8  BIS Review 113/2006  Even in terms of financial widening, the scope for improvement remains. In terms of regional dis-aggregation since 1991, population per bank office has increased in rural areas from 13,462 in 1991 to 16,650 in 2005 and, as expected, declined in the urban areas from 14,484 to 13,619 over the period.
***  Check against delivery  1 Welcome Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, I am delighted to be here with you today at the Palais Brongniart. This place was home to the French stock exchange for almost two centuries. The buzz and excitement of the former trading floor can still be felt today. Stock exchanges not only produce winners and losers.