The study assesses the effectiveness, sustainability and outreach of five sources of financial services operating outside the banking system: money lenders, pawnshops, NGOs, cooperatives and self-help organizations. Findings from the study suggest that while intervention for facilitating access to financial services by the informal sector should focus on credit schemes operated by the latter three types of organizations, the efficiency reach of these credit providers can be further improved. The study recommends strategies for developing such capabilities.