Managing your money has never been so easy. In this rapidly digitising world, basic financial services are at your fingertips — you can settle your bills, apply for a loan, pay your insurance premium, create a new investment portfolio, or make retirement plans with just a tap of your finger.

However, such services are out of the reach of many people, especially vulnerable communities like low-income households and the elderly. Typically overlooked by traditional banks, individuals in this segment of society tend to find their financial options restricted, no thanks to their level of education, health condition or lack of reliable modes of transportation. Some do not even have a savings account, credit history or access to a nearby automated teller machine.

This is why we believe financial inclusion is so important and so ardently championed by organisations like the United Nations (UN), which features it as a target in eight of 17 of its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. These goals include eradicating poverty, ending hunger, improving health and well-being, reducing inequality and promoting economic growth and jobs.

According to the World Bank, financial inclusion means “individuals and businesses have access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs — transactions, payments, savings, credit, and insurance — delivered in a responsible and sustainable way.” In a nutshell, it is about enabling people to help lead better lives by empowering themfinancially.

And where does Malaysia rank in terms of providing this access? According to Principal Financial Group’s 2022 Global Financial Inclusion Index, the country ranks as the 20th most financially inclusive market out of the 42 markets globally analysed. It also ranks fifth in terms of financial inclusion support provided to workers by their employers.

Munirah Khairuddin, CEO and country head of Principal Malaysia (Principal), says, “Malaysia has taken significant steps over the past decade to accelerate financial inclusion for its population. The country’s federal statutory body that manages the compulsory savings plan and retirement planning for private sector workers in Malaysia, for example, is one of the world’s oldest provident funds.”

So how exactly does financial inclusion help? For one, you might see better penetration of services as financial institutions reach out to the populace in smaller cities and rural areas, either by growing their physical presence there or providing the appropriate digital banking solutions.

This will enable unbanked and underbanked individuals to have easier access to services like credit, bank accounts and account statements. If it sounds like it’s just about convenience, it’s not. For instance, the World Bank designed a study to measure the impact of paying factory workers in Bangladesh directly into an account as compared to paying them in cash.

According to the World Bank’s lead economist in the finance and private sector research team of the Development Research Group, Leora Klapper, who designed the survey, the research found that workers whose wages are banked into their accounts are more likely to be thrifty and better able to manage unexpected expenses. And over time, they learnt to be savvier financial customers. This is because they had more privacy, security and control over their finances.

Despite Malaysia’s high internet penetration, more than half of the nation’s adult population remains underbanked or unbanked. To ensure these individuals are not left behind, policymakers and financial institutions need to work on creating new products or extending digital offerings with more flexible requirements that are tailored to assist the less privileged.

For instance, some insurers offer affordable insurance plans with smaller coverage, while some online brokerages provide commission-free trading options. At Principal, we are committed to helping you reach your long term financial goals. For example, you may invest as little as RM10 in Principal Islamic Money Market Fund through Touch ‘n Go eWallet’s GOinvest.

Alternatively, you can opt for Principal e-Cash Fund, the underlying fund for GO+, by cashing in from your eWallet balance or through a bank transfer on your Touch ‘n Go eWallet app. If it’s retirement savings you’re after, you could always invest a portion of your Employees Provident Fund savings in approved unit trust funds with Principal via the pension fund’s i-Invest online platform.

But access to financial solutions is only one aspect. Having access to sound financial advice is just as important, and with Principal, clients know they don’t have to be afraid to ask. Principal is big on helping with the lifting of society through financial education, hosting webinars with experienced financial professionals and sharing knowledge via mass media publications.

“To help ensure all Malaysians feel financially empowered, they must possess the knowledge to make smart decisions when it comes to money. We believe being financially literate means being generally less vulnerable to scams or budgeting mishaps and more successful at achieving life goals,” says Munirah.

“If we can help ensure everyone is more financially savvy, then we’re one step closer to making financial inclusion a reality.”

For more on Principal and its efforts on financial inclusion, visit https://www.principal.com/sustainability/financial-inclusion