginase is an antileukemic enzyme that hydrolyzes l-asparagine into l-aspartic acid and ammonia, causing cell starvation and apoptosis in susceptible leukemic cell populations. Currently, l-asparaginase obtained from bacterial sources is constrained by several issues, including lesser productivity, stability, selectivity, and higher toxicity. The goal of this study is to provide fungal l-asparaginase with in-vitro effectiveness towards different human carcinomas. l-asparaginase from endophytic Fusarium solani (Gene Bank accession number MW209717) isolated from the roots of the medicinal plant Hedera helix L. was characterized and optimized experimentally for maximum l-asparaginase production in addition to evaluating its subsequent cytotoxicity towards acute monocytic leukemia and human skin fibroblast cell lines. The enzyme production was maximized using potato dextrose media (15.44 IU/ml/hr) at the 5th and 6th days of fermentation with incubation temperature 30 °C, 3% asparagine, 150–180 rpm agitation rate and a 250 ml flask. Enzyme characterization studies revealed that the enzyme maintained its thermal stability with temperatures up to 60 °C. However, its optimal activity was achieved at 35 °C. On measuring the enzymatic activity at various temperatures and different pH, maximum enzyme activity was recorded at 40 °C and pH 8 using 0.1 M asparagine concentration. Results also revealed promising cytotoxic activity against acute monocytic leukemia with IC50 = 3.66 µg/ml and low cytotoxicity against tested normal human skin fibroblast cell line which suggested that it might have selective toxicity, and consequently it could be used as a less toxic alternative to the current formulations.

The Synergic Effect of Gut-Derived Probiotic Bacillus cereus SL1 And Ocimum sanctum on Growth, Intestinal Histopathology, Innate Immunity, and Expression of Enzymatic Antioxidant Genes in Fish, Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton, 1822).

An effective alternative approach to combat aquaculture challenges is the strategic application of bioresources, which not only mitigate disease ailment but also optimize fish growth. Hence, current research was undertaken to highlight the synergic role of bioresources such as plant immunostimulant Ocimum sanctum along with potent gut-derived probiotic Bacillus cereus strain SL1 (Gen Bank Accession Number: FJ627945.1) on mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala) growth, antioxidant status, gut histopathology, and immune response. For 90days, fingerlings (average weight 6.8 ± 0.5g) were fed on diets having varying concentrations of O. sanctum and B. cereus. After the completion of the feeding trial, various growth, immunity, and histological and antioxidant metrics were evaluated according to standard procedures. In comparison to the control and other treatment groups, T3 group showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in growth parameters, antioxidant enzymatic activity, and hematological and immunological parameters. In addition to it, supplementation of both B. cereus and O. sanctum also upregulated the antioxidant-related gene expressions, such as hepatic catalase gene by 1.89-3.00 folds, hepatic SOD-1 by 4.46-7.52 folds, and GPx-1of the liver by 1.56-1.95 folds. For 10days, fingerlings were challenged with the pathogenic bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila (MTCC-1739), and maximum survival rate (77.77%) was reported in fingerlings of T3 treatment. Further histopathological studies of gut tissues affirm that O. sanctum and B. cereus play a synergic role in the protection of digestive organs from the pathogenic bacterium A. hydrophila. These results suggest that O. sanctum and B. cereus synergically improved the growth performance, immunity, antioxidant status, and gut histology of C. mrigala leading to its sustainable culture.

Các nhân tố ảnh hưởng đến tiếp cận tài chính toàn diện của khách hàng cá nhân qua tần suất sử dụng dịch vụ của ngân hàng thương mại trên địa bàn tỉnh An Giang

This study aims to determine and measure the impact of factors affecting financial inclusion of individual customers through the frequency of using services of commercial banks from August to October 2022 in An Giang province. The study was conducted by surveying individual customers who used the services of commercial banks in An Giang province. As a result, 169 surveys were satisfactory and were cleaned. The built regression equation is suitable, there are 3 independent variables in the research model that have a positive impact on the frequency of using banking services as follows: the purpose of opening a bank account, the convenience and accessibility of bank branch. On the basis of the findings, the author also gives conclusions and recommendations to help develop banking products and services, improve the ability of individual customers to access comprehensive finance through services of commercial banks in Vietnam.

