Banking News – Siddhartha Bank Limited has launched the ‘Siddhartha Mahila Samriddhi Loan’, a financing scheme aimed at improving access to credit for women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Under the new loan program, women entrepreneurs operating businesses that are owned or led by women can obtain collateral-free loans of up to NPR 1.5 million. The scheme also offers loans of up to NPR 2.5 million with partial collateral and up to NPR 5 million with full collateral.

To support the initiative, the bank has developed a special scorecard-based assessment system with technical assistance from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Unlike traditional banking practices that rely heavily on collateral, the new evaluation system assesses the nature of the business, operational experience, financial position, cash flow, and the entrepreneur’s overall capability, providing a more comprehensive assessment of loan applicants.

The bank believes the new approach will reduce barriers to finance for women entrepreneurs who lack sufficient collateral while giving greater priority to the business’s growth potential.

For further information about the loan scheme, customers can contact the bank’s 24-hour customer service center, “Siddhartha Care,” through its official communication channels.