Bina Artha Ventura

Access to finance for low-income women

Indonesia

Bina Artha Ventura is a microfinance institution (MFI) that provides credit access to women with low incomes. It was founded in East Java and in 2013 expanded operations to West and Central Java. Bina Artha Ventura currently has a network of 59 branches on Java, the most-developed and most populated Indonesian island.

Despite impressive economic figures over the last few years, around 60 million Indonesians are living in poverty. Access to finance remains limited for many people, particularly those in rural areas. They lack good connections to towns and markets, and therefore have little development prospects.

Oikocredit chose to support Bina Artha Ventura with a loan because of the institution's focus on low-income women, a group that is particularly struggling to get access to small loans. Bina Artha Ventura is a well-managed institution that has long experience with group lending practices.

This loan will be used to boost Bina Artha Ventura's revolving loan fund, and support its growth and expansion by opening new branches and hiring extra (field) staff. In addition to its Grameen group lending methodology, supporting over 80,000 clients, Bina Artha Ventura will also seek to provide credit access to different groups of women with low incomes.