Screening and Isolation of Polypropylene Degrading Fungi from Waste Dumping Site, Kolhapur, India

Polypropylene (PP) and other plastic wastes are found to accumulate in the environment, creating significant ecological issues. They are determined to be considered non-biodegradable, It has been established that once it enters the environment, it stays there permanently. The present investigation aims to biodegrade PP without physical treatment and exposing it to UV light and sunlight exposed to potential fungi isolated from the soil of solid waste dumping site based on 18SrRNA analysis and the isolated strains were identified as 98.54% similar to Cladosporium sp. The fungal strain was submitted with Gene Bank accession number ON024632 and registered as a Cladosporium halotolerans strain SUK PRAKASH. The degradation was performed for 8 months of incubation in the aqueous medium. The biodegradation of polypropylene FTIR spectroscopy was performed to further examine the sheets, and the results indicated that perhaps the bonds between the sheets were weakening and breaking. The biodegraded samples of without treated PP sheets, UV-exposed PP sheets, and sunlight-exposed PP sheets exhibit weight loss of 4.2%, 6.1%, and 8.6% respectively.

Contradictory Narratives on Drivers and Barriers of Online Shopping Intentions for Apparel among Customers in Kerala

Apparels are the frills of social embellishment and the medium for defining one’s personality. The rapid advancement in information technology, online banking, and smartphone accessibility has resulted in exponential growth in online apparel shopping in developing countries, with India ranking second in market potential. A spectrum of internal and external factors influences people’s intentions to buy online, with customers’ attitudes shaped by perceptions being the most influential one. The descriptive study using first-hand data investigates the perceptions regarding drivers and barriers of online shopping intentions for apparel among online and offline preferring customers in Kerala. There are diverging arguments for and against online apparel shopping, labelled as drivers and barriers. The discussions hint that, for customers who prefer to shop online, the perceived impact of drivers outweighs the barriers. However, customers who prefer offline overweigh the impact of barriers on online shopping intentions rather than what drivers could exert. The study concludes that people’s perceptions of how drivers and barriers impact their online apparel shopping intentions serve as the foundation for their preferences of being online or offline. The contradictory narratives of the perceived impact of drivers and barriers on customers’ online shopping intentions have classified strategic implications for businessmen in understanding consumer behaviour patterns and effectively enrooting their products.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF FINANCIAL LITERACY ON FINANCIAL INCLUSION OF WOMEN IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

This paper aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the socio-economic effect of financial literacy on the financial inclusion of women. By shedding light on the importance of financial literacy and the barriers women face, policymakers, financial institutions, and organizations can develop targeted strategies and interventions to promote women's financial inclusion, ultimately leading to improved socio-economic outcomes and gender equality. This study employed the probit regression on the National Bureau of Statistics general households’ survey data to appraise the effect of financial literacy on financial inclusion of women in Niger State. The estimation result shows that financial literacy positively and statistically influences financial inclusion options (cash at hand, purchasing power, account ownership, bank access, and credit access) in Niger state. Similarly, education status, age, and gender are determinants of financial inclusion. The study concluded that financial literacy is essential for achieving financial inclusion among women. To encourage financial inclusion among women, the study recommends that the government should initiate programs that will train women and also include financial literacy education at secondary or tertiary level to teach skills and information on how to utilize and manage financial services and products. The Central Bank should also mandate that the financial institutions to establish customer financial advisory units to educate their clients on managing and using financial products and services available to them to create wealth, thus improving living standards

A promising microbial α-amylase production, and purification from Bacillus cereus and its assessment as antibiofilm agent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogen

