But giving services to the unbanked is about more than money. Banks can help the unbanked come into the middle class, thus strengthening entire populations. 

And yet, banks may have trouble surviving in the future. Officials, such as Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu, say banks may be superseded by bitcoin technologies.

Banks are intended to guarantee that arrangements between buyers and sellers are realized as planned. In addition to helping guarantee transactions, banks help government stay in control of money.

But bitcoin and other such currencies do not need banks to create trusted transactions. Instead transactions made directly without the necessity of trust provide the transactional safety.

Bitcoin is currently the biggest of these cybercurrencies, reaching up to $20,000-plus at the time of this writing. With such pricing, bitcoin and other currencies may be established as credible additional money, or even as an alternative.

It is certainly possible that “banking for the unbanked” takes advantage of digital money. In America, for instance, loans to the unbanked are delivered via a special program that involves direct deposit, requiring participants to open bank accounts. This basically uses non-cash money, which is part of the larger crypto approach, to support banking progress.

A number of aspects of banking are focused around ensuring the trustworthiness of banking itself. But with crypto-currencies like bitcoin, the problems of fraud are considerably reduced by blockchain technology which certifies the transaction via numerous nodes.     

Women, especially, seeking to “bank the unbanked” may find that bringing such people into the banking world has problems alongside of positives. Those without much money have little need of banking services. Having such services may actually complicate their lives.

Banks themselves want the unbanked as customers because of additional revenue. But the women involved in such potential banking may discover there are downsides because additional bank money may allow officials to raise taxes, among other moves.

This may mean that even the very poorest people will need to work more hours for less pay or simply do without. Women should examine their viewpoints and ensure that their efforts are positive from a variety of aspects. That goes for men too.