The financial sector in Myanmar is small and underdeveloped. Some industry estimates and recent research suggesting that less than 20 percent of the population has access to formal financial services.
Demand for microfinance is high, however, few institutions provide microcredit, and unmet demand is estimated by industry experts at close to US$ 1 billion. Use of informal providers of credit and transfer services in both urban and rural areas is widespread despite the additional risks and expense (10–20 percent per month).