This paper contributes to the literature on financial inclusion in the Philippines by
examining three key financial services, namely, savings, credit, and insurance, and identifying
individual socioeconomic characteristics that are associated with access to these financial
services. Financial inclusion is also analyzed in the context of four geographical areas in the
Philippines--National Capital Region, balanced Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao--which provides more insights and
a better understanding of financial inclusion. Using data collected from the national baseline
survey of financial inclusion, estimation results indicate that sociodemographic characteristics
such as age, sex, civil status, education, employment, and income are associated significantly
with accessing various financial products and services. Findings also suggest similarities in the
socioeconomic profiles of users and nonusers of financial services in the four geographic
areas, while differences appear to be related to the presence of banks and other formal financial
institutions. These results provide useful inputs to policy and strategies for attaining inclusive
finance.
