Subscribe to the Blog
Subscribe via RSS
Subscribe via EmailBlog Archives
What We’re Reading: “Rural and Agricultural Finance in the Spotlight at Cracking the Nut Conference”
A few weeks ago, Shari Berenbach, Director of USAID’s Microenterprise Development Office, wrote a blog post on the USAID’s IMPACTblog reported on a conference held in Washington that directly addressed the problems that face agricultural microfinance, as 600 million smallholder farmers currently live on less than $2 a day. Speakers at the conference emphasized new Read more…
Tagged Africa, Agricultural finance, Agriculture, ATMs, biometric fingerprint technology, biometrics, branchless banking, Cell phone banking, Colombia, Community, Ending Poverty, Financial services, Global Poverty, Kenya, Latin America, Loans, M-banking, M-PESA, Malawi, MFI, Microfinance, Mobile Banking, mobile branches, mobile phone banking, Mobile Phones, Opportunity International, Opportunity Kenya, Opportunity Malawi, Poverty, Rural banking, Rural Outreach, Technology, USAID, USAID Impact blog, what we're reading
News from Africa: New Mobile Banks and Bank Branches for Microfinance Clients in Mozambique
Great news from Mozambique! Banco Oportunidade de Moçambique is proud to announce the August opening of the Chokwé branch and Chimoio mobile bank. Additionally, Opportunity Mozambique[/intlink] expanded in 2010 with two new hub branch offices, and received approval from both the municipal and Central Bank authorities to open its first container branch office in the Matendene Market. Read more…
Tagged Africa, Agricultural finance, Agriculture, banco oportunidade de mocambique, Clients, Community, container banks, diane ferguson, Ending Poverty, Financial services, john deere, john deere foundation, Loans, MFI, Microfinance, Mobile Banking, mobile banking vehicle, mobile branches, Mozambique, Opportunity International, opportunity mozambique, Poverty, Satellite bank branch, Savings, Technology
Innovations in Technology–Reaching More Clients
Daryl Skoog, Opportunity’s SVP of technology, develops innovations that improve the lives of our clients. Recently, I had the chance to join a conference call with the Colorado-based Skoog to learn about the exciting strategies and products he’s working on. Some highlights from the call: Cell phone banking[/intlink] is one of the most exciting tools to bring Read more…
Tagged Africa, ATMs, biometric technology, biometrics, Board of Governors Conference, Cell phone banking, Cell Phones, Clients, Community, Conference, Daryl Skoog, Ending Poverty, fall microfinance conference, Financial services, Kenya, M-banking, M-PESA, Malawi, MFI, Microfinance, Mobile Banking, mobile banking vehicle, mobile branches, Mobile Phones, Opportunity International, Opportunity International Microfinance Conference, Opportunity Kenya, Opportunity Malawi, opportunity microfinance conference, Poverty, Savings, Smart cards, Technology, Washington D.C., World Bank
We’re Expanding Financial Access to Rural Malawi. Here’s How You Can Help.
Travel in your mind to the shores of Lake Malawi. In this remote region, extreme poverty is widespread. But because of the donations, hard work and advocacy of Opportunity supporters and staff, the Malawians here have been empowered financially. To reach the unreachable, Opportunity International[/intlink] Malawi has replicated its successful “hub-and-spoke” approach by opening a Read more…
Tagged Africa, Branch staff, Conference, credit life insurance, Crop insurance, Ending Poverty, fall microfinance conference, Financial services, fundraisers, Fundraising, Insight Trip, Insight Trips, Insurance, Latin America, Loans, Malawi, MFI, Microfinance, Microinsurance, Mobile Banking, mobile banking vehicle, mobile branches, Online fundraising, Opportunity International, Opportunity Malawi, opportunity microfinance conference, OptINnow, Poverty, Satellite bank branch, Savings, Savings account, small business loans, Training, Transportation, Washington D.C.
Live: Daryl Skoog and his Motorbike #BOG09
Opportunity is introducing electric bikes as transportation for loan officers who have to travel a long distance to see their clients each day. When the conference moderator announced the break-out sessions this morning, the doors swung wide open and Vice President of MIS Daryl Skoog revved his engine and rode in on a motorbike. It was a Read more…
Tagged #BOG09, ATMs, biometrics, Conference, container banks, Daryl Skoog, Loan Officer, Microfinance, MIS, mobile branches, Opportunity International, Rural banking, satellite communications, Savings, Technology, Transportation, Trust Groups
