Financial inequality: the challenge of access to credit for rural women entrepreneurs and SMEs

In Mexico, financial inclusion remains one of the most significant challenges for achieving fair and equitable economic development. Although significant progress has been made in recent years in digitalization and banking, millions of people—especially women entrepreneurs and rural MSMEs —remain excluded from the benefits of the financial system. This financial inequality impedes the growth of high-potential businesses, limits local job creation, and perpetuates the gap between urban and rural regions.

Mexican MSMEs , which represent 99% of businesses in the country , face significant obstacles in accessing financing. However, within this already vulnerable universe, there are even more lagging sectors: those led by women and those located in rural areas .

Financial sector data reveals that:

• Only 35% of female entrepreneurs have access to formal credit.
• In rural areas, less than 10% of MSMEs have a relationship with a bank.
• Women face higher interest rates and lower credit amounts compared to their male counterparts.

This scenario demonstrates that gender equity and regional equity are still pending issues in the Mexican financial system.

Women who start businesses in Mexico often do so under unequal conditions from the start. Many lack collateral to secure a loan , have poor credit histories , or work in sectors considered less profitable , such as retail or personal services.

Furthermore, gender bias persists in financial institutions, which tend to view women as a higher-risk profile. This occurs despite studies showing that women have lower default rates and greater financial discipline than men.

In this context, Plan Mexico seeks to correct these asymmetries through specialized microcredit programs, gender-sensitive financial education , and partnerships with women-led fintechs .

On the other hand, rural MSMEs face a double challenge: access to the formal financial system and a lack of basic infrastructure. In many remote communities, there are no bank branches , and internet coverage is limited or nonexistent, making it impossible to use digital tools.

These businesses often operate informally , lack tax registration, and rely on seasonal income. Furthermore, many traditional financial products are not designed for their economic situation .

To address this exclusion, the government is promoting the use of community finance , local microfinance institutions , and the expansion of the Banco del Bienestar (Well-being Bank) as an operational arm to reach the most remote areas of the country.

Development banks , led by institutions such as Nafin , FIRA , and Banobras , have begun implementing programs aimed at closing these gaps. Some examples include:

• Guaranteed loans for women entrepreneurs in indigenous communities.
• Financial and digital training programs for rural businesses.
• Partnerships with NGOs and cooperatives to channel resources locally.

Likewise, the advancement of fintechs has been fundamental. Digital platforms such as Konfío , Creditea , and Kubo Financiero are developing products that evaluate financial behavior with alternative models, allowing people without a credit history to access credit.

Claudia Sheinbaum 's administration, through Plan Mexico , has made it clear that financial inclusion cannot depend solely on market rules. A social and territorial approach is necessary, with differentiated policies to address the realities of those who have historically been excluded from the system.

Finance Secretary Edgar Amador Zamora has reiterated that financing must be made available to the most vulnerable productive sectors, not only for ethical reasons, but also because of the enormous potential they represent for national economic growth. "That solid capital must be put to work," he has said on several occasions, highlighting the urgent need to serve rural MSMEs and women entrepreneurs.

Achieving true financial inclusion involves much more than opening bank accounts. It involves breaking down structural barriers , eliminating gender bias, investing in connectivity, and designing products that respond to the reality of rural and women-led MSMEs . If Mexico wants to grow sustainably and equitably, it must ensure that all productive sectors, regardless of their location or who leads them, have equal opportunities to access financing. Economic equity is not just an ideal: it is a condition for development .

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