Latest News

Accion’s Venture Lab Closes Initial Investments in Financial Inclusion Start-Ups

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Today, Accion announced the first five investments by Venture Lab, its $10 million seed capital initiative, which invests in start-up companies that help expand global financial inclusion. A pioneer and leader in bringing financial services to the underserved, Accion launched Venture Lab in April, 2012.

Accion President and CEO Michael Schlein gives Keynote Presentation at the Microlumbia Fund Conference

Fri, 03 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Accion President and CEO Michael Schlein addressed students and members of Columbia University’s Microlumbia Fund at their 6th annual conference on May 3rd in New York City.

There's more to financial inclusion than having a bank account, argues Elisabeth Rhyne of the Center for Financial Inclusion

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:12:00 GMT

Elisabeth Rhyne writes in The Guardian: "Financial inclusion policy makers and providers must understand how financially included and excluded people manage their money, because improved money management is in itself one of the main objectives of financial inclusion and because wrong assumptions about money management can lead to failed products and client indifference."

New Study Highlights U.S. Small and ‘Micro’ Businesses as Engines for Job Creation

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:33:00 GMT

By providing small loans that average just $10,000 in the U.S., leading microlenders Accion and Opportunity Fund are significantly contributing to small business sustainability, as well as increases in income and job creation according to their microTracker lending outcomes study – U.S. Microfinance: Small Loans, Big Results.

Accion Pledges Support for Smart Campaign's Client Protection Certification

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:59:00 GMT

Accion today pledged support for the Smart Campaign’s Client Protection Certification Program. The program, created by the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion, launched in January to ensure that client-protection standards are both achievable and valued by the microfinance industry.