Microcredit Foundation Prizma, a microfinance institution (MFI) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has received a loan of BAM 4 million (USD 2.7 million) from Sparkasse Bank, an Austrian-owned financial institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the expansion of Prizma’s microfinance operations within the country. Prizma offers microloans for the start-up and improvement of small businesses in the trade, services, agriculture, and livestock sectors and also provides loans for housing construction and basic needs such as food and school supplies. Loans range up to BAM 10,000 (USD 7,800) and have a maximum repayment period of five years.
Microcredit Foundation Prizma has eight regional offices and 42 branches across Bosnia and Herzegovina and reported a gross loan portfolio of USD 64.4 million disbursed to approximately 69,000 borrowers in 2011.
By Charlotte Newman, Research Associate
About Microcredit Foundation Prizma
Prizma is a microfinance institution (MFI) that provides credit products in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Prizma began operations in 1997 under the name “Project Enterprise” and was registered with the national microcredit registry in 2001 under the name Microcredit Organization Prizma. As of December 31, 2011, Prizma reported to the US-based nonprofit Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) total assets of USD 72.3 million, a gross loan portfolio of USD 64.4 million, return on assets (ROA) of 1.85 percent, return on equity (ROE) of 9.44 percent and 69,000 active borrowers.
About Sparkasse Bank
Headquartered in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sparkasse Bank BiH was founded in 1999. Owned by the Austrian Steiermarkische Sparkasse group, it provides a range of financial services, including savings, loans, cash management and foreign exchange. As of December 2010, Sparkasse Bank reported total assets of BAM 777 million (about USD 540 million), a net income of BAM 1.83 million (USD 1.27 million) and approximately 170,000 clients.
Sources and Additional Resources:
Information sent to MicroCapital from Microcredit Foundation Prizma: “Prizma Received Ban 4 Million from Sparkasse Bank.”
Microcredit Foundation Prizma, http://www.prizma.ba/index.php?lang=en
MicroCapital.org story, November 23, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microcredit Foundation Prizma of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borrows $2.7m in Local Currency from Nova Banka, BOR Bank,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-microcredit-foundation-prizma-of-bosnia-and-herzegovina-borrows-2-7-m-in-local-currency-from-nova-banka-bor-bank/
MicroCapital.org, December 12, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microcredit Foundation Prizma of Bosnia and Herzegovina Borrows $680k in Local Currency from Privredna Banka Sarajevo dd,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-microcredit-foundation-prizma-of-bosnia-and-herzegovina-borrows-680k-in-local-currency-from-privredna-banka-sarajevo-dd/
MicroCapital Universe Profile: Microcredit Foundation Prizma
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Microcredit+Foundation+Prizma
MicroCapital Universe Profile: Sparkasse Bank
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Sparkasse+Bank+BiH
Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/
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