Thanks for hitting the ASA website. If you're new to the field of microfinance, spend about five minutes getting acquainted with the field. It is fascinating and rapidly changing. For those that are familiar with finance for the poor, you may have already heard about what ASA has contributed to the movement. This site is fairly frequently updated to provide those of you who know or work with ASA information on various statistics and the latest products being offered to customers.

The formal banking sector in developing countries is not successfully providing financial services to the poor. The sector is typically involved in large loans to the upper class completely excluding low income groups. The microfinance movement, however, has shown that there is a thriving market among the poor when financial products cater to their specific needs. The poor are a quite active group in any economy. ASA has shown that their needs can be met while at the same time making the providing institution profitable as well.

ASA has raced to the forefront with a potent combination of low cost operations and high growth. Up to July 2006 ASA's Cumulative Loan Disbursement was US$ 2,703 million. Loans outstanding US$ 349 million among 4.72 million borrowers. At the end of 2005 ASA's Operational Self Sufficiency (OSS) was 275%, Financial Self-sufficiency 170% and rate of loan recovery 99.88%. ASA implementing it's operation through over 2,502 branches under 64 administrative areas all over in Bangladesh. ASA continues to perfect the role of financial intermediation by developing a variety of savings products that are quite successful at generating the necessary funds from local sources. ASA now offers customers liquid, semi-liquid and high return savings options that have attracted around US$ 49 millions. Members security fund balance over US$ 57 million.

ASA plans to reach over 5 million borrowers and over 6 million savings accounts by the year 2006 in Bangladesh alone, but also committed to sharing its successes in other countries. ASA is currently involved in several countries world-wide providing ASA experts to develop financial sectors elsewhere that are inclusive of low income groups. It will surely not be long before skeptics are convinced that a financial sector providing high quality products to all is achievable.

 Md. Shafiqual Haque Choudhury
Founder and President of ASA

ASA-Central Office:

23/3, Khilji Road, Shyamoli, Mohammedpur, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

Phone: (880-2) 8110934 -5, 8119828, 8151113,  9116375

Fax: (880-2) 9121861, 8111175, E-mail: <asabd@dhaka.net>