Closing the gender financial inclusion gap requires moving beyond simple account ownership to targeted credit and business development, according to banking and fintech leaders who spoke at the Foro EL CEO Mujeres. While digital adoption has expanded across Mexico, structural barriers continue to limit women’s access to formal financing and economic independence.
According to the 2024 National Financial Inclusion Survey (ENIF), 76.5% of the Mexican population aged 18 to 70 holds at least a financial product, reflecting an 8.7 percentage point increase compared to 2021. However, the data highlights a persistent disparity: 80.9% of men access financial products, while female inclusion stands at 72.8%, as reported in data reviewed by industry analysts.
Structural Barriers in the Formal Economy
Regina García Cuéllar, general director of the Association of Banks of Mexico (ABM), noted during the forum that women demonstrate better credit repayment behavior than men, yet fewer women secure financing. García Cuéllar explained that the barrier originates within the broader economy, pointing to lower formal employment rates and smaller salaries among women.
Global metrics reflect similar systemic gaps. According to World Bank estimates cited by industry observers, 62% of women globally lack access to formal credit. Furthermore, data from the Bank of Mexico shows that female borrowers maintain lower default rates under comparable conditions, though they frequently face smaller loan amounts and higher interest rates.
Technological Models and Alternative Risk Evaluation
Financial technology companies are attempting to bridge this gap by altering how risk is evaluated. Lisset May, senior vice president of sales at Kueski, stated that digital platforms can incorporate behavioral signals such as consumption stability, payment patterns, and transaction frequency rather than relying exclusively on traditional credit bureaus. Platforms like Kueski have observed near-parity in loan applications, where women account for 50% of total requests, with 36% of users establishing a formal credit history through the service.
Paulina Juaristi, marketing director for DiDi Latin America, emphasized that financial inclusion cannot rely solely on education. Juaristi argued that institutions must develop straightforward financial products, noting that women often exhibit a higher aversión al riesgo (risk aversion) that simple digital solutions help mitigate.
Institutional Support and Economic Independence
Financial institutions are implementing specialized advisory programs to support women entrepreneurs. Lorenza Riveroll, director of Banca Patrimonial Enlaces at Kapital Casa de Bolsa, detailed that the institution runs a program tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises and women, focusing on business scaling, loan sizing, and repayment capacity. Riveroll emphasized that credit access directly facilitates financial independence, which provides personal autonomy for women.
Gabriela Gutiérrez, director of Oferta de Valor para Banca Institucional y de Gobierno at Banco Azteca and president of the Consejo Directivo Nacional of IMEF, noted that lack of confidence and the heavy burden of unpaid care work remain major hurdles. Gutiérrez stressed that secure access to credit requires clear financial purpose rather than mere account ownership.