Despite the fact that financial inclusion in Mexico has advanced as never before, an uncomfortable reality remains: not everyone is benefiting equally. In 2024, access to financial products was still deeply unequal. According to the most recent National Financial Inclusion Survey (ENIF), 80.9% of men have at least one financial product, compared to 72.6% of women. This difference of more than 8 percentage points varies dramatically by region: while in the northwest of the country the gap is 6 percentage points, in Mexico City it rises to 11.3%.

This is not a trivial difference. We are talking about millions of women who are disadvantaged in something as essential as access to credit, savings, or financing. This disparity has direct consequences on their autonomy, their ability to start a business, and their well-being and that of their families. And most worryingly, there is no evidence that this gap is closing on its own.

Financial inclusion is not an automatic or neutral phenomenon. It is deeply influenced by cultural, social, and economic factors. Therefore, if we really want to move the needle, we need to take responsibility from where we operate. Technology-driven companies, particularly in the financial sector, have the opportunity and responsibility to take action.

That means going beyond traditional models. The approach can no longer be simply to adapt existing products to new audiences. We need to rethink from the ground up how we design solutions that respond genuinely and specifically to the needs of all people, especially those who have historically been excluded.

From our experience at Stori, one of the most transformative lessons came from a project that, on paper, seemed unconventional: the development of a card in partnership with one of the world's largest e-commerce platforms. What began as a strategic collaboration became something deeper: an exercise in active listening, trusting in people's talent, and co-creating with women who not only consume fashion but also circulate it, turn it into a business, and generate income from it.

Today, thousands of women entrepreneurs use this card not only to buy fashion, but also to circulate it in their communities, start businesses, generate income, build financial independence, and plan for their future. And they do so with admirable discipline: they are thorough, organized, committed, and excellent payers. This type of profile does not usually appear in traditional financial discourse, but there it is, demonstrating the potential that is activated when a product is offered that truly connects with their lives.

The real discovery from this experience was understanding that it is not about creating products “for them,” but rather, designing with a gender perspective. That means forming diverse, empathetic teams capable of reading the nuances of each context and transforming that reading into solutions that respect and empower the autonomy of those who use them.

Ultimately, talking about access to financial services is talking about economic justice. It is recognizing that allowing more women to make informed decisions about their money is not only good for them, but for everyone, because when a woman has access to credit, she becomes an entrepreneur. When she saves, she invests in her family. When she has control over her finances, she transforms her community.

If we want a more just, productive, and resilient society, we need to ensure access to and use of financial products and give women the opportunity to develop their financial health. We are talking about providing women options, autonomy, and control over their decisions. 

Financial inclusion with a gender perspective should not be a shining exception or an isolated success story; it must become the norm. We already know it works — we have tested it, and the evidence is there. So what are we waiting for as an industry to generalize this way of working?

Real change is not achieved through temporary campaigns or isolated good intentions. It is built on everyday decisions: how we assess risk, how we understand informality, and what metrics we use to define success. Above all, it is built when we stop seeing people as abstract users and start designing based on their concrete realities.

Closing the gender gap in financial inclusion is one of the most urgent and achievable challenges we face. Not only because of what it means in terms of equity, but because by doing so, we strengthen the entire economy. 

Wherever we are, whether in digital banking, a traditional financial institution, a startup, or a large technology company, we have a role to play. And we cannot continue to wait for things to change on their own. Transformation requires intention, focus, and, above all, commitment.

Because if we truly believe in inclusion, it has to be for everyone. Not despite differences, but precisely because of them.