Myanmar: Adjusting for growth in the financial sector in Myanmar

Authorities in Myanmar are determined to foster economic evolution and have placed financial inclusion on their inventory of priorities. In an attempt to tackle request for increased financial services, Myanmar has taken numerous steps in the completed 24 months, such as the adoption of a floating currency, liberalisation of the insurance industry and the independence of the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM). Following these adjustments, 2014 is set to see the CBM grant operating licences to foreign banks, while 2015 has been set as the target date for the establishment of the Yangon Stock Exchange.

The unbanked population

According to a recent joint study by the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the UN Development Programme called Making Access Possible (MAP), only 4% of families surveyed have bank accounts in their own names, 39% have no access to any kind of financial services while 31% opt for unregulated financial assistance such as money lenders or borrowing money from family or friends. Sponsored by the UNCDF and the multi-donor Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT), the 2013 MAP survey covered 5100 households and suggested that while there is strong potential request for regulated services, current product offerings do not match the needs of the unbanked people.

Microfinance initiatives are being undertaken to address the issue, and U Maung Maung Thein, the deputy minister of finance, announced at the Financial Inclusion Roadmap Conference in Nay Pyi Taw in May that the ministry aims to increase the banked people from 30% to 40% by 2020.

Branchless banking

In an attempt to increase access to financial services, a lot of local banks are opening branches in rural areas. However, critical momentum for financial coverage is expected to be gained only once infrastructure improvements are made within the telecoms sector. Similar to other emerging economies, local banks are positioning themselves to offer mobile banking services. U Pe Myint, managing director of CB Bank, told OBG, “The majority of people have limited access to the internet. Mobile banking gives our people the luck to do their banking activities with better relieve.”

With two international telecoms providers set to launch their services in 2014, Myanmar is well positioned for a rapid rise in both mobile penetration and mobile banking activity. “The next of personal payments in this country is SMS banking, similar to success stories in Africa, such as Kenya where mobile banking plays a major role,” Joe Barker-Bennett, a consultant for Tun Foundation Bank, told OBG.

Foreign participation

According to the Myanmar Investment Commission, approved foreign investment nearly tripled to $4.1bn in 2013/14 fiscal year from $1.4bn in the previous year. With an expanding economy and underdeveloped banking system, a lot of international banks are vying for an operating license in the once isolated country.

However, feelings are mixed, as Daw Kim Chawsu, chief of transformations at Kanbawza Bank (KBZ), told OBG, “There are two trains of thought. Initial the entrance of foreign banks will assist in the development of the sector, and second that they will squash local competitors out of the market. Local banks can benefit from this development. Infrastructure, funding, technology and expertise are all things that international banks bring to the table.”

Foreign banks can enter the market only in the form of representative offices at present although the CBM plans to grant between five and 10 licences this year. Local media reports suggest that the newcomers will be faced with certain restrictions, such as not being allowed to engage in retail banking or dealing uniquely in foreign currency.

Although local banks may be concerned by the possible role of foreign-owned banks someday, there is some recognition that their presence may as well encourage international companies to invest in Myanmar. U Than Lwin, the deputy chairman of KBZ, told OBG, “Foreign banks should be allowed in on a step-by-step basis. This will assist with the development, inclunding the protection, of the sector.”

While the financial sector in Myanmar is still decades behind its ASEAN neighbours, progressive steps within insurance, accounting and telecoms place the country in good stead to leapfrog years of technological development and establish a modern banking and financial services industry. However, this depends greatly on the CBM’s decisions regarding the entrance of foreign banks and the restrictions they will face.