Nordic Microfinance Initiative

Light Microfinance Private Limited is a non-banking finance company based in Ahmedabad, India, specializing in micro and meso finance products and services. Established in 1994, the company primarily operates in the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. It focuses on delivering gender and poverty-oriented programs aimed at supporting rural and peri-urban communities, with a particular emphasis on empowering poor women. As a registered entity with the Reserve Bank of India, Light Microfinance is recognized as one of the fastest-growing microfinance institutions in the country, addressing the financial needs of underserved populations.

Sitara, known as Sewa Grih Rin Limited, is a housing finance company based in New Delhi, India, that was established in 2011. The company specializes in providing affordable housing loans to low-income households, particularly those in urban and peri-urban areas. It offers a range of mortgage products that can be used alongside government subsidies, as well as non-mortgage loans aimed at home and infrastructure improvements. Focused on addressing the needs of informally employed individuals, Sitara empowers these households, especially women, by helping them acquire tangible financial assets and improve their living conditions. Through its services, the company strives to bridge the financing gap for those who typically lack access to formal housing finance, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life for its clients.

Sitara, known as Sewa Grih Rin Limited, is a housing finance company based in New Delhi, India, that was established in 2011. The company specializes in providing affordable housing loans to low-income households, particularly those in urban and peri-urban areas. It offers a range of mortgage products that can be used alongside government subsidies, as well as non-mortgage loans aimed at home and infrastructure improvements. Focused on addressing the needs of informally employed individuals, Sitara empowers these households, especially women, by helping them acquire tangible financial assets and improve their living conditions. Through its services, the company strives to bridge the financing gap for those who typically lack access to formal housing finance, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life for its clients.

Tugende is a financial services company based in Kampala, Uganda, founded in 2012. It focuses on providing financing solutions to informal sector entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises. The company specializes in helping motorcycle taxi drivers and other clients acquire business assets, such as motorcycles, special hire taxis, and matatus, allowing them to transition from renting to ownership within eighteen months. This shift not only enhances their income and job security but also improves road safety. In addition to asset financing, Tugende offers a range of supportive services including insurance, safe riding training, and access to genuine parts and maintenance services. Through its comprehensive approach, Tugende aims to bridge the credit gap for small businesses and foster financial independence among its clients.

Light Microfinance Private Limited is a non-banking finance company based in Ahmedabad, India, specializing in micro and meso finance products and services. Established in 1994, the company primarily operates in the Indian states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. It focuses on delivering gender and poverty-oriented programs aimed at supporting rural and peri-urban communities, with a particular emphasis on empowering poor women. As a registered entity with the Reserve Bank of India, Light Microfinance is recognized as one of the fastest-growing microfinance institutions in the country, addressing the financial needs of underserved populations.

Svasti Microfinance Pvt. Ltd. is a non-banking financial company based in Mumbai, India, that focuses on providing financial services to low-income individuals, particularly in urban slums. Established in 1995, the company offers a range of customized loan products, including joint liability loans and loans against property, aimed at meeting the diverse financial needs of its clients. Additionally, Svasti provides payment services such as short-term credit facilities for utility bills, prepaid mobile top-ups, and DTH bill payments, accessible through mobile platforms and a smartphone application. The microfinance program was initiated in 2008, and Svasti leverages technology and innovative product design to enhance financial inclusion in a fragmented market characterized by a significant under-penetration of services.

Proximity Designs is a non-profit charitable organization that specializes in designing and manufacturing agricultural equipment tailored for farmers in Myanmar. Founded in 2004 and originally known as IDE Myanmar, the organization rebranded in 2008. Headquartered in South Pasadena, California, with an additional office in Yangon, it offers a range of products, including sprinklers, solar irrigation pumps, foot-powered water pumps, and sprayers. Beyond equipment, Proximity Designs provides essential agronomy advisory services, social services, agricultural financing, and conducts economic policy research. The organization is also intertwined with Proximity Finance, a microfinance institution that addresses the financial needs of approximately 100,000 farming households, with plans to significantly increase its outreach in the coming years.

Sindhuja Microcredit Pvt Ltd, established in 2017 and headquartered in Patna, India, specializes in providing credit products tailored to the needs of self-employed women entrepreneurs in rural areas. The company offers micro finance and micro enterprise loans, focusing on digital and rural-focused financial services to cater to the bottom of the pyramid market.

Svasti Microfinance Pvt. Ltd. is a non-banking financial company based in Mumbai, India, that focuses on providing financial services to low-income individuals, particularly in urban slums. Established in 1995, the company offers a range of customized loan products, including joint liability loans and loans against property, aimed at meeting the diverse financial needs of its clients. Additionally, Svasti provides payment services such as short-term credit facilities for utility bills, prepaid mobile top-ups, and DTH bill payments, accessible through mobile platforms and a smartphone application. The microfinance program was initiated in 2008, and Svasti leverages technology and innovative product design to enhance financial inclusion in a fragmented market characterized by a significant under-penetration of services.

