Title: MICROFINANCE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
1MICROFINANCE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
2- Microfinance International Corporation
- founded by Atsumasa Tochisako, former General
- Representative in Washington for the Bank of
- Tokyo/Mitsubishi to create opportunities for
poor - people in Latin America.
- Offices in Washington, DC and San Salvador, El
- Salvador .
- Supported by MIF, JICA, GTZ, Bretton Woods
- Committee etc.
3Corporate Objective
Increase the Reach of Microfinance
Create Opportunities for the Poor
Help MFIs to Increase their Customer Base
Sustainability
Improve Access to Affordable Capital
4- Leverage the Development Potential of
Remittances - Use Remittance float to create a zero cost pool
of funds for - lending to MFIs
- Provide MFIs with a dedicated and customized
remittance - platform and a marketing channel in the US
- Support MFIs in marketing to both recipients of
remittances and - remitters in the US
-
5Remittance-Float Supported Lending Program
-
- Improve small MFIs loan eligibility by
increasing - depository and client base through remittance
offering - Simplified application procedure and innovative
risk - assessment of lending program allow lending
to small - and rural institutions.
- Raise capital through issue of Microfinance
Bonds - backed by Corporate Foundations, Trusts and
- Multilaterals
6Remittance Market in US
- More than 10,000 Money Transfer Companies with
in - excess of 100,000 agents
-
- Average commission has decreased from US 20 in
1998 - to US 14 in 2003.
-
- Market leader traditionally Western Union but
now about - 10 other Money Transfer Companies that cover
most of US - and Latin America.
-
- US banks and banks from Latin America latest
entrants. - Typically cash-to-cash transfer through
brick-and-mortar outlets - but recently increasing efforts to leverage
payment cards and - ATM cards.
7Distribution Channels Access Points in DC Metro
Area
8Distribution Channels Reasons for Selection of
Access Point
9Distribution Channels Other Reasons for
Selection of Access Point
- Immigration Status
- Large proportion of remitters are
undocumented and often do not - posses the paperwork required by banks.
- Distrust of Financial Institutions
- Negative Experience from home countries,
lack of understanding - of financial systems and fear of deportation
result in distrust.
10Distribution Channels Criteria for Selecting
Money Transfer Company
11Remittance Market Information Sources
12Distribution Channels - Problems
- Power of Distributor Results in High Cost
- Distributors often determine the selection
of Money Transfer Company - and own the customer.
- Compliance
- Distribution through non-financial retail
outlets results in problems with - compliance due to lack of appropriate
processes and training. - Financial Risk
- Distributors lack of financial stability
and ability to provide financial - service efficiently results in financial
risk, poor service and transfer - losses or delays of transfers.
- Loss of Benefits for Remitter
- Remitters do not generate Credit History, do
not receive appropriate - financial advice and have no access to
current or savings accounts.
13Remitters that use
14Operational Issues
-
- High Volume/Low Value transactions
- Money transfer is high volume/low value
service so requires efficiency - to make revenue model work. Retail outlets
on average process 15 - transactions a day
- Little Penetration of Internet and Electronic
Payment Methods - Few Remitters use the Internet or have
electronic methods of - payment so that the ability to use
technology to reduce cost/increase - efficiency is limited.
-
- High Service Requirements
- Language barrier, limited understanding of
financial products and - sometimes unorganized customers require
intensive and customized - service.
15Microfinance Internationals Solution
-
- Non-banking financial shop as intermediary
- between Remitters and financial institutions.
-
- Culturally adapted one-stop-shop providing
- essential financial services and financial
- education.
- Leverage information gained from
- Employment Services, Money Transfer and
- Debit Card as Credit Record for Loan
Products. -
- Functions as marketing channel for banks and
- MFIs in Latin America.
16Sister Company - MicroManos
- Latino Employment Services Company
- provides stable employment and insurance for
- Latino workers.
- creates large database of Latino customers with
- stable employment and salary records.
- since incorporation in June 2003 has attracted
- 2,000 Latin customers and provided
employment - to almost 1,000 Latinos.
17Mi Pueblo Objective
- 30 40 Shops in key Latino hotspots throughout
the US -
- Co-operation with Credit Unions, Banks and
- Community Organizations
- Customer base of 100,000 bankable Latinos with
- stable income and credit record by 2006.
18Mi Pueblo Remittance System
- Real time, low cost money transfer service with
- unique benefits to Remitters and Recipients.
-
- Internet-based software platform providing high
efficiency - and compliance.
- Value-added services such as Payment
Instructions, - Credit Record and Loyalty Program allow to
increase - revenue-per-transaction and customer loyalty.