Background and aimThe purpose of the current study is to isolate a heavily amylase-producing bacteria of the genus Bacillus from soil samples, optimize the production of the enzyme, purify it, and evaluate its activity against biofilm-producing bacteria. A total of 12 soil samples were collected and screened for promising Bacillus species with good amylolytic activity. Isolation was done by serial dilution and plating technique and amylolytic activity was determined by starch agar plate method. Among the 12 Bacillus isolates recovered from soil samples, 7 showed positive α-amylase production. The best isolate that recorded the greatest amylolytic activity was selected for further studies. This isolate was identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as Bacillus cereus and registered under gene bank accession number OP811897. Furthermore, the α-amylase enzyme was produced by a submerged fermentation technique using best production media and partially purified by ammonium sulfate and chilled ethanol and molecular weight had been determined by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis. The production of α-amylase was optimized experimentally by one-factor at a time protocol and statistically by Plackett–Burman design as well as RSM CCD design. Data obtained from OFAT and CCD revealed that α-amylase activities were 1.5- and twofold respectively higher as compared to un-optimized conditions. The most significant factors had been identified and optimized by CCD design.ResultsAmong the eleven independent variables tested by PBD, glucose, peptone, (NH4)2SO4, and Mg SO4 were the most significant parameters for α-amylase production with an actual yield of 250U/ml. The best physical parameters affecting the enzyme production were incubation time at 35 °C, and pH 5.5 for 48 h. The partially purified enzyme with 60% ammonium sulphate saturation with 1.38- fold purification showed good stability characteristics at a storage temperature of 4 °C and pH up to 8.5 for 21 days. Antibiofilm activity of purified α-amylase was determined against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 35659) by spectrophotometric analysis and CLSM microscopic analysis. Results demonstrated biofilm inhibition by 84% of the formed Pseudomonas biofilm using a microtiter plate assay and thickness inhibition activity by 83% with live/Dead cells percentage of 17%/83% using CLSM protocol.ConclusionsA highly stable purified α-amylase from B. cereus showed promising antibiofilm activity against one of the clinically important biofilm-forming MDR organisms that could be used as a cost-effective tool in pharmaceutical industries.

Impact of Financial Technology, Banking Access on Financial Inclusion with mediating role of Financial Literacy

Impact of Financial Technology, Banking Access on Financial Inclusion with mediating role of Financial Literacy

Financial Literacy and Financial Inclusion

The study employed the Probit regression on the National Bureau of Statistics general households survey data to appraise the effect of financial literacy on financial inclusion in Niger State. The estimation result shows that financial literacy positively and statistically influences financial inclusion options (account ownership, bank access, and credit access) in Niger state. Similarly, education status, age, and gender are determinants of financial inclusion. The study concluded that financial literacy is necessary for achieving financial inclusion. To encourage financial inclusion among youth, the government should include financial education in secondary school and tertiary to teach skills and information on how to utilize and manage financial services and products. The central bank should also mandate the financial institutions to establish customer financial advisory units to educate their clients on managing and using financial products and services available to them to create wealth, thus improving living standards.

Indian Post Payment Bank: Financial inclusion revolution in India

The Indian financial system has seen several significant changes since 1991. The banking industry is one of the few that has thrived sinceliberalization, and its success is unquestionably tied to the considerable financial reforms adopted by RBI and the significanttechnological improvements that have occurred over the years. In 2014, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) broadened the variety of banksoperating inside the Indian financial sector. Payment banks and tiny banks are two names for these modern financial institutions. Themajor objective in creating these banks is to increase financial inclusion in underserved rural communities by increasing access tobanking goods and services. The unbanked and underbanked populations may be able to get access to financial services via paymentbanks, a new kind of financial institution. Expanding the availability of financial services is a top priority for them. In this paper, wediscuss the payment banking infrastructure and the benefits that are expected to accrue from it. The Post Payment Banks of Indianfinancial system will be a great first step in providing access to banking services for underserved populations, especially those who aretransient or from low-income families. Is the Indian Post Payment Bank the second phase of financial inclusion following the PradhanMantri Jan Dhan Yojana?This research aims to fill in some of the gaps in our understanding of payment banks by providing a high-leveloverview of their functioning processes and demonstrating how the idea of payment banks accomplishes two goals at once. All of theinformation in this study comes from secondary sources. As a starting step toward its financial inclusion strategy, it is increasing its digitalpayment infrastructure. The second positive effect is that it promotes a more tech-savvy mindset in the Indian banking industry. Theseresults show promise for increasing financial inclusion and access throughout India, especially in rural areas and with a focus on lowincomepeople and small businesses.Key words: Payment Banks, Financial system, Financial Inclusion, Post Payment Banks,

