No. of states
No. of branches
No. of members
No. of staff
Cumulative loan disbursed
Loan outstanding
: 8
: 528
: 1,182,741
: 3,191
:Rs.1,249 crores
:Rs. 417 crores
Our Partners
Our News:
Skoch Challenger Award 2008 conferred upon Bandhan
Mr. Ghosh, Founder & CEO, Bandhan was handed over the award by Dr. C. Rangarajan, Hon’ble Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
Bandhan participated at the Sa-Dhan Annual Policy Conference 2008 titled ‘Finance Against Poverty: Architecture and Institutions’.
Sa-Dhan had organized its Annual Policy Conference on April 02-03, 2008 at Ashok Hotel, New Delhi. A team of 5 members from Bandhan participated at this meeting. Mr. Ghosh, Founder & CEO was invited to be a part of the panel titled ‘Scale of Inclusion and Challenges of Human Resources’ that was held on April 02, 2008. He made a presentation on the said topic.
It was a huge gathering and a productive 2-day meet.
Dr.L.K.Vaswani, Director, KIIT School of Rural Management hands over the token to Mr. Ghosh for having participated as a panelist of the session titled ‘Scale of Inclusion and Challenges of Human Resources’
Mr. Ghosh makes a presentation at the Sa-Dhan Annual conference in the session titled ‘Scale of Inclusion and Challenges of Human Resources’.
Bandhan participated at the Asia Pacific Regional Micro Credit Summit Meeting of Councils held at Indonesia in July 2008.
Mr. C.S.Ghosh, CEO, Bandhan was invited as a panelist at the Asia Pacific Regional Micro Credit Summit Meeting of Councils held at Bali, Indonesia from July 28-30, 2008.
Mr. Ghosh participated as a panelist at the workshop entitled ‘Five Cents a Day: Innovative Programs for Reaching the Destitute with Micro grants, no interest loans and other instruments’.
Punjab National Bank (PNB) provides financial assistance to Bandhan
Punjab National Bank (PNB) has sanctioned a term loan facility to the tune of Rs. 25 crores to Bandhan. This is Bandhan’s first ever deal with PNB. We look forward to a long term association with them.
Bandhan has set up 10 Non Formal Schools (primary)
As a part of its education program, Bandhan inaugurated 10 non formal schools (primary) across 9 villages in the district of South 24 Parganas in the state of West Bengal. The inauguration was done through the auspicious hands of Mr. C.S.Ghosh, Founder & CEO, Bandhan on June 16, 2008 at 3.00 pm. The Block Development Officer (BDO) of that area was present as a special guest. Department heads based at the head office were also present at this special event. It was learned from the gathering that these newly set up non formal schools shall receive all support from the local community and leaders.
2008 Senior Journalists Seminar – Building understanding between the United States and the Asian Muslim World
Bandhan had a small participation in the East West Center’s 2008 Senior Journalists Seminar taking place from June 08-28, 2008. This seminar included participants from United States, Singapore, Philippines, Pakistan, Indonesia and India.
There was a short session allotted to Bandhan titled ‘Microfinance, Micro Entrepreneurship and Rural Poverty’. A group of participants visited Bandhan head office on June 18, 2008. They had an interaction with the Founder and CEO of Bandhan. They were all quite impressed to hear about Bandhan’s activities and accomplishments in such a short span of time.
Banking Conference at Indian School of Business, Hyderabad
Centre for Analytical Finance (CAF) hosted a banking conference on June 13, 2008 at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad to provide a forum for discussion on the following issue: Economic and Social Responsibilities of Indian Commercial Banks: is there a healthy compromise?
These are exciting times for the Indian banking sector. It is growing rapidly with even better future prospects. Some of these opportunities are likely to be global in scope. This conference offered a public platform for the leaders to examine this question. It consisted of two panel discussions and a special address.
a) Competitiveness of Indian Commercial Banks: changes and reforms necessary to make Indian commercial banks competitive in an increasingly global market place.
b) Social responsibilities of the Indian Banking Sector: how to include the un banked masses into the banking network.
Mr. Ghosh was invited to participate and contribute to the discussions. He accepted the invitation and did attend the conference.
The Inaugural Meeting of the Women’s Forum Asia at Shanghai
Bandhan was invited to participate at the inaugural meeting of the Women’s Forum Asia, on May 15-17, 2008 in Shanghai, which was being produced for the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society in partnership with the All China Women’s Federation. Mr. Ghosh was a discussion leader in the session on “Micro finance as a boost for women’s integration: breaking the constraints to leverage the benefits”, on May 15, 2008.
The overall theme of the 2008 Forum was Growth and sustainability: How women are making a difference. This inaugural edition of the Women’s Forum Asia brought together about 700 participants from around the world, mostly women in leadership positions in business, politics and society.
Graduation Project Workshop in Kolkata
CGAP had planned a meeting of all the Graduation pilot projects in Kolkata. Institutions involved in the program for the poorest of the poor got together to discuss the varied aspects of the program.
