Loans to women made mandatory for banks

All commercial banks and non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) will have to find out new women entrepreneurs in their operational areas across the country, reports BSS quoting the Bangladesh Bank (BB) as saying in a circular.
According to a circular issued by the BB on Wednesday, each of the branches of banks and NBFIs would have to find at least three women or women entrepreneurs who never take any loan from bank for doing business, but willing to do so. The banks and NBFIs have also been asked to arrange capacity building training for the women entrepreneurs with support from different organisations like Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), SME Foundation, Small and Cottage Industries Training Institute (SCITI), chambers and trade associations.
A branch of banks and NBFIs should also provide loan to at least one of the three women to help them set up a business venture at their own choice, BB said.
BB further said that it would evaluate the performance of banks and NBFIs in promoting women entrepreneurship in finalizing their CAMELS Ratings and considering support from the refinancing scheme of the central bank.