by Michael Averell -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Standard Bank, Systemanalyse und Programmentwicklung (SAP) To Launch “AccessBanking” to Reach Unbanked in South Africa

Standard Bank, a South Africa-based financial services company, recently partnered with Systemanalyse und Programmentwicklung (SAP), a Germany-based business software provider, to launch AccessBanking, a new service that enables low-income people in South Africa without access to traditional banking services to set up bank accounts with Standard Bank using their mobile phones [1].

by Michael Averell -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation (IFC) Loans $4m to FINCA Georgia to Support Micro- and Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the US-based World Bank Group, recently announced that it will provide a USD 4 million loan to the Republic of Georgia-based subsidiary of the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA), a US-based microfinance network, for on-lending to micro and small businesses as well as entrepreneurs in rural regions of Georgia.

by Jennifer Young -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Considering $85m Facility for DeltaCredit Bank of Russia for Residential Mortgage Loans

The UK-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently revealed the pending approval of a finance facility of up to the equivalent of USD 85 million disbursed in a mix of USD and RUB to DeltaCredit Bank, a commercial bank in Russia that specializes in mortgages for residential housing loans.

by Jennifer Young -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: China Microfinance Institution Association (CMIA) to Introduce Credit Rating System for Microfinance Institutions As Early As July 2013

The China Microfinance Institution Association (CMIA), an organization that advocates for the interests of 92 domestic member microfinance institutions (MFIs) covering 27 provinces, plans to introduce a credit rating system to evaluate MFIs as early as July.

by Nicole Boyd -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Indian Microfinance Institution Satin Creditcare Sells 20% Equity Stake for $8m from Danish Microfinance Partners, MicroVest II, ShoreCap II; Lok Capital Exits

Indian microfinance institution (MFI) Satin Creditcare Network Limited recently raised INR 410 million (USD 7.5 million) by selling a stake of approximately 20 percent to three microfinance investment funds in undisclosed portions: Danish Microfinance Partners K/S (DMP), MicroVest II LP and ShoreCap II Limited.

by Lena Phillips -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Ears Earth Environment Monitoring of the Netherlands Offers Climate-based Crop Microinsurance System FESA Free to Microinsurance Retailers in Africa

Ears Earth Environment Monitoring Limited, a subsidiary of the Netherlands-based remote sensing company Ears Holding, is offering its Food Early Solutions for Africa (FESA) microinsurance system free of charge to microinsurance providers.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Property Microinsurance in Colombia, Portfolio Reviews for Microfinance Funders, Microfinance Rating Comparability

“MILK Brief #18: Doing the Math with Property Microinsurance in Coastal Colombia;” by Barbara Magnoni and Derek Poulton; published by Microinsurance Centre; October 2012; 2 pages; available at: http://www.microinsurancecentre.org/milk-project/milk-docs/doc_details/914-condensed-milk-18-doing-the-math-with-property-microinsurance-in-coastal-colombia.html

by Lena Phillips -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) Among Banks Requiring Third-Party Assessment of Codes of Conduct from Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) Seeking Wholesale Loans

A group of lenders headed by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), a state-owned bank, have made it compulsory for microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the country to undergo third-party assessments of their codes of conduct in order to receive loans.

by Jennifer Young -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: After Reserve Bank of India Caps Microfinance Institution Interest Rates at 26%, Investors Eye Non-Banking Financial Companies

Microfinance investors reportedly are seeking to invest in India’s non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) established a new regulation framework in 2011 that included an interest rate cap of 26 percent on loans disbursed by microfinance institutions (MFIs).

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Access Bank Plc of Nigeria Launches Early Savers Back to School Campaign to Promote Savings Among Kids

Access Bank Plc, a Nigerian commercial bank with branches in nine African countries and the UK, reportedly has launched an “Access Early Savers Back to School Campaign” aimed at instilling a savings culture in children in Nigeria.

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: SKS Microfinance of India Announces $36m Securitization Under Amended Reserve Bank of India Guidelines

SKS Microfinance, an Indian microfinance institution (MFI), reportedly has announced its first microfinance securitization of INR 2 billion (USD 36.4 million) since the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the country’s central banking authority, revised the guidelines for securitizations issued by non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) in August 2012.

by the MicroCapital Team -

SPECIAL REPORT: Sanjay Sinha of M-CRIL Calls Overexuberant Growth “Recipe for Disaster” at European Microfinance Week Opening

This morning, following a day of member meetings, the European Microfinance Platform (e-MFP) opened its eighth European Microfinance Week, which is themed “Combining Strength, Delivering Results” and aims to address the loss of confidence in many circles that microfinance benefits poor people. In the opening plenary session, Sanjay Sinha, managing director of India’s Micro Credit Rating International Limited (M-CRIL), said that, “Moderate growth is good for inclusion. Rampant growth, which is what we had for a long time in India, is a recipe for disaster…. In order to reduce growth, we need to temper the egos of the promoters of microfinance institutions (MFIs). And we all know we need to dampen the expectations of investors – I’m talking mainly of the Indian commercial banking sector.”

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Analysis of Microfinance Investment Vehicles; Female Microfinance Clients in Pakistan; Life Microinsurance in the Philippines

“The State of Microfinance Investment 2012: MicroRate’s 7th Annual Survey and Analysis of MIVs;” published by MicroRate; October 2012; 17 pages; available at: http://www.microrate.com/downloads/78

by Charlotte Newman -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: 8th Annual Clinton Global Initiative: Commitments to Financial Access, Global Citizen Awards Presented

The eighth annual Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), which concluded on Wednesday, September 26, focused on the theme “Designing for Impact,” which was intended to promote the use of creativity and innovation to drive change, particularly through social investment and the empowerment of women. Approximately 150 new commitments to various projects were announced, as were progress reports for commitments made in previous years. The new commitments include:

by Mihaela Grindeanu -

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFTransparency Partners with Planet Rating, Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) of India to Improve Pricing Transparency

MFTransparency, a US-based nongovernmental organization (NGO), recently partnered with Planet Rating, a microfinance rating agency that is a member of the France-based PlaNet Finance Group, and Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), a trade association of microlenders in India.