Access to financial services has long been believed to lift people out of poverty. Although 700 million people have gained access to formal financial services in the past few years, 2 billion remain excluded in 2015. A recent evaluation by the Independent Evaluation Group looks at the World Bank Group's record in promoting financial inclusion. Is the World Bank Group on course to meet the Universal Access Goal, as reaffirmed in 2013 by WBG President Jim Kim.
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