Savings Groups in the Digital Era: Promoting Gender-Responsive & Inclusive Digital Transformation

CRS’ SILC Pro-Poor Strategy promotes more inclusive savings groups by removing barriers that exclude the poorest. Through flexible policies, inclusive messaging, and equitable pricing, the approach helps ensure all community members—regardless of income—can benefit from group membership.

This brief highlights CARE Bangladesh’s Sanchay Sathi mobile app, developed to digitize Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in flood-prone char and haor regions. Designed with local language support and offline functionality, the app improves financial record-keeping, security, and access to mobile financial services. With over 2,000 groups supported, the initiative builds digital literacy and confidence among women and low-literacy users.