MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MIX Releases MicroBanking Bulletin No. 19, Providing Insight Into the Impact of the Global Economic and Financial Slowdown on the Microfinance Industry

The Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), a business information and data services provider for the global microfinance industry, recently released the latest issue of The Microbanking Bulletin, an industry journal of microfinance performance. The new issue features financial and performance benchmarks from 1084 microfinance institutions (MFI) throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe for the year 2008. The issue provides an analysis of the impact of the global economic and financial crisis on the microfinance industry. The bulletin can be downloaded here: http://www.themix.org/microbanking-bulletin/mbb-issue-no-19-december-200….

“This data set is a view into the industry at the beginning of a challenging time for many microfinance providers. By the close of 2008, MFI growth rates had already begun to slow, and one of the first victims of the slower growth was operational efficiency,” stated Blaine Stephens, COO and director of analysis at the MIX. “This likely is the result of two related factors: microfinance is a high touch business, and currently relies on significant human resources to deliver services to clients. Many MFIs made investments in training new staff in an expectation of steady growth rates, and when the economic slowdown hit, it left these organizations overstaffed. The other factor is rising portfolio arrears in a number of markets, causing staff to focus on ensuring current clients make payments, rather than sourcing new business.”

By Jay Kumar, Research Assistant

About Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX):

Established in 2002, Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) is a nonprofit organization with headquarters in Washington, DC, and regional offices in Peru, Senegal, India and Indonesia. MIX provides detailed financial and social performance information from microfinance institutions (MFIs), as well as business information from market facilitators and leading donor organizations and investors in microfinance. MIX was founded by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), and is sponsored by Citi Foundation, Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, IFAD, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Additional Resources:
1.) http://www.themix.org/press-release/microbanking-bulletin-provides-first…

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2.) https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Microfinance+Information+Exchange+(MIX)

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