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Carol Stream, Illinois 60132

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© 2025 Opportunity Internationala 501(c)3 nonprofit. EIN: 540907624.

News Blog

UN Secretary-General Visits Opportunity Malawi Mobile Bank

by Opportunity International

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Opportunity Malawi’s mobile bank in the UN Millennium Village of Mwandama on Sunday, May 30. “The secretary-general took time to talk with one of our customers who had just made a deposit. She had her smart card [bank card using biometric technology] in her hand and explained how she uses the card to access her secure savings account,” said Alefa Mtunga, manager of Opportunity Malawi’s southern region. Opportunity Malawi’s staff and clients in Mwandama…

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A Closer Look: Opportunity’s Work in Colombia

by Opportunity International

Opportunity International’s very first loan was made in Colombia in 1975. Since then, Opportunity Colombia has been working to provide stable financial systems to reduce unemployment, social unrest and violence in the country. And it’s working to become a national-scale bank offering loans, savings, insurance and training to Colombians living in poverty. Opportunity Colombia’s current initiatives: • Launching a full-service, commercial bank in Colombia • Partnering with Compassion International…

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Happy Memorial Day! Make microfinance a part of your summer.

by Opportunity International

Today the first three-day weekend of the summer comes to a close. So what are you planning to do this summer? Join the YAO team for the 14th Annual Chicago Half Marathon/5K on Sunday, Sept. 12. Be a part of the fifth largest half marathon in the U.S. and run the lakefront course along South Lake Shore Drive. The YAO team will train together over the summer and share a pre-race pasta dinner. It’s a great way to get more involved in microfinance and join the fight against poverty, and you’ll be…

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The Impact of a Ugandan Trust Group: An artisan, a Polaroid and a boda boda motorcycle

by Alexandra Arch

Today combined some of the best of the best. The 12 members of the Mutungo Stars Trust Group graciously welcomed us to their weekly group meeting this morning. They were eager to share the work of their businesses, which include all types of retail, as well as hair salons, mechanics shops and transportation services. Trust Group members Michael and Emmanuel were especially keen to show off their boda bodas (motorcycles) which not only seem to serve as a status symbol for them, but also provide…

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Opportunity Malawi’s Nkhata Bay bank kiosk is now open…

by Opportunity International

Opportunity Malawi’s Nkhata Bay bank kiosk officially opened to the public on April 14th, 2010. The kiosk, which will expand to a satellite branch, is located in Malawi’s northern region. According to Dickson, the kiosk’s customer service agent, “Things look promising – within barely an hour of opening the doors I started savings accounts for 10 families.” Malouje Sibusiso Kamanga, a secretary, opened her first ever  savings account when she worked in Lilongwe. She was recently transferred…

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YAO Goes to Boot Camp

by Opportunity International

On Saturday, May 15, 33 young professionals gathered in Minneapolis, Minn. for the first-ever YAO Boot Camp. The group spent the afternoon learning how to turn their knowledge of microfinance into action through a series of discussions and presentations. YAO-Minneapolis member Riley Powell gave a lively, interactive presentation on the ABC’s of microfinance and the work of Opportunity International. YAO chair Liesel Pritzker led a Q-&-A with Arusha branch manager David Makanza of Opportunity…

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Meeting the Grandfather of Microfinance

by Sonya Perez-Lauterbach

Last Friday, YAO-Chicago chair Shannon Leutheuser and I had the chance to not only hear but actually to meet Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the Chicago Council of Global Affairs event, “Building Social Business.” Yunus is the founder and manager of Grameen Bank and the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, and he has written a new book called Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism that Serves Humanity’s Most Pressing Needs. At the Chicago event, Dr. Yunus wore the traditional Bangladeshi clothing…

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"Building Social Business" with Muhammad Yunus

by Andrew Koehler

Last Friday, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs brought Dr. Muhammad Yunus to Chicago for a talk entitled “Building Social Business.” Dr. Yunus, often called the grandfather of microfinance, is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank and the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner. Friday’s talk was attended by an audience that consisted of local professionals, business leaders, students and educators, who were all interested in learning more about the principles and impact of building…

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Why we’re excited about the Tanzania launch on OptINnow…

by Opportunity International

Now that Opportunity has launched Tanzanian clients on OptINnow, participants from last September’s YAO Insight Trip to Tanzania want to share the good news. Here, they tell us what excites them most about the launch of Tanzania on OptINnow.   “I’m excited to tell my family and friends, because they all know how much Tanzania means to me. Tanzania will always hold a special place in my heart, and I’m just so excited to see what God is going to be doing in the country!” -Suzie Hofert…

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Credit Suisse Microfinance Advocates Partner with Opportunity

by John Shon

Thank you to John Shon, Reference Data Group, Credit Suisse, for this guest blog post. The Credit Suisse Microfinance Advocates Network is an employee global network with the mission to promote microfinance to the rest of the bank. It is our goal to educate employees on current issues faced by the microfinance industry and to create opportunities to give back and become involved. Credit Suisse partners with four microfinance institutions, one of which is Opportunity International, and we are hoping…

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