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INTRODUCTION

Money makes the world go round and the world today is moving at an amazing pace. Thanks to the advances in technologies, distances have become meaningless. Globalization has enabled the rise of global trade leading to wealth generation in developed as well as developing countries. Wealth can be created in any part of the world with a single click of the mouse. Developing nations, like India have immensely benefited from the globalizing economy. Wealth has been pouring into the country as investments (both direct and institutional). Indian companies are acquiring companies all over the world, hence benefitting from expansion. This has directly affected the lives of many citizens in our country. For many, there has been a dramatic increase in the disposable income. The savings, consumption and investment patterns have changed in the past few years. This has meant that there has been an increase in demand for many financial services from different financial firms.

The market has responded to this soaring demand with making attractive offers and services for the customers at affordable rates. Since the LPG reforms of 1991, there have been progressive reforms in the financial sector allowing for better and easier facilities and options to the consumer. An increasing financially aware middle class have realized the importance of financial services. Banks have streamlined and rationalized themselves to meet with the changing demands of the people.

However, not all the reforms in the financial services sector have still been able to bring in the other half of India’s population who are un-banked. There are many reasons that are obvious for this kind of financial exclusion. Most of the un-banked or financially excluded population of India lives in rural areas; nevertheless, there is also a significant amount of the urban population of India who faces the

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