With the mission of delivering sustainable microfinance services at the doorstep of the deprived sector target societies; SWBBL, was registered with the Company Registrar’s Office as a limited company under the Companies Act, 2053 on October 5, 2001 (Ashwin 19, 2058) and obtained a license from Nepal Rastra Bank– the Central Bank of Nepal on January 3, 2002 (Paush 19, 2058) to operate the financial activities under Development Bank Act, 2052.
The microfinance program currently implemented by SWBBL goes more than 28 years back when a group of development practitioners established an NGO named Centre for Self-help Development (CSD) in 1991 with the aim of helping the poor people to enhance socio-economic status through the capacity building and empowerment. Started in 1993, a microfinance program entitled Self-help Banking (SBP) became a landmark program in supporting deprived women at the grassroots level through the provision of microcredit and savings facilities based on group guarantee.
With an aim to provide the poor women with more sustainable microfinance services and enhance the credibility of the institution, CSD took the initiative to promote SWBBL together with renowned commercial banks- Nepal Investment Bank Ltd., Himalayan Bank Ltd., Nabil Bank Ltd. as well as individual promoters committed for poverty reduction.
SWBBL formally started its operation on January 14, 2002 (Magh 1, 2058 B.S.). At the time of establishment, its registered (central) office was in Janakpur, Dhanusha, eastern Terai region of the country. Later, according to the decision made on March 10, 2014, by the Company Registrar’s Office, the central office is shifted to Kathmandu, Nepal.
SWBBL has changed its name to Swabalamban Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd. as of Bank and Financial Institution Act 2073. Previously, it was Swabalamban Laghubitta Bikas Bank Ltd. as on January 6, 2006 (Magh 10, 2062) under the Companies Act., 2005 (2062) and re-obtained license from Nepal Rastra Bank under Bank and Financial Institutions Act , 2006 (2063).
The primary objective of the SWBBL is to provide the disadvantaged section of the rural poor with easy access to credit, which will help them to uplift their socio-economic status and make the full use of their existing skills and resources. The specific objectives include:
