Electronic Banking and Its Role in Achieving Financial Inclusion in Iraq for the Period from 2017 to 2023

Abstract

This study highlights the vital role played by electronic banking in enhancing financial inclusion in Iraq, considering the challenges facing the financial sector—particularly the limited integration of large segments of the population into the formal banking system. The study is based on a problem concerning the limited role of electronic banking in expanding financial inclusion and seeks to evaluate its actual contribution in this field.

The study aims to diagnose the current state of electronic banking in Iraqi banks, determine the extent of the spread and usage of the services provided among the public, and measure the impact of these services on financial inclusion indicators—such as increasing the number of bank accounts and facilitating access to credit and other financial services. It also reviews the challenges hindering the spread of electronic banking, whether related to infrastructure, the regulatory framework, or the lack of awareness and trust among users.

The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, relying on official data issued by the central bank and commercial banks, in addition to an inductive approach that traces the relationship between the development of electronic banking and financial inclusion indicators. Despite the persistence of some geographical and social gaps, the study recommends the need to develop digital infrastructure, enhance financial literacy, and update regulatory frameworks to keep pace with the digital transformation of banking in Iraq.