Grameen credit score – Enhancing credit access for SHG members through inclusion in credit bureau reporting, India

• Aug 4, 2025
• 1 min

Rural entrepreneurs, especially women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs), face significant challenges in accessing credit due to the absence of a formal credit history. To bridge this gap, MSC initiated the Grameen Credit Bureau project in Bihar. The initiative intended to develop a comprehensive credit database covering over 10 million SHG members, streamlining access to formal financial services for rural women.

MSC led the design and implementation of an integrated digital data repository that captures both financial and non-financial data of SHG members. We collaborated with JEEViKA, public sector banks, and credit bureaus like CRIF High Mark to define data points, ensure data quality, and generate reliable credit reports. Our efforts focused on eliminating risks and biases from data misinterpretation and facilitating a data-driven approach to credit assessment.

Once implemented, the Grameen Credit Bureau Score is expected to significantly improve the assessment of creditworthiness among rural SHG women, facilitating their access to a broader range of financial products beyond the traditional SHG structure. It will promote greater transparency in SHG transactions and repayment histories and pave the way for their integration into the formal financial ecosystem.

The Gates Foundation commissioned the project.