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The role of informal microfinance institutions in saving

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What is more disturb<strong>in</strong>g than the fact that SACCOs members hold sav<strong>in</strong>gs with other f<strong>in</strong>ancial<br />

<strong><strong>in</strong>stitutions</strong> is the fact that almost half <strong>of</strong> the respondents have their largest sav<strong>in</strong>gs account<br />

with a f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong>in</strong>stitution other than their SACCOs.<br />

When those who keep their largest sav<strong>in</strong>gs at a bank were asked why they do so, almost half<br />

reported that it is because they have a tradition <strong>of</strong> bank<strong>in</strong>g with this <strong>in</strong>stitution, <strong>The</strong> good<br />

news for SACCOs is that very few respondents cited high rates <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest, safety, or the bank’s<br />

reputation as a reason for keep<strong>in</strong>g their largest sav<strong>in</strong>gs account with a bank. This suggests that<br />

SACCOs are compet<strong>in</strong>g favorably with banks except <strong>in</strong> the area <strong>of</strong> ‘’tradition”, a factor which<br />

is outside SACCOs control. With time, and a concerted publicity effort, it is likely that SACCOs<br />

could beg<strong>in</strong> to draw member’s sav<strong>in</strong>gs away from banks, provided that SACCOs cont<strong>in</strong>ue to<br />

<strong>of</strong>fer competitive <strong>in</strong>terest rates on sav<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />

What is also clear, however, is that SACCOs, are not compet<strong>in</strong>g favorably with build<strong>in</strong>g<br />

societies. S<strong>in</strong>ce 2008 there has been an unambiguous <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> the proportion <strong>of</strong> Sacco’s<br />

respondents with sav<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g societies. When asked why they keep their largest sav<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

account with a build<strong>in</strong>g society, 44% <strong>of</strong> the 2008 respondents reported that they do because<br />

build<strong>in</strong>g societies <strong>of</strong>fer the highest rate <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest on sav<strong>in</strong>gs. Another 15% <strong>of</strong> the 2008<br />

respondents do so <strong>in</strong> order to qualify for a loan from the build<strong>in</strong>g society, suggest<strong>in</strong>g that the<br />

ability <strong>of</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g societies to <strong>of</strong>fer large long term loans (e.g. house loans) is draw<strong>in</strong>g sav<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

away from SACCOs and <strong>in</strong>to build<strong>in</strong>g societies.<br />

It is therefore recommended that SACCOs augment their ability to mobilize sav<strong>in</strong>gs from<br />

current members by rais<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>terest rates on sav<strong>in</strong>gs to levels that are competitive with<br />

build<strong>in</strong>g society <strong>in</strong>terest rates, and beg<strong>in</strong> to <strong>of</strong>fer large long term loans that are sufficient to<br />

purchase and build houses.<br />

4.1.17: Lend<strong>in</strong>g Services<br />

Respondents who have taken out loans were asked whether they had borrowed the money<br />

from their SACCOs, or from other f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong>in</strong>stitution. Survey results clearly demonstrated that<br />

the proportion <strong>of</strong> borrow<strong>in</strong>g members who take out loans from their SACCOs has <strong>in</strong>creased<br />

s<strong>in</strong>ce 2008. <strong>The</strong>se results <strong>in</strong>dicate that SACCOs have improved their lend<strong>in</strong>g capacity.<br />

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