Extending access to credit: Are alternate finance platforms creating tangible impact in India?
Friday, March 2, 2018
Having recently been brought under the regulatory ambit by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the thought was that the nascent online P2P lending sector can play a significant contribution towards furthering the cause of financial inclusion.
In its ‘Consultation Paper on Peer to Peer Lending’, the RBI highlighted how these web-based platforms are providing easier access of credit to small entrepreneurs by bringing prospective borrowers and lenders together. With more individuals lending to one another, interest rates for borrowers are going down, even as the increased availability of affordable credit stimulates greater financial activity and drives business growth. As a result, consumer segments such as MSMEs – until now either completely ignored or significantly underserved by the traditional banking and financial services segment – now have unparalleled access to finance and credit.
Photo courtesy of Peter Haden.
Source: Economic Times (link opens in a new window)
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