Banking Outreach: A Geographic and Demographic Analysis for Countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council

Abstract

Financial system development and growth share a two-way relationship. A developed financial system enterprises real growth and a growing economy’s demand leads to the development of the financial sector. In order to realize the goals of development, it is important that the financial system should not only be developed but also be inclusive. Banking system/institutions of countries have played a vital role in promoting and establishing financial systems to meet the requirements of the majority of people. Improved access to banks results in financial inclusion and sustainable development. Globally, the country governments have made several policy decisions and adopted regulations to ensure that banks reach to majority of the people. This article aims to analyze the banking outreach for the countries of GCC for a period of seven years from 2010 to 2017. This analysis will be based on geographic and demographic indicators of the outreach of banks’ physical outlets in the form of bank branches and its ATMs. This analysis will help to identify the countries of GCC with easier geographic and demographic access.

Keywords

Financial system banking outreach geographic indicators demographic indicators countries of GCC

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