We’ve been running an occasional podcast series with some of the voices we’re listening to this year as part of the CGAP/DFID Branchless Banking in 2020 scenarios work. The process is based on one driving question: How can government and private sector most affect the uptake and usage of branchless banking among the unserved majority by 2020? You can participate directly through this blog or posting discussions through our Mobile Banking and Microfinance LinkedIn Group. –Jim

Before she became a Vice President in the World Bank, I had the opportunity to speak with  Shamshad Akhtar for a few minutes  on the side of a scenarios workshop that was held in Cape Town last spring.  She had recently completed her service as  Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (2006-2009), a Federal Ministerial level ranking. During this period she was also a Governor of the IMF.  In 2006 and 2007 she was nominated Asia’s Best Central Bank Governor by Emerging Markets and the Banker’s Trust.

I asked her to say a bit about her views on the  role that regulators and policymakers can play in fostering branchless banking as one of many tools to increase financial inclusion.

Download the Podcast – Shamshad Akhtar