At this present moment, in the marbled halls of the UK Treasury, a National Financial Inclusion Strategy is being created. Now this may not sound that thrilling but it is.

Actually, as we come to the end of Challenge Poverty Week, it’s critical.

Because financial inclusion is about providing opportunities for people to access products and services like savings accounts, credit and loans as well as insurance. It reduces poverty and inequality, and contributes to our economic growth. Because if the most marginalised in our society are excluded from these products, it can actually be harmful to them and to our economy in general.

One of the worst forms of financial exclusion is not having a bank account. In fact, without this, all other pillars of financial inclusion fall. Without a bank account you can’t........

© Herald Scotland