Microfinance in the Banking Sector

October 2011

Content• Overview of microfinance in the banking sector

• Analysis of landscape

• Drivers of change

• Skills implications

Profile of microfinance

Source: NCR Register, August 2010

Provincial distribution of credit activity

Source: NCR Consumer Credit Market Report, December 2010

Estimated number of MFI employees

  % distribution staff

Small enterprise financiers (mostly not for

profit) 3.8%

Cooperatives 1.0%

Incremental/Low cost housing 0.5%

Small micro lenders 37.3%

Large micro lenders 24.6%

Alternative banks (African Bank/Capitec/U-

Bank) 31.6%

Large/Commercial Banks 1.2%Source: NCR Registration August 2010 with RUDO estimates

Employee race profile

Source: Primary Research Interviews

Employee educational profile

Source: Primary Research Interviews

Range of financial services

The South African Microfinance Landscape

Drivers of change in the sector• Economic and socio economic factors

Drivers of change in the sector• Political and social environments

– Speeding up growth and transformation to create decent work and sustainable livelihoods

– Massive programme to build economic and social infrastructure

– Comprehensive rural development strategy linked to land and agriculture reform and food security

– Strengthen the skills and human resource base

– Build cohesive, caring and sustainable communities (Address inequalities and halve poverty and unemployment by 2014)

Drivers of change in the sector• Technological factors

– Competitiveness through technology

– National loan register no longer compulsory so no longer a source of accurate information

– Cooperatives have mostly manual systems

– Those who have purchased sophisticated custom designed software do not use it

Drivers of change in the sectorLegislative environment

Skills implications• A need for management talent

– Loan officers promoted through the ranks lack management skills

– Managers in commercial banks not familiar with business models for serving low-income markets

– Paradigm shift – inclusive banking models that need managers with entrepreneurial spirit

• Credit Management, Legislation, Marketing and Compliance

• Cooperatives and ME lenders: Basic Accounting, Credit Management, Corporate governance skills

Questions?