Links to microenterprise and microfinance-related articles
**************************************************
New microfinance trend worries BSP
Friday, February 20, 2009 | Paolo Luis G. Montecillo
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has begun looking into banks that have established non-profit arms that also offer microfinance services, citing the need to protect public interest.
The central bank, in its yearend report on microfinance, noted that banks that are engaged in microfinance have set up non-profit arms or foundations to engage in the same activity.
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW022009/content.php?id=021
also in
http://www.mifireport.com/2009/02/new-microfinance-trend-worries-bsp/
and
http://www.watsap.com/category/new-microfinance-trend-worries-bsp
**************************************************
MABS Mobile Phone Banking for Microfinance
20 February 2009
This video produced in late 2006, provides highlights of the early efforts to use mobile phones to facilitate banking services for rural bank clients in the Philippines. This effort has been led by the Rural Bankers ociation of the Philippines Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program (a USAID-assist program with Chemonics International as the main contractor) with the support of Globe Telecom’s G-Xchange subsidiary.
http://www.freemobile.ie/cheap-contract-mobile-phone/mabs-mobile-phone-banking-for-microfinance
**************************************************
MABS Mobile Phone Banking for Microfinance
Gadgets and Portable Electronics Blog | 19 February 2009
This video produced in late 2006, provides highlights of the early efforts to use mobile phones to facilitate banking services for rural bank clients in the Philippines. This effort has been led by the Rural Bankers ociation of the Philippines Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program (a USAID-assist program with Chemonics International as the main contractor) with the support of Globe Telecom’s G-Xchange subsidiary.
http://www.portableme.com/mobile-phones/mabs-mobile-phone-banking-for-microfinance
**************************************************
Does nobody want to take money from the poor?
Financial Times | Tim Harford | February 14 2009 00:40
The credit crisis has provided a series of unpleasant lessons about the importance of financial services. The first lesson was about credit: we began to realise that it would not always be possible to extend our overdrafts or refinance our mortgages cheaply. The second lesson, as queues formed outside Northern Rock, was about savings: there is no iron law of economics that says that the money in your savings account is 100 per cent safe. Last September, those of us still peeping through our fingers at the financial news learnt a third lesson, about the payment system itself: it began to be conceivable that you might write a cheque and the cheque would bounce, not because you lacked the funds to honour it but because your bank did.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/4304f838-f7dd-11dd-a284-000077b07658.html
also published in
http://timharford.com/2009/02/does-nobody-want-to-take-money-from-the-poor/
**************************************************
Small & Medium Enterprise Development Week
RBAP | February 10, 2009
RBAP showcasing its bank services during the SME Expo at the SM Megamall from July 22-24, 2004. In the photo are (standing from left) RBAP staff Mary Jane T. Ramos, RBAP President Senen D. Glorioso, MABS Chief of Party Atty. John Owens, and RBAP Treasurer Jobel G. Chua; (seated from left) First Macro Bank staff; and Chit P. Javier, RBAP staff member.
http://www.rbap.org/news/index.php/2009/02/small-medium-enterprise-development-week/
**************************************************
John V. Owens – MABS PHILIPPINES, Chief of Party, Philippines
February 02, 2009 | Alvaralice Microfinance
A lawyer and microfinance specialist with over 21 years of experience in microfinance and microenterprise development, John Owens has worked and lectured in various parts of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East. He specializes in helping banks set up profitable microfinance departments. He has managed several high level microfinance projects and has written and lectured on various aspects of microfinance and mobile phone banking services. Since 1999, he has worked for Chemonics International and is currently the Chief of Party managing the USAID-supported Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) program which provides technical assistance and training to rural banks nationwide.
http://microfinance.alvaralice.org/?q=node/192&l=en
**************************************************
Microenterprise Access to Banking (MABS)
Financial Access Initiative | February 2, 2009
Country: Philippines | Type: Implementing Partner
The Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) program is an initiative designed to accelerate national economic transformation by encouraging the Philippine rural banking industry to significantly expand the microenterprise access to microfinance services. To do so, the MABS Program assists client rural banks in the Philippines to increase the financial services they provide to the microenterprise sector by providing microfinance technical assistance and training to rural banks. Trained banks in turn offer microfinance loan and deposit services specially tailored to microenterprise clients.
Projects with Microenterprise Access to Banking (MABS)
**************************************************
The Great Equalizer: The Mobile Phone as the Great Economic Equalizer
A Tech CEO. Musings, Rants & Raves | January 31, 2009
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a truly inspirational presentation in Washington D.C. by John Owens of Chemonics International’s MABS (Microenterprise Access to Banking Services) program. John is an American based in Manila who, along with his group and other partners, is doing some amazing work in bringing banking services to micro-enterprises in rural areas of the country. His organization, together with MABS’ partners, are bringing real mobile commerce and branchless banking into villages that are otherwise all but inaccessible to the modern world.
http://billb.posterous.com/the-great-equalizer
**************************************************
Meet-Up in Washington D.C. – Microenterprise Access to Banking Services
A Tech CEO. Musings, Rants & Raves | January 20, 2009
Invitation to January 30th M-Banking Presentation in Washington D.C.
