Dhaka, Aug. 25 -- The microfinance sector of Bangladesh- once defined by group meetings, passbooks and paper-based lending - is now undergoing a digital revolution.
From BRAC to Grameen Bank and ASA, leading microfinance institutions (MFIs) are embracing mobile banking, agent networks and data-driven lending tools to reach millions with faster, more transparent, and more inclusive services.
According to Bangladesh Bank, as of December 2024, 31 banks operated agent banking through 16,021 agents and 21,248 outlets. These outlets opened more than 24 million accounts - nearly half belonging to women and the majority to rural customers.
BRAC alone disbursed $5.85 billion in microloans to 6.9 million clients in 2024, while ASA reached 3.5 mill...