MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: AccessBank, a Microfinance Institution Based in Azerbaijan, Submits Pricing Data to MFTransparency, Provider of Pricing Data for the Microfinance Industry

AccessBank, a microfinance institution (MFI) based in Azerbaijan, recently submitted pricing data for its loan products to MFTransparency, an organization that provides pricing data for the microfinance industry.With 98,000 active borrowers and a microfinance portfolio totaling USD 297 million, AccessBank is one of the largest MFIs to submit data to MFTransparency. AccessBank is a member of the Azerbaijan Microfinance Association (AMFA), an organization made up of over 31 MFIs in Azerbaijan, which is partnering with MFTransparency in its Transparent Pricing Initiative which is collecting pricing data from 12 MFIs in Azerbaijan.

By Christopher Maggio, Research Assistant

About:
AccessBank

Description:
AccessBank was founded in 2002 as the Micro Finance Bank of Azerbaijan (MFBA) and was renamed AccessBank in 2008. AccessBank is 100 percent foreign owned by six shareholders: the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) (20 percent), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) (20 percent), the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (20 percent), KfW Development Bank – the development bank of the German Government (20 percent), AccessHolding (16.53 percent), and LFS Financial Systems GmbH – a German consulting company which is responsible for the management of the bank (3.47 percent).

According to the MIX Market, the microfinance information clearinghouse, Access Bank has a gross loan portfolio of USD 207.1 million and total assets worth USD 239.4 million as at year-end 2008.

Organization’s Website:
http://www.accessbank.az/en/index.html

Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Profile:
http://www.mixmarket.org/mfi/accessbank

Just the Facts:
-Year Founded: 2002
-Shareholders:European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, KfW Development Bank, AccessHolding, and LFS Financial Systems GmbH

Contact Information:
Andrew Pospielovsky
General Manager
andrew.pospielovsky@accessbank.az

Alovsat Guliyev str. 137
Baku
AZ
1000
Azerbaijan
bank@accessbank.az

Tel: +994 12 493 07 26
Fax: +994 12 493 07 96

MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe profile: AccessBank

About:
Azerbaijan Microfinance Association (AMFA)

Description:
The Azerbaijan Microfinance Association (AMFA) is an organization with over 31 members, all of which are microfinance institutions (MFIs) across Azerbaijan. It started informally in the mid-1990s to help meet the economic requirements of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and began a formalized alliance of what would become the AMFA in 2001. It utilizes “knowledge management, policy advocacy, and technical services” to “advance the interests of the micro finance community” in Azerbaijan. Its three “Strategic Pillars” are “Innovative Products and Services,” “Continuing Education,” and “Industry Expertise.” AMFA also offers services to improve financial management at medium-sized and larger institutions.

Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Profile:
http://www.mixmarket.org/networks/amfa

Organization’s Website:
http://amfa.az/sehife.php?lang=eng&page=08

Contact Information:
Azerbaijan Micro-finance Association:
44 J. Jabbarli str. (Caspian Plaza III, 9 floor), Baku, Azerbaijan, AZ 1065
Tel/Fax:: +994 12 4371645
E-mail: amfa@amfa.az

MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe profile: AMFA

About:
MFTransparency

Description:
MFTransparency is a company that aims to provide “information on credit products and their prices in a clear and consistent fashion” for the microfinance industry. It was launched in July of 2008. According to its website, as of December 6, 2009, it is endorsed by 264 “industry leaders” that serve 80 million clients globally.

Organization’s Website:
http://www.mftransparency.org/

Just the Facts:
– Country of Incorporation: United States
– Year Launched: 2008
– Area of Operation: Global
– CEO & Founder: Chuck Waterfield

Contact Information:
Mailing Address
MicroFinance Transparency
325 N West End Ave
Lancaster, PA 17603 (USA)
Phone: +1 717 475 6733
info@mftransparency.org

Email Contacts:
communications@mftransparency.org

sponsor@mftransparency.org

data@mftransparency.org

website@mftransparency.org

info@mftransparency.org

MicroCapital’s Microfinance Universe profile: MFTransparency

Additional Resources:

MFTransparency press release entitled ‘Leader of Commercial Microfinance in Azerbaijan Participates in MicroFinance Transparency’s Transparent Pricing Initiative’: http://www.mftransparency.org/pages/leader-of-commercial-microfinance-in-azerbaijan-participates-in-microfinance-transparencys-transparent-pricing-initiative/

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MFTransparency Country Data