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WWB to Co-Host Seminar in Argentina for Banks Entering the Microfinance Market

Women’s World Banking (WWB), the world’s largest global network of microfinance institutions and banks dedicated to the economic empowerment of low-income women, and the Inter-American Development Bank/The Multilateral Investment Fund (IDB/MIF), the oldest and largest regional bank in the world, will co-host a seminar, “Microfinance: Towards the Inclusion of All,” on bank entry into microfinance. The seminar, which will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 22nd, is being held in collaboration with the Latin American Federation of Banks, (a non-profit institution comprised of more than 600 financial entities from 19 countries in the region that seeks the economic development and integration of Latin American countries). The workshop will build a better understanding of financial products for low-income entrepreneurs and explore strategies for banks serving this market. Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the IDB, will open the event, along with Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands who is a member of the United Nations Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors. For online registration click here.

Approximately 3 million micro-entrepreneurs do not have access to financial services in Argentina, in a country with a population of 40 million people. Financial institutions, primarily NGOs, provide microfinance services, which is mainly credit. Most of them serve an average of less than 2,000 clients and largely rely on grants and subsidies to guarantee their sustainability.

The objective of this workshop is to present microfinance as a profitable business opportunity for commercial banks in Argentina. To achieve this goal, leading regional financial institutions will share their experiences of developing business models that reach many clients and that offer a wide range of products and services tailor-made to micro-entrepreneurs. For

The seminar is designed for senior managers of financial institutions in Argentina. Participants will also include senior regulators and policymakers and other key stakeholders in order to enable the financial services sector to increase its outreach to Argentina’s underserved market. The participants will gain an integral perspective of the potential challenges faced when providing products and services for micro-entrepreneurs and adequate strategies to achieve success in serving this important market.

At the one-day seminar, more than 80 leaders from the financial services sector in Argentina—including leading financial institutions, senior regulators and policymakers and microfinance institutions (MFIs) from across Latin America—will share their perspectives on implementing successful business models for microfinance. Event participants will discuss topics such as:

The trend of an increasing number of commercial banks entering the microfinance space in Latin America;

The range of business models and strategies that banks in Latin America are implementing to target this segment;

Key success indicators to provide profitable credit and savings services to the micro-entrepreneur; and

The adequate regulatory framework needed to encourage the development of the microfinance industry in Argentina.

Participants will address the challenges and opportunities presented by providing products and services for micro-entrepreneurs, and discuss strategies for success in serving this important market.

About Women’s World Banking

WWB is a global network of 54 microfinance providers and banks, working in 30 countries to bring financial services and information to poor entrepreneurs. The network serves 9 million microentrepreneurs directly, and another 14 million indirectly through its bank partners and others. The network is supported by a global team based in New York which delivers expertise in product design and distribution, access to capital markets, and customer care and insight.

Microfinanzas: Hacia la Inclusión Financiera de Todos

Evento BID-FOMIN, WWB, FELABAN/Comisión Argentina para FELABAN

Buenos Aires, 22 de abril de 2008

Hotel Panamericano