“Developing Private Partnerships to support Mobile Phone Banking Services for Low Income Households in the Philippines”
Chemonics is pleased to invite you to a presentation on:
The Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (MABS) Program’s Experiences in Developing Private Partnerships to support Mobile Phone Banking Services for Low Income Households in the Philippines
http://billb.posterous.com/meet-up-in-washington-dc-micro
**************************************************
Govt anti-hunger drive creates new jobs
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 01/27/2009 2:32 PM
The government’s anti-hunger program has created job opportunities for nearly 1.4 million unemployed and underemployed poor Filipinos, according to the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).
NAPC Secretary Domingo Panganiban said new jobs were created through the expansion of microfinance services, the construction and maintenance of farm infrastructure, coconut intercropping and aggressive rice seeds subsidy, and skills training programs nationwide.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/27/09/govt-anti-hunger-drive-creates-new-jobs
**************************************************
Philippines announces 1.4 million jobs created
Poverty News Blog | January 27, 2009
The Philippines government has announced that they have created 1.4 million jobs through their anti-poverty efforts. The National Anti-Poverty Commission made that announcement today, while introducing an upcoming forum.
From the Philippines, ABS CBN News received the figures.
The government’s anti-hunger program has created job opportunities for nearly 1.4 million unemployed and underemployed poor Filipinos, according to the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).
http://povertynewsblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/philippines-announces-14-million-jobs.html
**************************************************
World’s poor gets financial aid
BusinessWorld Online | January 28, 2009
More than 106 million of the world’s poorest families received a microloan in 2007, surpassing a goal set 10 years earlier, according to a report released today by the Microcredit Summit Campaign.
Microloans are used to help people living in extreme poverty start or expand a range of tiny businesses such as husking rice, selling tortillas, and delivering cell phone services to remote villages.
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW012809/content.php?id=031
**************************************************
Philippine Banking Industry Outlook Positive Despite Recession
1888 Press Release | January 21, 2009
The Philippine banking industry seems to be unaffected by the global financial crisis. And despite the liquidity crunch in various developed and emerging economies, the Philippine banking industry has been able to sustain the growth level.
**************************************************
Will Mobile Banking Work for Microfinance?
The Mikro Banker | January 25, 2009
Mobile banking (M-Banking) has been popular among bank customers since it provides huge advantages, one of those is flexibility in managing banking needs which with no constraint on place and time. Through M-banking, a customer is able to conduct banking transactions and financial inquiries anytime and anywhere. In this context, M-Banking is a part of the bank’s initiative to offer multiple channels in order to satisfy its customers. Although M-banking technology is relatively new, M-banking has been practiced intensively across the globe. Locally, M-banking service has been provided by some local banks and foreign banks. The system also involves mobile phone providers. Recently, M-banking has grown up steadily since it provides benefits for customers and banks.
http://mikrobanker.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/will-mobile-banking-work-for-microfinance/
**************************************************
Impact of Mobility on Economic growth in Developing Countries
Telecom World | January 20, 2009
The mobile subscriptions at the end of 2008 were 3.9 billion (penetration of 59%) are likely to cross 4 billion sometime in April-May’09. This means that the majority of the world’s population is already a mobile user. However, the real picture is missed in the averages. Many developing countries still have mobile penetration of less than 50%, e.g. India (30%), China (47%), Cambodia (26%), and Africa (39%). The subscriber base is expected to cross 5 billion by 2011. Majority of the next billion subscribers are likely from India, Africa and China.
http://www.mohitagrawal.com/2009/01/impact-of-mobility-on-economic-growth.html
**************************************************
Philippine Banking Industry Outlook Positive Despite Recession: Philippines Banking Sector Analysis
PR Inside | 20 January 2009
The impact of recent economic turmoil will be minimal on the Philippines banking sector as the Filipino banks are proactively taking measures to counter the crisis situation.
The Philippine banking industry seems to be unaffected by the global financial crisis. And despite the liquidity crunch in various developed and emerging economies, the Philippine banking industry has been able to sustain the growth level.
http://www.pr-inside.com/philippines-banking-sector-analysis-r1015433.htm
**************************************************
Philippine Banking Industry Positive
Aim 168 Real Estate | Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Philippine banking industry seems to be unaffected by the global financial crisis. And despite the liquidity crunch in various developed and emerging economies, the Philippine banking industry has been able to sustain the growth level.
http://www.aim168realestate.com/real-estate-news/general/3680/philippine-banking-industry-po.html
**************************************************
Philippine Banking Industry Outlook Positive Despite Recession
PR Minds | 20 January 2009
The impact of recent economic turmoil will be minimal on the Philippines banking sector as the Filipino banks are proactively taking measures to counter the crisis situation.