CUSTOMER ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE USE OF MOBILE BANKING APPLICATIONS OFFERED BY PRIVATE BANKS IN BANGLADESH

This qualitative study explores the attitudes of customers towards the use of mobile banking applications offered by private banks in Bangladesh. The study aims to investigate perceived usefulness, ease of use, trust and security concerns, and the benefits of using mobile banking applications. Data was collected through interviews with 40 participants, and the findings were analyzed to identify common themes and patterns. The results indicate that the majority of participants perceive mobile banking applications as useful in facilitating their banking transactions and find them easy to use. Participants also express trust in the security measures implemented by the banks. Additionally, customers value the benefits of using mobile banking applications, including convenience, time-saving, and accessibility. These findings align with previous research and highlight the importance of designing user-friendly applications that offer tangible benefits to customers. Trust and security are crucial factors that influence customer adoption and continuance intention towards mobile banking applications. The study emphasizes the need for strong security measures and transparent communication to build customer trust. The practical implications of the findings suggest that private banks should focus on designing user-friendly and secure mobile banking applications. Effective marketing and communication strategies should highlight the convenience and time-saving benefits of using these applications. Addressing technical issues, improving user experience, and strengthening security measures are essential to promote wider adoption and enhance customer satisfaction. It is important to acknowledge the limitations of this study, as the findings are specific to the context of private banks in Bangladesh. Future research should explore customer attitudes in different contexts and include non-users of mobile banking applications to gain a broader understanding of the factors influencing adoption. Alternative data collection methods could also provide more nuanced insights. This study provides valuable insights into the attitudes of customers towards mobile banking applications in the private banking industry of Bangladesh. The findings can inform the design and implementation of mobile banking applications and contribute to the growing body of literature on mobile banking adoption.

An Enhanced Data Transmission in Mobile Banking Using LSB-AES Algorithm

The advent of mobile banking applications has transformed the way customers’ access banking services from brick-and-mortar to remote banking. The ubiquitous nature of this innovation has encouraged its adoption. This is because of improved banking services and accessibility to the services on a 24/7 basis using the internet. However, mobile banking applications are susceptible to numerous security threats and vulnerabilities that adversaries take advantage of to siphon money from bank customers. The aim of this study is to design and evaluate least significant bit and advanced encryption standard cryptography (LSB-AES) hybrid algorithm to protect data on transmission in mobile banking. This study employs data science research design, and performance evaluations demonstrated through simulations using MATLAB. Findings of this study can be applied to banks offering mobile banking across the world. This study utilized six color images from University of Southern California’s Signal and Image Processing Institute (USC-SIPI) dataset which were stored in Tagged Image File Format (TIFF). Contemporary steganographic systems utilize a minimum of 2 to 10 images for test simulations. Visual quality analysis of cover images and stego images was done using the following evaluation metrics: Mean Squared Error (MSE), Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), and histogram analysis. Security of the proposed algorithm was done using entropy analysis. MSE values of cover and stego images should be closer to zero and indicate that cover image is of good quality for embedding data. On the other hand, PSNR values should be more than 40 decibel (dB) which indicates good imperceptibility. Histogram analysis should demonstrate no visible distortions between the cover and stego image for it to be free from statistical attacks. Entropy analysis should yield values close to 8 for the algorithm to be robust. Results from the proposed LSB-AES hybrid algorithm evaluation metrics reveals that Mean Squared Error (MSE) values ranges from 0.0001297 to 0.0005646 while Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) values ranges from 80.65 to 87.71 and entropy values ranges from 6.295 to 7.762. Histogram analysis reveals that the cover and stego images are almost similar. These results infer that the proposed algorithm has good quality images with good imperceptibility and that the proposed algorithm is reliable, robust and secure for mobile banking. Entropy and histogram analysis results show that the proposed algorithm is resistant to Man-in-the-Middle attacks. This study recommends that legislation evaluates and amends security of mobile banking policies so that the proposed LSB-AES hybrid algorithm can be adopted as a secure solution for mobile banking.

