You are reading the article How To Apply For Microfinance Loan? updated in October 2023 on the website Saigonspaclinic.com. We hope that the information we have shared is helpful to you. If you find the content interesting and meaningful, please share it with your friends and continue to follow and support us for the latest updates. Suggested November 2023 How To Apply For Microfinance Loan?
What is a Microfinance Loan?A microfinance loan typically pertains to small-scale borrowing options that cater to self-employed individuals, startups, micro-enterprises, and small businesses with limited capital needs. These loans are characterized by their shorter terms and smaller amounts.
Start Your Free Investment Banking Course
Download Corporate Valuation, Investment Banking, Accounting, CFA Calculator & others
Typically, the governments of developing countries initiate these schemes to reach out to their unbanked or under-banked communities and provide them with the funding required to support their viable business ventures. Various private limited companies, Microfinance institutions (MFIs), and Non-government organizations (NGOs) are usually the lenders of microfinance loans.
Features of Microfinance LoanSome of the main features of microfinance loans are as follows:
The borrowers usually come from low-income backgrounds and have no financial history or very low credit scores.
The term “micro” is used in microfinance because it refers to the small average ticket size of the loans available in this financial system.
The tenure of this type of loan is short.
The lenders charge interest rates on these loans relatively compared to traditional loans.
The repayments of these loans are more frequent than conventional loans.
The repayment amounts are slightly higher than the average repayment rates of other loans.
In most cases, the borrowers can’t afford to provide collateral. Hence, the lenders often pool the borrowers together as a buffer, which means that the borrowers repay their debts as a group.
The success of a microfinance program depends on the contribution of the pool’s members (or borrowers), which creates peer pressure that eventually ensures the timely repayment of the entire loan.
How to Apply for a Microfinance Loan?
Visit the official website of the preferred microfinance lender, complete the application form for the loan, and submit all the required documents.
After the submission, one of the lender’s representatives will contact the applicant to complete the remaining loan formalities.
Once the representative is satisfied with all the documents submitted by the applicant, the lender will disburse the loan amount to the applicant’s designated bank account.
The applicants seeking money under microfinance programs should first apply for loans from banks (private or public) or Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), as the interest rates they charge are relatively lower than the MFIs. The high-interest rates are because the candidates applying for microfinance loans usually have no financial history or very low credit scores.
Microfinance Loan Eligibility CriteriaTo be eligible for a microfinance loan, an applicant must fulfill the following required criteria:
Shouldn’t have availed a loan from any other microfinance lender
Shouldn’t have any pending outstanding loan exceeding a certain limit, which depends on the law of the land
Should be a working professional with a steady flow of income
Should have all the required documents at the time of application
Should have an account in the bank in their name
Documents Required for Microfinance LoanAn applicant is required to submit the following documents to avail of a microfinance loan:
Fully completed loan application form
An excellent business proposal for SMEs or a letter of application for self-employed individuals
A valid document for personal identification, such as a national ID card, driver’s license, international passport, etc.
Photocopies of recent utility bills
Recent passport-sized photographs
Proof of business location
Photocopies of Article of Association (AoA), Memorandum of Association (MoA), or Partnership deed certified by an authorized official
Detailed track record of repayment along with bank account statement for the last six months
Audited financial statements for the preceding two years
Income tax return filing of the partners or directors for the preceding two years
Pro forma invoice of the equipment to be financed with the loan
Benefits of Microfinance Loan Key TakeawaysSome of the key takeaways of the article are:
Microfinance loans refer to short-term loans extended to low-income individuals or groups or small entrepreneurs with limited to no financial support.
It allows people from the economically weaker sections to start reasonable businesses and improve the overall economic condition of their communities.
Most of the microfinancing operations occur in developing countries in Asia and Africa.
Compared to traditional loans, lenders charge relatively higher interest rates and assign more frequent repayments in the case of microfinance loans.
According to the World Bank, more than 500 million people have been direct or indirect beneficiaries of microfinance-related operations as of 2023.
ConclusionSo, there is no doubt that a microfinance loan is an essential financial tool to improve the economic conditions of individuals and groups with limited to no meaningful access to financial support. Any interested in these loans must furnish the required documents and a good business proposal.
Recommended ArticlesThis is a guide to Microfinance loans. We also discuss applying for a Microfinance Loan with features, eligibility criteria, documents requirements, and benefits. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –
You're reading How To Apply For Microfinance Loan?
Update the detailed information about How To Apply For Microfinance Loan? on the Saigonspaclinic.com website. We hope the article's content will meet your needs, and we will regularly update the information to provide you with the fastest and most accurate information. Have a great day!