The Philippine banking industry seems to be unaffected by the global financial crisis. And despite the liquidity crunch in various developed and emerging economies, the Philippine banking industry has been able to sustain the growth level.
http://www.prminds.com/pressrelease.php?id=6906
**************************************************
Philippines Leading Emerging Nations in Introducing Mobile Banking
TMC News | December 27, 2008
Rising mobile penetration in the Philippines will expand the mobile banking user base to beyond 11 Million by the end of 2011, according to a new research report, “Philippines Banking Sector Analysis”, from RNCOS.
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2008/12/27/3879138.htm
**************************************************
Offshore Microfinance – The Only Legitimate High Yield Investment Program?
Sunday, January 18, 2009
If you are looking for one of Collectibles Books very few genuine ‘high yield investment opportunities,’ you couldn’t do much better than microfinance – that is loaning money in small amounts at high interest rates to small business people in developing countries. The great thing about this investment is you can earn great returns and do good, helping entrepreneurs in the developing world, at the same time. It is something myself and a few of my clients have been investing in for several years now.
http://stained-glass-crosscebuehr.blogspot.com/
**************************************************
Rural Bank of Subangdaku declares bank holiday
Jennifer C. Tilos | January 9, 2009
Dumaguete City (9 January) — The Rural Bank of Subangdaku (RBS) has declared a bank holiday effective January 5, 2009 Monday. The bank is located at corner San Jose and Ma. Cristina Streets, this city.
According to Laila Ine M. Opiña, Media Relations Asst. Agatep Associates, Inc., RBS is not part of the Legacy Group and the management has not released any further details but the bank is expected to undergo receivership of state insurer Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC).
http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090109.htm&no=28
**************************************************
Cebu rural banks develop more services
January 6, 2009
CEBU CITY, Jan. 6 (PNA) – A leader of the rural banking sector in Cebu said they remain optimistic amid the global financial crisis and are planning to create specific loan products and more services to provide rural folk more opportunities for business growth.
Danny Arcenas, president of the Cebu Federation of Rural Banks, said the group is looking at rolling out separate specific products for house, mobile phone banking, micro-agriculture and micro-insurance among others, sometime this year.
http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Business_19/Cebu_rural_banks_develop_more_services.shtml
**************************************************
Philippines Rural Banks Develop More Micro-Finance Services
TNC News | January 06, 2009
A Cebu rural banking leader said the sector remained optimistic and was planning to create specific loan products and make more services available to provide rural folk with increased opportunities for business growth.
President of the Cebu Federation of Rural Banks Danny Arcenas said the group was looking at introducing separate specific products for house, mobile phone banking, micro-agriculture and micro-insurance sometime this year. Arcenas said these planned new products would add to the rural banking sectors’ existing range of microfinance services that included loans, deposits and money transfer services.
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2009/01/06/3890581.htm
**************************************************
Philippines Rural Banks Develop More Micro-Finance Services
Topix | January 06, 2009
A Cebu rural banking leader said the sector remained optimistic and was planning to create specific loan products and make more services available to provide rural folk with increased opportunities for business growth.
http://www.topix.com/ph/cebu/2009/01/philippines-rural-banks-develop-more-micro-finance-services
**************************************************
Speaking Out: Mobile phone banking
January 5, 2009 | Atty. Ignacio R. Bunye
ALREADY acknowledged as the texting capital of the world, the Philippines is now expanding its role further by aggressively pushing the use of mobile banking technology in the area of micro-finance. This development is expected to benefit a lot of our countrymen especially in hard-to-reach areas in the countryside.
How significant is technology, notably the use of cell phones, in developing countries such as the Philippines?
http://www.mb.com.ph/archive.php?date=2009-01-05
**************************************************
Cebu rural banks develop more services
January 5, 2009
CEBU CITY, Jan. 5 (PNA) – A leader of the rural banking sector in Cebu said they remain optimistic amid the global financial crisis and are planning to create specific loan products and more services to provide rural folk more opportunities for business growth.
Danny Arcenas, president of the Cebu Federation of Rural Banks, said the group is looking at rolling out separate specific products for house, mobile phone banking, micro-agriculture and micro-insurance among others, sometime this year.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&nid=3&rid=179094
**************************************************
Rural banks develop more services to boost income of farmers, fishers
January 2, 2009
RURAL banks in Cebu, optimistic amid the global financial crisis, are planning to create specific loan products and more services to provide rural folk more opportunities for business growth.
Danny Arcenas, president of the Cebu Federation of Rural Banks, said that the group is looking at rolling out separate specific products for house, mobile phone banking, micro-agriculture and micro-insurance, among others, sometime this year.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/rural-banks-develop-more-services-boost-income-farmers-fishers
Recent Comments