Mobile Banking Service Quality and Customer Retention among Commercial Banks’ Customers: An Empirical Evidence from Southeast Nigeria

In the era of a cashless economy, customers now emphasize banking services that are convenient, reliable and responsive. Mobile banking (m-banking) is among the latest in a series of recent mobile technological wonders. This research is aimed at investigating the effect of mobile banking service quality on customer retention among commercial banks customers in Southeast, Nigeria. The study examined the effect of reliability, responsiveness, information quality, privacy issues and system quality on customer retention. The study used an explanatory research design method using quantitative approach. The sample, consisting of 400 respondents was drawn from a cross-section of commercial banks customers with mobile banking access in Southeast Nigeria. From the 400 copies of questionnaire distributed 395 were returned valid and useful for the final analysis study used Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient to measure the relationship between mobile banking service quality and customer retention. Then regression analysis was used to estimate the cause-and-effect relationship between the variables of the mobile banking service quality and customer retention. The result showed that a positive effect for responsiveness, systems quality, and information quality on customer retention while privacy and reliability of mobile banking service quality was not significant. Among all, responsiveness, system quality and information quality have a significant effect on customer retention while reliability and privacy issues do not affect customer retention in mobile services. Therefore, to increase customer retention, the bank management should implement programs that support awareness creation, customer satisfaction, brand image and reputation by continuously assessing the service quality and delivery of mobile banking services provided to their customers, and also provide an adequate set of security components of mobile banking that protects customer’s bank details from fraud.

Acute Toxicity of Chlorpyrifos on the Freshwater Bivalves (Unio Tigridis) and Effects on Bioindicators

A freshwater bivalve plays a crucial function in aquatic habitats as the filtered water and burrowing mussels mix the sediment, thus increasing oxygen content and making the ecosystem healthier. The aim of the study is to see how chlorpyrifos affects biochemical markers in freshwater mussel Unio tigridis. About 180 individuals per taxon and water samples were collected from the Qandil water resource on the Greater Zab River, Erbil Province, Iraq. Once arrived at the lab, the individuals were kept in aquaria with river water and an air-conditioned room Temperature: 25±2 and Light: 12h/12h and acclimatized to laboratory conditions for seven days in aged tap water. The mussel's identification molecularly and the DNA sequence of the mussel includes U. tigridis supplied gene bank accession number ON872361, ON872362, ON872363, and ON872364 nucleotide sequencing. The 96-h toxicity of chlorpyrifos pesticide in the freshwater mussel U. tigridis was investigated using various nominal concentrations, including 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 ppm. The water quality of the river and aquaria was tested for physicochemical parameters including water temperature, the potential of hydrogen ion pH, electrical conductivity EC, and total dissolved solids TDS, dissolved oxygen, total alkalinity, total hardness, calcium ion, magnesium ion. Water quality results of aquaria revealed that most tested variables were favorable for the breeding of mussels. The mortality of the mussels was observed daily and the 96 h LC50 value for mussels was 157.99 ppm. Within the tissue of the gills, Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Glutathione S-transferase (GST), Catalase (CAT), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. The chlorpyrifos exposures caused significant increases in GST, CAT, and MDA. The elevation of oxidative stress biomarkers was inversely related to the AChE inhibition in the examined species. In conclusion water pollution by chlorpyrifos lead to unsafe condition for aquatic taxa.

