Accion Portacredit: Increasing Mfi Efficiency with Technology

Abstract

This InSight shares the achievements and challenges from ACCION's PortaCredit program, an innovative technology employed at microfinance institutions (MFIs) that collects and tracks microloans through the handheld computers of loan officers. PortaCredit replicates and expands upon the paper-based microloan application with the ultimate goals of reducing the operational costs of MFIs, automating and standardizing the credit application process and increasing the productivity of loan officers and other staff. This InSight chronicles the main technological and operational challenges to implementing PortaCredit at an MFI, and shares lessons from institutions in Ecuador and Venezuela.

Keywords: microfinance, ACCION, InSight, technology, PortaCredit, MFI, microcredit, loans

JEL Classification: N86, O14