ASA has emerged as one of the largest and most efficient Microfinance Institution (MFI) in the world and has been working relentlessly to assist the poor since its inception in 1978.

The major drive behind ASA is to gradually eradicate poverty from society.

During its early years, ASA undertook various development programs like awareness building for social action, training local birth attendants, capacity building of journalists, etc. In the mid-80's it introduced new programs working in the sector of health and nutrition, education, sanitation, etc. It was at this stage that ASA introduced microcredit as a pilot project.

From its hands on experience in the field, and by evaluating the impact of development assistance, ASA realized that financial solvency, to a great extent, is what the poor need to bringing positive changes in their lives. In 1992, this paradigm shift led ASA to focus solely on microfinance as its tool in fighting poverty.

ASA wanted to evolve its operations to become self-reliant and move away from  depending on donor funding and grants - ASA's Microfinance Model gradually transformed itself to become the globally renowned "ASA Cost–effective and Sustainable Microfinance Model."

Following this model, ASA became self-sustainable within a short span of time and the organization declared itself a "self-reliant MFI" in 2001.

This model, that has been practiced and perfected in the field by ASA, has proved effective in making a branch self-reliant within 12 months. Any MFI that adopts this model for operations becomes sustainable within the shortest possible time. It has been adopted by many MFIs around the world to get result within the shortest possible time.

As of June 2008, ASA has successfully extended its outreach in Bangladesh through 3,324 branches and its 25,125 staff work relentlessly to serve more than 7.13 million clients in 72,204 villages.

In April 2006 ASA formulated its 10-years IT Roadmap - the first step of which called for automating its branch operations by December 2007. With this target, a world-class software called “ASA Microfinance Management System” (AMMS) was developed by an in-house team of software developers and IT professionals within twelve months.

A pilot deployment was done in 89 ASA district offices once AMMS was ready to a beta release. From the experience gathered by this pilot rollout the IT Team successfully deployed a full fledged branch automation system to 3200 of ASA's branches at one go. Starting in June 2007 this deployment was successfully completed by December 2007, covering the branches within just seven months.

ASA has the reputation of being the most rapidly expanding and best-managed MFI in the world – MICROSAVE / UNDP / CGAP

As an innovative institution ASA has multidimensional products all of which were developed based on the needs of its clients. The micro loan products include:

• Small Loans for female clients
• Small Loans for male clients
• Small Business Loans
• Small Entrepreneur Loans (SEL)
• Supplementary Loans and Business Development Services (BDS)
• Loans for Hardcore Poor
• Short Term Loans
• IT Loans
• Agri-business Loans
• Education Loans
• Monga (famine) Loans
• Interest Free, Flood and Rehabilitation Loans

Cumulative disbursement for all these loan products from ASA's inception up to December 2007 is around US$ 3,600 million.

ASA maintains savings programs and member’s security funds (Mini Life Insurance) with the view to helping the poor absorb unexpected shocks of calamities/disasters. Members are allowed to withdraw their savings whenever they require and interest is provided on their deposits.

As of December 2007, the savings balance (savings and security deposits) of ASA's clients was around US$ 131 million.

ASA also provides its clients with one time donation for medical treatment of serious ailments and surgical procedures - including cancer, acid burns, cardiac operations, backbone surgery, brain surgery, kidney damage, cesarean delivery, etc. Client do not need to deposit money to receive this assistance all of ASA's clients are automatically eligible for this. The budget of this assistance program in 2008 is around US$ 700,000.

ASA cooperates with small local NGO-MFIs with the objective of making them self-reliant so that they can independently serve the poor in remote areas. ASA provides these partner NGOs with technical support as well as loan funds on soft terms.

Under this program, ASA has more than 30 partner NGO-MFIs all over the country.

This channel created by ASA has also made it possible for partner NGO-MFIs to access soft loan funds from donor and other funding organizations. It is due to ASA's earnest efforts that CORDAID Netherlands has been extending financial support to 12 partner NGO-MFIs. CORDAID has already approved an amount of 1.16 million Euros for the year 2005-08 as soft loans for the partner NGOs to implement microfinance programs.

ASA took the responsibility to channel this loan fund to NGO MFIs and ensured its proper utilization by providing these partners with technical assistance.

All of these partners NGO-MFIs are building their capability to access funds from PKSF (the apex microfinance wholesale funding institution in the country) and from local commercial banks.

Since 1993, ASA has been providing Technical Assistance (TA) to NGO-MFIs around the world as a microfinance consultant. Thus far, ASA has worked in more than 17 countries around the world, including:

• Laos
• Cambodia
• Tajikistan
• Jordan
• Ethiopia
• Myanmar
• Afghanistan
• Peru
• Mauritius
• Indonesia
• Yemen
• India
• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka
• Nigeria
• Philippines
• Vietnam

A considerable number of visitors and trainees also visit ASA every year with a view to acquiring knowledge about implementation of ASA activities.

Catalyst Microfinance Investors (CMI) (www.catalyst-microfinance.com) was established by ASA and Sequoia, a Dutch corporate finance and private equity firm, in 2005. CMI is a microfinance investment fund and makes equity investments in high potential and emerging MFIs in Asia and Africa.

CMI's objective is to accelerate the growth of a number of MFIs by strengthening their financial resources and providing them with the ASA expertise needed to expand and optimize their operational efficiency.

By the end of December 2007 CMI had raised a total funding commitment of $ 125 million. Investors behind CMI include high net-worth individuals, microfinance funds and institutional investors - such as banks and pension funds.

CMI already has provided loan and made equity investments to a number of MFIs in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Nigeria and Ghana.

ASA has established ASA International (ASAI) (www.asa-international.com) to implement the ASA Model of Microfinance Operations in different countries around the world. ASAI is primarily funded by CMI and is supported by a number of debt providers in individual countries.

ASAI has established greenfield operations in: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Ghana. ASAI operations in each of these countries will follow the highly efficient ASA model - adjusted to meet local condition and unique needs of the people there.

Experienced staff from ASA has been seconded to these institutions to train local staff and design policies and procedures. It is expected that each of these MFIs will, over time, emerge as the market leader in terms of efficiency and scale in each of these markets. This should stimulate competition and encourage other MFIs to reduce their operating expenses and thereby reduce the costs of borrowing for the clients.

Based out of New York, ASA Foundation (AF) has been established to provide financial and technical assistance to NGO-MFIs worldwide - to help them become sustainable and efficient in serving their clients. This is a non-profit institution that aims to assist the poor by assisting the institutions which serves them. Small and emerging NGO-MFIs around the world will be benefit from it.

The NGO-MFI will be given the opportunity (and technical know-how) to replicate ASA Cost-effective and Sustainable Microfinance Model. Some of them will also be eligible for financial assistance from this institution. A combination of the two should make these institutions self-reliant and competitive within the shortest possible time.

AF is generously supported by donations and welcomes fund from different sources to meet its goals.

ASA University Bangladesh (ASAUB) has been founded with the objective of spreading quality higher education among students at affordable cost.

The University started its academic activities in May 2007 after getting approval from the Government of Bangladesh and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Initially graduation and post graduation programs have been offered in the following disciplines:

• Graduation (4 years) programs in English, LLB and BBA
• Post-graduations (2 years) in MBA (Regular) and MBA (Executive).

Till December 2007, some 1300 students have been enrolled and are attending classes. This number is ever increasing and the university hopes to introduce new disciplines soon, keeping with its student's demands.