Historical cultivars of Allium cepa L. (Aggregatum-Group) introduced to Sweden 1830–1860

This study presents the plant material of A. cepa L. Aggregatum-Group introduced and spread in Sweden between 1830 and 1860. The plant material exemplifies different principles regarding the denominations and shows the range of cultons available in the north of Europe by the time, but also examples of domestic local cultivars. It is essential to deepen the knowledge of the plant material and the name use connected to cultons spread in the nineteenth century. Historical records of old growing systems and propagation methods add valuable insights of the preservation values tied to the genetic diversity of the gene pool for future breeding. Differing practices and principles for distinguishing between potato onions, shallots and onions in European countries have sometimes made it difficult to understand historical records. The results of this study shows that shallot and potato onions, later mainly vegetatively propagated, were already in the nineteenth century occasionally propagated and spread by true seed in Europe. In addition, a Russian growing system with a true seed generation was found in literature. The article concludes that knowledge of older cultivation systems and introduction history deepens the link between the cultural-historical and the biological conservation values of plant material in long time preservation. Gene bank accessions may not only be valuable in breeding but also utilized and preserved as part of a biological or green heritage.

Critical Success Factors that Determine the Entrepreneurial Readiness among the B40 Women in Selangor

Low-income (B40) women might become entrepreneurs for a variety of reasons, including motivation, resourcefulness, opportunity recognition, and entrepreneurial skills. The B40 group has been given a boost in their quality of life through a variety of initiatives, including the provision of bank loans, business facilities, and access grants. This study focuses on four factors that relate to women's motivation, resources, opportunity and ability in order to examine the entrepreneurial preparedness among the B40 women who had participated in an entrepreneurial training programme in Malaysia. Thus, this study attempts to examine the challenges faced by women especially in urban areas of B40 to increase their revenue. These studies seek to determine the readiness of low-income women for entrepreneurship, intending to increase household income in sharpening their abilities to survive in urban. By using a simple random sampling technique method, the number of samples is 102 low-income women, who have participated in the entrepreneurial enculturation program were the selected population. Unexpectedly, motivation, resources and entrepreneurial ability were found to be non-significant predictors of entrepreneurial readiness among the B40 women, although entrepreneurial opportunity appeared to be a significant predictor towards entrepreneurial readiness. Although the exclusion of motivation, resources and entrepreneurial ability did not relate towards entrepreneurial readiness, these results should be interpreted with caution. The study sheds light on an under-explored and new context to advance existing knowledge in the field.

What influences village-level access to a bank branch? Evidence from India

PurposeFinancial access is key to achieving several economic goals in developing countries. This paper aims to construct a longitudinal village-level measure of financial access in India and understand the role of RBI's policies and village characteristics in influencing the access.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt a spatial approach in developing a metric of financial access. In particular, they measure the distance of each unbanked village in India to the nearest banked-centre from 1951 to 2019. The authors use this measure to conduct two exercises. First, a descriptive study is undertaken to assess how RBI's policies on bank branch expansion from 1951 to 2019 influenced the proximity to bank branches. Second, the authors conduct regression analyses to investigate how socio-economic and demographic characteristics of villages influence their proximity to bank branches.FindingsThe average distance of an unbanked village to the nearest banked-centre has declined from 43.5 km in 1951 to 4.2 km in 2019. The gain in bank access has varied geographically and over time. In 2001, bank branches were relatively distant from villages with under-privileged caste groups and proximate to areas with better infrastructure. This relationship worsened after 2005 when RBI introduced liberalized branch expansion policies. By 2019, proximity responds much more adversely to the presence of underprivileged groups. At the same time, banks have moved closer to economically better-off villages and villages with workforce in non-farm enterprises rather than agriculture.Originality/valueFirst, studies in the Indian context focus on state-level determinants of bank branching, this is the first study to develop a longitudinal measure of financial access at the village level. This helps to understand spatial heterogeneity in bank branch access within states, which other studies are unable to do. Second, the paper analyses the role of village-level socio-economic and demographic characteristics in proximity to bank branches. This analysis helps in discovering micro-foundations of growth of bank branch network. The granularity of the approach adopted here overcomes the confoundedness problems that the studies at a more aggregate level face.