Participants included representatives from across the globe - India, Pakistan, Haiti, Honduras and Ethiopia. Also present were representatives from World Bank, Ford Foundation and some Research Evaluators. This was the first chance to meet and explore together critical aspects of the project. This Graduation Project Workshop was held in Kolkata from April 28 – May 01, 2008. It was a productive meeting and an interactive session. Bandhan was one of the three organizations who have piloted the hard core program in India.
Visit of Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India to Bandhan on December 12, 2007
A red letter day in the annals of Bandhan – December 12, 2007 marked the visit of Smt.
Usha Thorat, Hon’ble Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI). She visited our
head office at Salt Lake, Kolkata. She arrived at 1.30 pm, accompanied by Mr.C.D.
Srinivasan, GM and Mr. Thotngam Jamang, AGM of Rural Planning and Credit
Department (RPCD) RBI, Kolkata.
ACCESS Development Services held its first ACCESS MICROFINANCE ALLIANCE MEET on January 10, 2007 at Hotel Stadel, Salt Lake City, Kolkata where in Smt. Rekha Goswami, Hon’ble Minister in-charge SHG & Self Employment Department Govt. of West Bengal was invited as the Chief Guest.
On the occasion of the annual meet of the ACCESS Microfinance Alliance, West Bengal chapter, they felicitated the committed efforts of this visionary leader of the Indian Microfinance sector, Mr. Ghosh.
Bandhan was ranked world’s 2nd best MFI by Forbes in December 2007. ACCESS takes pride in Bandhan’s global recognition and is honored to have the organization as a member of the ACCESS Microfinance Alliance.
CAB-CMF conference on January 18, 2008 in Pune
A conference was jointly organized by Centre for Microfinance (CMF) with the College of Agricultural Banking (CAB) on January 18, 2008 in Pune.
The objective of this conference was to facilitate the interaction between researchers who are conducting experimental research in the field of microfinance, and microfinance practitioners, bankers and policy makers. Researchers and practitioners shared results from experiments they have conducted, that have led or could lead to improvements in microfinance programmes or policies.
The goal of the conference was to draw recommendations on programme design and microfinance policies from existing experiences and research and identify areas for future research and experimentation that will of relevance to practitioners and policy makers.
Bandhan was invited to participate at this conference. Mr. Ghosh, CEO attended the same.
Workshop on ‘The Role of Corporate Governance in Managing Growth’
Standard Chartered Bank had organized a one and a half day workshop on ‘The Role of Corporate Governance in Managing Growth’ between November 30 – December 01, 2007 at ITC Grand Central Sheraton, Mumbai. Bandhan had participated at the same.
TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) – Kolkata Chapter had organized the second Signature Event coined as TiEGER 2008 on February 1-2, 2008 at Kolkata. Mr. Ghosh was invited to speak at the same.
The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) is a global not-for-profit organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship. TiE helps budding entrepreneurs through advice, guidance and assistance from successful and experienced entrepreneurs and professionals.
TiE – Kolkata Chapter had organized the second Signature Event coined as TiEGER 2008 on February 1-2, 2008 at the Hotel Oberoi Grand, Kolkata. They cordially invited Mr.Ghosh, CEO, Bandhan to be a panelist in the session ‘Social Entrepreneurship’.
The session showcased entrepreneurs who have started a new enterprise and have focused on the community. Their business model is based on the upliftment of the poor and the downtrodden.
Mr. Ghosh was a part of this event.
CAB-NABARD had organized a collaborative Exposure Programme on SHG Bank Linkage for Senior and Middle Level Executives of Banks during February 06-08, 2008 at Kolkata in association with Bandhan
The SHG movement in India has gained momentum and banks are eager to carry forward the programme to the far corners of the country. The College of Agricultural Banking (CAB) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) collaborative programme was organized from February 06-08, 2008 to study the experience of banks and MFIs in West Bengal and draw lessons from it that can be applied in their own context.
Mr. Ghosh, Founder & CEO, Bandhan took a session on the first day of the programme on “SHG-Bank Linkage Programme: Role and Experience of NGOs in West Bengal”. The participants also visited Bandhan field on all 3 days of the programme.
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) enters into a relationship with Bandhan
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) enters into a relationship with Bandhan with its first sanction of term loan of Rs. 10 crores for FY 2007-08.A special event was organized by IOB on March 01, 2008 at their Salt Lake branch office at Kolkata to mark the beginning of this relationship. Mr. S.A.Bhat, Chairman and Managing Director, IOB traveled all the way from Chennai to Kolkata to make the first disbursement. He marked the commencement of this unique relationship between the No.1 Nationalized Bank, IOB and No. 1 MFI in the country (as per Forbes), Bandhan.Mr. Ghosh, CEO, Bandhan received the cheque from Mr. Bhat, CMD, IOB. The entire team of Bandhan was invited to be a part of this event.Both Bandhan and IOB look forward to a long term association
CII – Eastern Region had invited Mr. Ghosh, CEO, Bandhan to address and interact with the CII Regional Council Members
CII – Eastern Region had invited Mr. Ghosh, CEO, Bandhan to address and interact with the CII Regional Council Members on March 12, 2008 at 1430 hours at the CII, NS Road office, Kolkata, in regard to the activities of Bandhan.
Mr. Ghosh gave a presentation to the members present.
