Case Study

Increasing Women’s Access to Finance: Insights from Tanzania Commercial Bank

April 20, 2022

This study presents the findings and recommendations of a study conducted in 2021 by IFC, in partnership with Tanzania Commercial Bank (TCB), under the Finance2Equal Tanzania program. The study explores how women-friendly strategies implemented by the bank can increase access to finance and grow the banking sector.


The study identified successful strategies to help banks capture part of the women’s micro, small and medium enterprises segment, estimated to be worth US$1.7 billion in Tanzania.  Evidence gathered from this study demonstrates that products tailored to women’s needs are highly effective and grow faster when coupled with mobile technology. As a result, a women-friendly strategy has positioned TCB to become one of the ten largest banks in Tanzania.