By Debobrat Ghose, Hindustan Times - At a time when the microfinance industry has come under scanner after a number of suicide cases reported in Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad-based Basix Group  has launched a model that provides safe housing solutions, backed by micro home loans and livelihood schemes. The microfinance firm plans its own micro-finance... 

By G. Naga Sridhar, Hindu Business Line - Microfinance institutions (MFIs) of Andhra Pradesh have been charging strikingly high interest rates contrary to what they have been claiming. According to the information provided by the MFIs to the Andhra Pradesh Government at the time of registration in accordance with the recent ordinance, the effective... 

From Pacific Island News Association - A diversity of community based organisations met today to learn about microinsurance and help map the next steps forward for bringing the product to Fiji. The event was an information exchange and consultation, co-hosted by The Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB),... 

Report by Orissa Diary bureau; Bhubaneswar: Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency (BISWA), one of the fastest growing micro-finance institutions in India, practices highest ethical standards and becomes an example for other MFIs in the country. BISWA believes in providing quality life to people by offering attractive micro-finance services. While... 

Advans SA SICAR is pleased to announce that two microfinance institutions of its network benefited from IFC’s support in 2010, in the form of local currency refinancing loans. Advans Cameroun received a XAF 500 million loan (circa EUR 762,000), while Advans Ghana benefited from a GHS 1.58 million loan (circa EUR 840,000). Both institutions will use... 

Advans SA, the international venture capital company specialised in microfinance, announces the incorporation of its sixth microfinance institution (second with a full banking status): Advans Bank Tanzania, in the United Republic of Tanzania. The first branch will open in December 2010 in the administrative ward of Manzese in Dar es Salaam, the country’s... 

From Cellular News - A significant number of people using new technologies such as mobile phones to access financial services in developing countries are completely new clients for the financial services industry, according to new research by CGAP. The growing interest of so-called branchless banking in recent years has, until now, largely lacked... 

From Finchannel.com - The FINANCIAL — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Australian Government will support a $24 million project to help rural communities in Papua New Guinea access credit and financial services. The Microfinance Expansion Project is expected to generate jobs and boost growth in some of the country’s poorest and... 

By D Rajasekhar, Express India - The Indian government must regulate microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the interest of the millions of borrowing households that seem to be suffering from the problems of, among others, high interest rates and coercive recovery practices, sometimes allegedly leading to suicide. There is a difference between microfinance... 

By Jeanne F. Samuels, Jewish Herald Voice - The Hebrew Free Loan Association has scheduled its first-ever microloans seminar to take place on Sunday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 5601 S. Braeswood. Featured speaker will be Marc Epstein, professor at Rice University’s Jones School of Business. The seminar is open to the public,...