Once a rural bank applies as a candidate participating bank, MABS staff will conduct an in-depth institutional assessment of the bank. This will be used to access the bank's opportunities and challenges in order to provide microfinancial services. Successful banks will sign Technical Assistance Contracts with RBAP-MABS. This agreement outlines a comprehensive technical assistance and training plan, the resource commitments for both MABS and the participating bank, and the expected results of the collaboration. MABS assistance to each participating bank will cover an intensive 4-6 month training period, followed by 12-18 months of monitoring, evaluation and further MABS assistance as needed.

The MABS Program started in 1997 in Mindanao and has successfully provided technical support and training services to more than 200 banking units.

All Rural Banks

The RBAP-MABS unit regularly offers workshops, seminars and training events throughout the Philippines in conjunction with RBAP's "Academy for Banking in the Countryside." These events will be open to any interested rural bank. Workshop and seminar topics will include microfinance best practices, loan pricing, deposit mobilization, microfinance MIS systems, the changing financial policy environment in the Philippines, cash flow lending, models of microfinance lending, zero tolerance toward delinquency, financial management, business planning, market analysis and product development, and other relevant topics.