Description
Can commercial banks afford to provide financial services to those living in extreme poverty? This course will look at banks that do provide these services in a financially viable way. It will examine the different models, methodologies, systems and technologies employed by these banks to provide services to the very poor in a way that supports the profitability of the bank. Using case studies from Latin America, Asia and Africa, class participants will explore and debate the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches such as transforming social welfare organizations into banks, downscaling existing commercial banks and creating a service company owned by banks focused exclusively on serving the poor. We will also look at ways to insure that the needs of the poor can continue to be served in institutions designed to maximize profitability. This course is designed for those working in commercial banking institutions that want to serve the poor, those working in nonprofit microfinance institutions that want to scale up and those who regulate these institutions.
