Financial inclusion: indigenous and local communities access bank services for the first time
In Paraguay, the difficult access to bank services has historically been a barrier for economic equity and well-being for many rural and indigenous communities. Through a partnership between WWF-Paraguay and the National Development Bank (BNF), banking services and financial education were offered to remote areas for the first time, promoting financial inclusion.
December 3, 2025
Through collaborative site visits, BNF, the local partner organisation Pro Comunidades Indígenas (PCI), and WWF assisted communities in Toro Pampa, Fuerte Olimpo, Bahía Negra, Carmelo Peralta, Puerto Sastre, and San Óscar Romero. Workshops on financial planning, demonstrations of downloading and using the BNF banking app, and the opportunity to open bank accounts were offered. It was the first time local farmers, indigenous and rural associations, female artisans, and youth had access to banking services near them. This enables them to save money, simplify payments, and promote local products and services across the country.
This cooperation demonstrates that financial inclusion is not only a technological process that entails access to technology, skills, and know-how. It is also important for personal safety and independence, for local association confidence and growth, and for a sustainable future. For many indigenous and local communities, this process marked a crucial step towards their integration into the formal economy.
Although challenges remain, such as access to microcredit, internet connectivity, and the need for extended capacity-building workshops, this experience demonstrates that, with a committed and sensitive multiactor approach, financial inclusion can become a powerful force for sustainable development.
