Related Documents Opening Markets through Strategic Partnerships: The Alliance Between ICICI Bank and Cashpor Opening Markets through Strategic Partnerships: The Alliance Between Ameen Sal and Three Lebanese Commercial Banks

In the highly competitive Bolivian microfinance market, microfinance institutions are creating more innovative ways of reaching new clients with expanded products and services while keeping costs down. In this context, a private financial fund and an NGO formed the first strategic alliance of its kind. Through this alliance, the private financial fund FIE has opened teller windows in the branches of ProMujer in peri-urban markets. At the teller windows, FIE offers deposit, payment and transfer services, which Pro Mujer is legally prohibited from offering. The alliance provides ProMujer clients with access to safe and convenient deposit services, cut administrative costs for Pro Mujer, and has enabled FIE to dramatically expand its access to a low-cost source of funds virtually overnight. This case study analyzes the origins and operations of the alliance, and identifies key success factors and lessons learned for other financial institutions and donors interested in replicating this model.