Watch this Accenture video about growth opportunities in Africa's burgeoning financial services sector.

Economic development in Africa, one of the world's fastest-growing emerging markets, continues to rely on a strong banking sector. To provide economy-boosting financial services and infrastructure more effectively in Africa, major banks are now actively investigating how best to expand their footprint there.

Total assets in Kenya's banking sector grew by 27 percent from 1.325 billion shillings in 2009 to 1.678 billion shillings in 2010 with profit before tax for the sector recording a 61 percent climb or 77billion shillings. Analysts at rsm ashvir consultants however note significant investment is risk free government securities at the expense of onlending to the public and want the government to cut rates in its securities to spur lending to the borrowing public.

El profesor del IESE Javier Santomá y el investigador Francesc Prior han publicado una serie de artículos sobre los servicios financieros de países de Asia, Africa y América. El eje central de las investigaciones es la escasa penetración de los servicios bancarios entre los segmentos más bajos, situación que no beneficia ni a clientes ni a empresas. Javier Santomá nos ofrece en esta entrevista las claves de la investigación.