Studies show that one of the main challenges contributing to financial exclusion for women in Africa is the existing gender gap in access to banking services. This can be attributed to several factors including cultural norms, limited financial literacy, and restrictive social structures. As one of the few top female banking executives in Africa, Patience Mutesi, the Managing Director of Rwanda’s BPR Bank, knows all too well some of the hindrance that women face in accessing and utilizing formal financial services. She tells VOA's Jackson Mvunganyi financial exclusion limits women's ability to save, invest, and build a financial safety net for their families.