Over-indebtedness and financial exclusion

Access to basic financial services, such as bank accounts, saving facilities or insurance, is essential for citizens to be economically and socially integrated. Prevention and treatment of over-indebtedness and financial exclusion involve multiple factors, including overcoming not only physical and economic barriers, but also psychological barriers to banking, financial illiteracy, and an understanding of low income money management patterns.

While many Member States already actively implement measures to prevent and combat financial exclusion, the most effective policy responses are not always clear and the issue has therefore become the subject of various Peer Reviews.