Dhaka : BRAC Bank has recently organised a series of conferenceswith entrepreneurs of its SME e-Loan ‘Shafollo’, a first by any bank in Bangladesh, marking a major milestone in financial inclusion journey in Bangladesh.
The engagement styled ‘Shafollo Uddokta Shomabesh’, that brought together more than 600 small and medium business owners in Gazipur, Dinajpur, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Syedpur, and Rajshahi, reinforces the bank’s commitment to fast, transparent, and paperless lending.
Their enthusiastic engagement added a vibrant energy to the programme, making it both impactful and meaningful. Supported by the Gates Foundation, the ‘Shafollo Uddokta Shomabesh’ was organized to drive nationwide awareness about SME e-loan services.
A key highlight of the events was the live demonstration of instant ‘Shafollo’ loan disbursement, conducted on the spot, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Bangladesh’s banking sector. This live disbursement showcased the speed, transparency, and efficiency of BRAC Bank’s e-loan capability.
During the sessions, BRAC Bank actively gathered direct feedback from participating entrepreneurs to further refine service features and enhance customer convenience. This customer-centric approach reflects the bank’s ongoing efforts to continuously improve digital financial services tailored to the evolving needs of SMEs.
This entrepreneur meet is planned to scale innovative solutions and strengthen the bank’s leadership in SME banking.
BRAC Bank’s ‘Shafollo’ e-loan programme is expanding access to formal credit for underserved segments by offering fast, collateral-free loans with minimal documentation. Designed to address long-standing credit barriers faced by small traders and rural entrepreneurs, the programme provides easy access to formal credit to grassroots people and traders and business owners application.
Using AI-based credit scoring, customer eligibility is assessed digitally, and once approved, funds are disbursed directly to the borrower’s account. The entire process – from application and verification to disbursement – is fully digitised, transforming loan access into a seamless experience completed within minutes.
