Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu stood on top in the country in availing loans through micro-finance, accounting for 10-12 per cent of total lending portfolio of Rs 1 lakh crore, an official of credit information firm CRIF High Mark said.

A total of 72 lakh women and their households had availed Rs 12,000 crore so far and of this Rs 900 crore in Coimbatore region, CRIF High Mark Senior Business Development Manager (India-Banking and Insurance) Natarajan Kumar told reporters here.

India was the biggest market for micro finance, which provided an alternative to extend loans to underserved people with the goal of promoting financial inclusion, bringing 4.5 crore women and their households, he said.

CRIF High Mark caters to all borrower segments MSME and Commercial borrowers, Retail consumers, Microfinance borrowers.

It provides analytics, data management and related software solutions promoting a more mature credit culture in the Indian economic system and sustaining the financial needs of businesses and consumers, the company said.

Source: India.com