Dvara is a financial inclusion platform operating in India, comprising several businesses. Dvara KGFS establishes and supports local, geographically focused community financial services institutions, Kshetriya Gramin Financial Services (KGFS), catering to remote rural markets. Dvara Solutions, a software company based in Bengaluru, helps financial institutions enhance their customer-centricity. Dvara Research aims to ensure universal access to financial services. The platform operates a non-banking financial institution, offering agent-based and correspondent banking solutions, including money transfers, bill payments, loans, savings, and more, empowering low-income households and enabling financial well-being.

Svasti Microfinance Pvt. Ltd. is a non-banking financial company based in Mumbai, India, that focuses on providing financial services to low-income individuals, particularly in urban slums. Established in 1995, the company offers a range of customized loan products, including joint liability loans and loans against property, aimed at meeting the diverse financial needs of its clients. Additionally, Svasti provides payment services such as short-term credit facilities for utility bills, prepaid mobile top-ups, and DTH bill payments, accessible through mobile platforms and a smartphone application. The microfinance program was initiated in 2008, and Svasti leverages technology and innovative product design to enhance financial inclusion in a fragmented market characterized by a significant under-penetration of services.

BASIX Sub-K iTransactions Limited, established in 2010 and headquartered in Hyderabad, India, operates a mobile technology-based transactional platform designed to provide digitized services to residents in rural, urban, and semi-urban areas. The company offers a range of financial services including banking, savings, government payments, money transfers, utility payments, and prepaid mobile top-ups through a network of basic convenience outlets. Sub-K, which translates to "for everyone" in Hindi and indicates transactions within 1,000 meters distance for less than 1,000 rupees, serves as a subsidiary under the BASIX Social Enterprise Group. It recruits, trains, and equips local entrepreneurs as Business Correspondent agents who act as human ATMs, facilitating real-time banking and non-banking solutions at the last mile of connectivity between banks and end consumers. The company aims to bridge the digital divide by offering affordable, accessible, and scalable digital payment solutions to the bottom-of-the-pyramid segment, ultimately creating a financially included society.

Utkarsh Micro Finance Private Limited is registered with Reserve Bank of India as Non Banking Finance Company (NBFC). Its registered office and corporate office is in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). It is started to provide financial and non financial services in its area of operations to the unbanked population who have the skill but are in need of capital. Initially it has started with credit and insurance, but eventually it will also undertake other activities to bring transformation in the lives of underprivileged.

Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited is a banking institution based in Varanasi, India, that offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services to retail, institutional, and corporate customers. Established in 2016, the bank operates through several segments, including Corporate/Wholesale Banking, Retail Banking, Treasury, and Other Banking Operations. Its offerings encompass savings, current, and salary accounts, along with various term deposits and investment products. The bank also provides an array of loan products, such as housing, personal, agricultural, and MSME loans, in addition to overdrafts and corporate lending services. Utkarsh Small Finance Bank facilitates remittance services, including NEFT and RTGS, and supports various banking channels like ATMs, internet, and mobile banking. The bank's operations are supported by a network of 507 branches and 177 ATMs across 15 states and 2 union territories in India, making it a significant player in the small finance banking sector.

RGVN (North East) Microfinance Limited is a registered Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) based in Guwahati, India, founded in 2008. The company operates 149 branches across West Bengal and the Northeastern region of India, focusing on providing financial services to underprivileged households. RGVN aims to enhance access to health, education, and livelihood opportunities by offering consumer financing, including loans for micro-businesses and subsidized loans for welfare purposes. The organization is committed to good governance, professionalism, integrity, and transparency, with a vision to positively impact the lives of its clients, serving approximately 500,000 clients in the region.

Satin Creditcare Network Limited is a non-banking finance company based in Gurugram, India, specializing in microfinance services. Founded in 1990, the company primarily offers collateral-free microcredit facilities to economically active women, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where access to mainstream financial services is limited. Its services include loans for individual businesses, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as financing for solar lamps, bicycles, consumer durables, and the development of water connections and sanitation facilities. Additionally, Satin Creditcare Network has a housing finance subsidiary that caters to the affordable housing segment. The company operates on a Joint Liability Group model, facilitating community-based lending, and serves clients across 23 states and union territories in India. Through its subsidiary, Taraashna Services Limited, it also provides business correspondent services to other financial institutions, further extending its reach within the underserved market segments.

Utkarsh Micro Finance Private Limited is registered with Reserve Bank of India as Non Banking Finance Company (NBFC). Its registered office and corporate office is in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). It is started to provide financial and non financial services in its area of operations to the unbanked population who have the skill but are in need of capital. Initially it has started with credit and insurance, but eventually it will also undertake other activities to bring transformation in the lives of underprivileged.

Utkarsh Micro Finance Private Limited is registered with Reserve Bank of India as Non Banking Finance Company (NBFC). Its registered office and corporate office is in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). It is started to provide financial and non financial services in its area of operations to the unbanked population who have the skill but are in need of capital. Initially it has started with credit and insurance, but eventually it will also undertake other activities to bring transformation in the lives of underprivileged.

Utkarsh Micro Finance Private Limited is registered with Reserve Bank of India as Non Banking Finance Company (NBFC). Its registered office and corporate office is in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). It is started to provide financial and non financial services in its area of operations to the unbanked population who have the skill but are in need of capital. Initially it has started with credit and insurance, but eventually it will also undertake other activities to bring transformation in the lives of underprivileged.