Oikocredit is a pioneer in the field of microfinance – since 1975 we’ve been investing in the empowerment of the poor and the creation of a more just world. That is our motivation, and it goes to the core of our mission.

What makes us different?

1. We offer a dual return to our investors: financial and social. In addition to earning modest financial returns, investors can trust that their money is being used to fight poverty, promote fair trade and respect our planet’s natural resources.
2. We take pride in our transparency:  the transparency of our actions, our motivations, and most importantly our outcomes.
3. We focus on organizations with the greatest need – especially startups and hard to reach rural areas where people don’t have the luxury of walking into a bank. At the same time, we work hard to safeguard our investors’ capital and we have never defaulted on paying our investors.
4. We do not believe in profit at all costs.  Oikocredit is a financial cooperative, providing financing at fair conditions in order to empower marginalized people to become self-sufficient.  That’s where we invest 100% of our resources.
5. To have the greatest impact, we invest more than just capital. We provide business services to meet the needs of borrowers outside the traditional financial system.
6. We are also working hard to develop standards for social performance measurement, monitoring, assessment, management and impact for microfinance institutions. The goal of these standards is an increase in socially responsible business practices, increased accountability and transparency, the provision of better services, improved responsiveness to client needs and the enhancement of lives and communities.

We invite you to join us and become part of the solution.  Join the movement in changing the world by changing the way we invest.