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This financial innovation could help low-income people gain access to credit

Sep 26, 2016
Lending circles, where friends and family come together to loan and borrow money, are getting an update.
Jose Quinoñez is one of this year's MacArthur 'genius' grant recipients.
macfound/YouTube

Microfinance is big business in Colombia

May 3, 2016
The country is a center of microfinance, providing small loans to the poor.
Elizabet Abella prepares food that she sells in the central market in Barranquilla, Colombia. She received a microloan to build her business from Opportunity International, a Christian organization that operates in 28 countries.
Lorne Matalon/Marketplace

Adapting microfinance to the 21st century

Oct 7, 2013
The father of microfinance, economist Muhammad Yunus, discusses the future of the microlending industry.

The online game of borrowing money

Oct 11, 2012
Payday lending -- an area of finance with one of the worst reputations -- may get a facelift with new start up LendUp, which takes its inspiration from microlending. Today, MIT is starting an outfit dedicated to delivering us from our wireless frustrations.

Mid-Day Extra: Starbucks gets into the money-lending business

May 3, 2012
Starbucks is working with a pioneer in microlending in developing countries - the Grameen Foundation - to lend money to small coffee farmers.