This programme provided financial education, and credit and bank accounts were opened for depositing wages and to promote savings. Such financial inclusion, in the form of opening savings accounts, has a strong effect on savings behaviour (Bynner and Paxton, 2001). Greater creditworthiness can help households obtain bridging credit from traders, participate in groups or associations that require regular contributions and improve access to institutions (Barca et al., In many cases, however, households remain risk-averse and reluctant to take advantage of their greater access to credit.