"This document presents a ‘’state-of-the-art’’ review of branchless banking. It examines existing trends, extracts insightful lessons from past experiences and articulates the main challenges ahead with regards to the transformative role of branchless banking. It is also designed to link developmental objectives with market player interests, thus paving the way for a meaningful intervention of German Development Cooperation in the branchless banking space. In many aspects, it will try to bring the market player perspective into the dialogue with public development cooperation." (Executive summary)