The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines-Microenterprise Access to Banking Services (RBAP-MABS) Program was launched in 1997. The Program – supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP), with oversight provided by the Mindanao Development Authority – assists rural banks to develop the capability to profitably provide financial services – microloans, microdeposits, microinsurance, and remittances – to the microenterprise sector. During its fourteen years of operation, the Program has also introduced innovations, both in delivery channels by pioneering and expanding mobile phone services and in helping rural banks to develop new microfinance products to serve small farmers (through the micro agri-loan product) and finance construction and housing improvement (through housing microfinace products).
Since 1997, the Program has worked with over 120 banks with more than 1,300 branches and other banking offices in the developing microfinance products, including microloans, microdeposits, micro-agri lending, housing microfinance, mobile banking, and microinsurance. These initiatives have allowed MABS participating banks to expand and offer new microfinance products and services to their clients.
