MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance institutions (MFIs) in India’s Andhra Pradesh Face Difficulties Even After Loan Restructuring, “Survival of MFIs” Said to Hang on Court Decision Regarding State Law

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh reportedly are continuing to have difficulty repaying wholesale bank loans even after the restructuring of some of those loans after the downturn in microfinance that began in the region in 2010.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Central Bank of Nigeria Implements 3-Tiered Know-Your-Customer Requirements for Financial Institutions

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the country’s banking regulator, has introduced a three-tiered set of “Know Your Customer” (KYC) requirements for financial institutions that is intended to improve financial inclusion.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Senate Passes Bill Expanding Types of Foreign Entities that Can Invest Capital in Rural Banks in the Philippines

The Filipino Senate recently approved the third and final reading of a bill to amend the Rural Banks Act, a law governing the creation, organization and operation of rural lenders, to expand the range of foreign entities that can own shares in Filipino institutions licensed as rural banks.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Smaller Microfinance Banks in Nigeria Want 2 More Years to Raise Capital or Close Branches

The National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), a trade group of 820 microfinance banks (MFBs) in Nigeria, reportedly issued a statement calling for a deadline extension for the implementation of the revised Microfinance Policy Framework, the regulatory guidelines established in August 2011 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the country’s apex bank.

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Property Microinsurance in Colombia, Portfolio Reviews for Microfinance Funders, Microfinance Rating Comparability

MILK Brief #18: Doing the Math with Property Microinsurance in Coastal Colombia;” by Barbara Magnoni and Derek Poulton; published by Microinsurance Centre; October 2012; 2 pages; available at: http://www.microinsurancecentre.org/milk-project/milk-docs/doc_details/914-condensed-milk-18-doing-the-math-with-property-microinsurance-in-coastal-colombia.html

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Smart Campaign Launches Certification of Microfinance Institutions Regarding Client Protection

The Smart Campaign, a consumer-protection initiative launched in 2010 by US-based nonprofit Accion, recently released a Client Protection Certification Program that aims to verify that financial institutions serving the world’s poor people are focused on the fair treatment of clients.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: National Commercial Bank, Development Bank of Jamaica Partner to Allow Microborrowers to Access Loan Funds Via Automated Banking Machines

The National Commercial Bank (NCB), a government-owned bank in Jamaica, reportedly has launched a pilot operation in partnership with the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), which is also owned by the Jamaican government, in preparation to allow for the disbursal of funds to clients of microfinance institutions (MFIs) through automated banking machines (ABMs).

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Map of Microfinance Distribution in India” by Amulya Krishna Champatiray, Parul Agarwal and Santadarshan Sadhu; published by the Centre for Micro Finance (CMF)

By Amulya Krishna Champatiray, Parul Agarwal and Santadarshan Sadhu; published by the Centre for Micro Finance (CMF); 2012; 41 pages; available at: http://www.centre-for-microfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Updated_Final_Report_Map_of_Microfinance_Report_CMF_June27.pdf

This report summarizes the findings of an initiative that gathered information on the portfolios, products and business correspondents of 103 microfinance institutions (MFIs) across India.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Rejecting Kenya’s M-Pesa Model, Central Bank of Nigeria Bars Telecommunications Companies from Becoming Licensed Mobile Money Operators

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the country’s central banking authority, reportedly has decided that telecommunications companies will not be allowed to become licensed mobile money operators for fear that they will limit competition within the industry.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Social Performance Task Force (SPTF) Calls for Submissions for its Universal Standards Resource Library: Treat Employees Responsibly

The Social Performance Task Force (SPTF), a working group initiated in 2005 by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), the Argidius Foundation and the Ford Foundation, is seeking submissions for its online Universal Standards Resource Library.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) of Bangladesh Plans to Lower 27% Microcredit Interest Rate Cap

The Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA), a Bangladeshi government body that oversees the operations of NGO microfinance institutions (MFIs), reportedly has announced plans to cut the maximum interest rate MFIs are allowed to charge to an unspecified level.

MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Securing the Silent: Microinsurance in India: The Story So Far” by Premasis Mukherjee, Rosalind Piggot and Sunil Bhat; published by MicroSave

By Premasis Mukherjee, Rosalind Piggot and Sunil Bhat; published by MicroSave; December 2012; 63 pages; available at: http://www.microsave.org/sites/default/files/research_papers/Securing_the_Silent_MI_Report.pdf

This paper examines the microinsurance industry in India, specifically the industry for life and health microinsurance.

MICROFINANCE PUBLICATION ROUND-UP: Regulation and Supervision of Microfinance; Financial Inclusion in Russia; Life Microinsurance in Mexico

A Guide to Regulation and Supervision of Microfinance;” by Robert Peck Christen, Kate Lauer, et al; published by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor); October 2012; 120 pages; available at: http://www.cgap.org/publications/guide-regulation-and-supervision-microfinance