We are constantly innovating
AN INNOVATION DURING THE DEMONITIZATION CRISIS
When demonetisation was announced in November 2017, it was clear that Rs. 2,000 notes would not be useful for thousands of our customers. They are micro-entrepreneurs who operate out of weekly markets and transact in much smaller amounts. An immediate solution was required. Many state banks have large reserves of coins. We contacted the local State Bank of India branch and collected their change. Our local teams then worked overtime to make and distribute pouches worth Rs. 500 and converted our Business School on Wheels bus into a Bank on a Bus. Nearly 5000 people from 6 weekly markets benefited from this initiative.
A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND CASH FLOW FACILITY
This is the first-of-its-kind doorstep cash flow facility in rural weekly markets. Thousands of women vendors across dozens of village weekly markets currently benefit from this cash flow facility to build their working capital by taking a loan in the morning and paying a portion of it back in the evening. Given that there are 30,000 weekly markets across the country, there is tremendous potential to scale up this product.
GOING BEYOND MICRO FINANCE
Our Unnati loan is for more seasoned women entrepreneurs who are keen to significantly scale their businesses. Having successfully paid off numerous cycles of smaller micro-finance loans, they are now ready for credit lines between Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 5 lakhs. This is a secured loan product.
