In many countries postal savings and giro remittances have long enabled provision of financial services to all segments of the population, particularly women, rural communities and the urban poor and to have helped mobilize savings for investment in development. This paper reviews the postal financial systems of twelve developing Asian countries, including savings product development, investing mobilized funds, receiving overseas remittances and utilizing financial technologies. Also examined are experiences of developed countries where market liberalization and privatization have challenged savings operations. Policies are proposed for more effective utilization of the postal infrastructure in delivering financial services in developing and transition economies.

33 p. : table