MFP 142. Insights from a Microfinance Pioneer - Pancho Otero Talks about BancoSol. Part 1

Credit unions play a pivotal role in providing access to financial services to the base of the pyramid. The credit union movement is based on savings mobilization as the foundation of microfinance. In this series, we look at lessons from one of the most successful credit union systems of the world, namely the credit unions of the Central American country of Guatemala. Managers, staff and clients of UPA tell us what is so special about their cooperative.

Credit unions play a pivotal role in providing access to financial services to the base of the pyramid. The credit union movement is based on savings mobilization as the foundation of microfinance. In this series, we look at lessons from one of the most successful credit union systems of the world, namely the credit unions of the Central American country of Guatemala. Managers, staff and clients of UPA tell us what is so special about their cooperative.

Credit unions play a pivotal role in providing access to financial services to the base of the pyramid. The credit union movement is based on savings mobilization as the foundation of microfinance. In this series, we look at lessons from one of the most successful credit union systems of the world, namely the credit unions of the Central American country of Guatemala. Managers, staff and clients of UPA tell us what is so special about their cooperative.

Resumiendo los resultados del estudio el Sr. Silva da recomendaciones que podrían ser útiles para los operadores de las IFM así como también para los de los inversionistas y financiadores. Alex hace énfasis en la importancia de reconocer a las microfinanzas como una especialidad dentro de la intermediación financiera en general así como la importancia de que las IMFs cuenten con los sistemas apropiados de gestión de riesgos y un buen gobierno corporativo.

Summarizing the details of a study of MFI failures, Alex Silva gives important recommendations for MFI sponsors, managers, and funders: Recognize microfinance as financial intermediation, focus on risk management systems, and create good corporate governance. 

Sin duda, los profesionales en microfinanzas de todo el mundo se beneficiarán de este estudio seminal sobre las IMFs de América Latina y de las correspondientes lecciones aprendidas

Alex Silva provides more details of the major reasons for the failure of microfinance institutions – an important topic that - so far- has not been talked about. Without doubt, practitioners from around the world stand to benefit from this seminal study of Latin American MFIs.

¿Qué podemos aprender de los fracasos en las microfinanzas?
Las historias de éxito de las instituciones de microfinanzas (IMFs) han sido ampliamente estudiados. Ello, a fin de ayudar en la comprensión de las razones que las llevaron a alcanzar dicho éxito y determinar, para el beneficio del resto de la industria, las “buenas prácticas”. Sin embargo, las instituciones que podrían ser considerados como experiencias fallidas han recibido hasta la fecha muy poca atención.
En al conversación con Alex Silva, un pionero de las microfinanzas, se exponen los resultados de un estudio reciente sobre las instituciones de microfinanzas que han fracasado. Alex Silva, lista seis razones principales para la caída de las IMF y proporciona detalles de cada una de los casos de experiencias fallidas que forman parte del estudio en cuestión. expandiendo la frontera del conocimiento práctico en microfinanzas.

What can we learn from failures in microfinance? Successful microfinance institutions (MFIs) have been widely studied to understand the reasons that drove them into the market and to extract good practices that are useful for the rest of the industry. However, the institutions that could be considered failed experiences have received very little attention. Alex Silva, a microfinance pioneer, outlines the results of a recent study on failed microfinance institutions. He outlines six major reasons for the downfall of MFIs.

How does a crisis help microfinance institutions and their clients? Pancho Otero, one of the global industry pioneers, explains how this is the case. And he gives his perspective on the importance of the enabling environment and good regulations to help produce mature microfinance institutions.