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Microfinance Industry Grew 42.9% In Q1

The total loan portfolio stood at Rs 1,90,684 crore as on June 30. 

A customer waits to deposit Indian Rs 100 banknotes at a counter of a bank in India. (Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg)
A customer waits to deposit Indian Rs 100 banknotes at a counter of a bank in India. (Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg)

The microfinance industry witnessed a 42.9 percent growth in first quarter of 2019-20 over the corresponding period last year with the total loan portfolio at Rs 19 lakh crore as on June 30, Microfinance Institutions Network said in a report.

The total number of microfinance loan accounts stood at 9.27 crore in April-June quarter of financial year 2019-20 (as on June 30) as compared to 6.68 crore accounts in April-June quarter of financial year 2018-19, MFIN, a Reserve Bank of India recognised self-regulatory organisation and industry association of the microfinance industry in India, said in its 30th issue of its Micrometer report.

“The entire microfinance industry has witnessed a growth of 42.9 percent in Q1 FY20 over Q1 FY19, with the total loan portfolio at Rs 1.9 lakh crore as on June 30,” it said.

As per the report, banks hold the largest share of portfolio in micro-credit with total loan outstanding of Rs 78,060 crore, which is 40.9 percent of the total micro-credit universe. “The larger share is primarily due to the merger of Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited with IndusInd Bank,” it added.

Non-Banking Financial Company-Micro Finance Institutions are the second largest provider of micro-credit with a loan amount outstanding of Rs 57,601 crore, accounting for 30.2 percent of total industry portfolio, the report stated.

Small Finance Banks have a total loan amount outstanding of Rs 32,406 crore with total share of 17 percent, NBFCs account for 10.8 percent share, while other MFIs account for 1 percent share in the microfinance universe.

“The increase in the loan portfolio and the loan accounts is symbolic of the enhanced needs and growing aspirations of microfinance customers across the country. The fact that this growth is balanced by an equally good portfolio quality is important as it reflects the industry's commitment to grow responsibly,” MFIN Chief Executive Officer Harsh Shrivastava said.

Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh are the five top states in terms of loan amount outstanding and account for 52 percent of the total loan portfolio, as per the report.