Microfinance in the United States

[Guest]

.

[Peter S]

Premal Shah will be a keynote speaker at...

Microfinance California 2009
Stanford University, May 28th 2009

The Mission…
Microfinance, CA will establish microfinance - widely known as a successful anti-poverty strategy in developing countries – as a powerful tool to resolve intergenerational poverty here in California.  The conference will engage California businesses, communities and investors in microfinance initiatives and in producing measurable, lasting results.

The Topics…
The conference will highlight microfinance strategies and practices unique to the United States economy, including the role of financial institutions in community development and the importance of financial education in the context of a predatory lending crisis.

http://www.microfinancecalifornia.org/home/



**Live Webcast May 28th 9:00am PDT**

9:00 am PDT
Opening Remarks and Keynote Address

Speakers:
Premal Shah, Kiva
Eric Weaver, Opportunity Fund
Emmett Carson, Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mike Billeci, Regional President, Greater Bay Area, Wells Fargo
John Stumpf, CEO, Wells Fargo

9:30 am PDT
How Microfinance Works in the US: Products, Services, and Risk Management

Description:
Explore the nuts and bolts of microfinance in the U.S. including discussion of the loan application process, technical assistance, portfolio risk, interest rates and payment terms. Learn the key differences between international and domestic microfinance. How is the current economic climate affecting potential borrows and how are microfinance lenders responding to these trends?

Speakers:
Andrea Levere, President, CFED
Emily Gasner, Program Director, TMC Development Working Solutions
Anne Haines, ACCION New Mexico
Evelyn Huang, Program Director, Opportunity Fund

http://www.microfinancecalifornia.org/webcast/


should be worth watching.  Who knows, maybe Premal will use this platform to announce the launch of Kiva loans to borrowers from the USA, and confirm the identity of Kiva's new American field partner(s).  Or perhaps the idea of offering Kiva loans to American borrowers has hit the buffers.  I notice that both ACCION USA and Opportunity Fund are now marked as "closed".

Peter

[Peter S]

this is just about to begin..

**Live Webcast May 28th 9:00am PDT**

9:00 am PDT
Opening Remarks and Keynote Address

Speakers:
Premal Shah, Kiva
Eric Weaver, Opportunity Fund
Emmett Carson, Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mike Billeci, Regional President, Greater Bay Area, Wells Fargo
John Stumpf, CEO, Wells Fargo

9:30 am PDT
How Microfinance Works in the US: Products, Services, and Risk Management

Description:
Explore the nuts and bolts of microfinance in the U.S. including discussion of the loan application process, technical assistance, portfolio risk, interest rates and payment terms. Learn the key differences between international and domestic microfinance. How is the current economic climate affecting potential borrows and how are microfinance lenders responding to these trends?

Speakers:
Andrea Levere, President, CFED
Emily Gasner, Program Director, TMC Development Working Solutions
Anne Haines, ACCION New Mexico
Evelyn Huang, Program Director, Opportunity Fund

http://www.microfinancecalifornia.org/webcast/

[Jan & John]

Giovanna is talking right now and doing a great job...

2:15 - 3:30 pm PDT
Web-Based Microfinance

Website platforms are serving as a gateway for microentreneurs, investors, and mentors to connect across the country. How are these sites raising new resources to expand the field. What challenges are they facing and what are their goals for the future?

Speakers
Tracey Pettengill Turner, MicroPlace
Giovanna Masci, Kiva
Gina Harman, ACCION USA
Jeff Jones, Program Director, MicroMentor

[Jan & John]

Enjoyed what little I heard...

... the part where Tracey from Microplace talked about how they have been booming since the economic downturn.  It is certainly true for John and I - we might as well *invest* in Kiva entrepreneurs because our money in the bank is not exactly growing with the interest these days.

... a question from the floor resulted in a comment from Giovanna Kiva - pretty much confirms currency loss above 20% is ready and waiting in the wings for implementation very soon...

jan