Experiences of Microfinance Institutions Serving Very Small to Small Enterprises in Latin America : Based on Case Studies in LAC

International Finance Corporation

Washington, DC

关键词: ACCESS TO BANK;    ACCESS TO BANK LOANS;    ACCESS TO CREDIT;    ACCESS TO CREDIT BUREAU;    ACCESS TO DEBT FINANCING;   

RP-ID  :  94918

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Very small enterprises (VSEs) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) represent abroad and heterogeneous segment, often underserved by formal financial institutions.They are generally informal and often family businesses. The financial needs of theseenterprises are typically overlooked by “downscaling” banks, which find larger andoften more formal small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to be a more natural marketfor their products and services. Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) are starting to moveupmarket to serve SMEs, and in particular, VSEs within this segment. However, theyuse varying definitions, methodologies and products to do so and to date there has beenlittle research or documentation of their experiences. This report highlights the resultsof a recent study of the existing practices in Latin America of MFIs serving VSEs,where VSEs are considered to be those businesses with financing needs of betweenUS$7,000 and US$30,000. It is a starting point for an institution considering enteringthe segment, or for one that finds itself having grown into the segment “organically” butwith a view to strengthen its position. It includes several checklists for MFIs interestedin expanding upmarket into the VSE space, as well as more detailed discussions andexamples of the most relevant points.