Events 

Banking Agents:  Building and maintaining bank branches can be very expensive. At this CGAP lunchtime event in Washington DC on 22 July, Ignacio Mas talked about how networks of agents can be used to optimize access for poor clients.

Announcements 

Mobile Phone Banking to Reach Rural Mongolia:  As many as 300,000 Mongolians will be reached by a new mobile phone banking service to be launched by XacBank. The global microfinance body CGAP is supporting XacBank with technical assistance and funding.

Microfinance Technology Survey Offers Chance to Win Free Consulting Services:  Whether you're a small MFI or a big organization, your responses will help build a picture and create awareness of what's going on around information technology for the microfinance industry.

Funder Training Registration:  The next CGAP/MFMI training course for funders, "Building Inclusive Financial Systems: How Can Funders Make a Difference?", will be held in Croatia, September 8-12, 2008.

Latest CGAP Publications

Transforming NGO MFIs:  This publication provides insights and guidance for nonprofit MFIs that plan to transform into a for-profit company.

National Microfinance Strategies:  This Brief summarizes a study of several national microfinance strategy/policy documents.

Linking Financial Service Providers to Commercial Capital:  This Brief addresses guarantees used by microfinance institutions as funding instruments.

Banking on Mobiles:  This Focus Note examines how banks can translate the potential of mobile phones into greater financial access for poor people.