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Micro Finance Registration

Micro Finance Registration including Incorporation kit and share certificates.

Micro Finance Registration

Microfinance registration refers to the formal process of establishing and legally recognizing a microfinance institution (MFI). Microfinance institutions provide financial services, such as small loans, savings accounts, insurance, and other basic financial services, to individuals or small businesses that lack access to traditional banking services. The registration process ensures that the MFI operates within the legal and regulatory framework of the country, ensuring transparency, accountability, and protection for clients.

Important Points For Micro Finance Registration:

  • 1. Type of Entity:

    MFIs can be registered as different types of entities, including Section 8 Companies (not-for-profit), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC-MFIs), Trusts, and Societies.

  • 2. Registration with RBI:

    NBFC-MFIs must obtain a Certificate of Registration from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Submit the application for registration to the RBI along with the required documents and fees.

  • 3. Incorporation:

    If choosing to register as an NBFC-MFI, the entity must be incorporated as a company under the Companies Act, 2013. For Section 8 Companies, Trusts, or Societies, follow the respective incorporation processes under the Companies Act, Trusts Act, or Societies Registration Act.

  • 4. Directors and Management:

    Ensure the directors and management team meet the ‘fit and proper’ criteria set by the RBI. Provide details of the board of directors and key management personnel.

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Need For Micro Finance Companies

Microfinance companies play a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion by providing financial services to underserved and low-income individuals who typically lack access to traditional banking. Numerous organizations, including banks, exist in India that provide loans to support enterprises. What makes microfinance companies necessary, then? It is necessary because it accomplishes the following goals:

  • It provides financial assistance to enterprises that cannot place collateral.
  • Microfinance companies provide financial services to individuals and small businesses that are excluded from the traditional banking system.
  • It provides startups with much-needed support.
  • Microfinance solutions enable consumers to obtain loans when they most need it and increase credit availability. Banks rarely give customers small loans; MFIs that offer microloans fill this gap. By raising the amount of funds accessible to the poor, it enables capital growth.
  • It formalizes the process of lending and hence brings about discipline in borrowing by low-income groups. This prevents over-borrowing and reduces complications arising out of high future debts.

Formation of Microfinance Companies

The Reserve Bank of India ideally only permits Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) to do financial activity. Nonetheless, the RBI grants specific businesses exemptions to carry out financial operations up to a predetermined threshold.

Therefore, a microfinance company registration can happen in the following two ways

Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFC) duly registered with RBI

Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) are financial institutions that offer various banking services but do not have a banking license. They are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the RBI Act of 1934.

Section 8 companies (companies formed under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013)

Section 8 companies are entities formed under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, in India. These companies are primarily established for promoting commerce, art, science, sports, education, research, social welfare, religion, charity, or any other useful objective.

Microfinance Company Registration as an NBFC

Given the differences in the two models for forming a microfinance company, the registration process also varies considerably. The following are the steps involved in the registration of a microfinance company through an NBFC:

  • ✔ List of all members
  • ✔ Rules and Regulations of the society
  • ✔ Pan Card
  • ✔ A Covering Letter
  • ✔ Proof of Address
  • ✔ Identity Proof of Members
  • ✔ Memorandum of Association
  • ✔ Self Declaration
  • ✔ Photographs
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Micro Finance

Advantages of Micro Finance

Financial Inclusion:
Provides low-income individuals and underserved communities access to financial services that traditional banks often overlook.

Risk Management:
Helps households and small businesses manage unexpected expenses through savings, credit, and insurance services.

Poverty Alleviation:
Empowers individuals to improve their living standards, generate income, and start or expand small businesses.

Local Economic Development:
Encourages job creation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth in local communities.

Women Empowerment:
Enhances women's economic participation and promotes gender equality by focusing on women, who are often marginalized by traditional financial institutions.

Disadvantages of Micro Finance

High Interest Rates:
Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) often charge higher interest rates than traditional banks, leading to potential debt for borrowers due to the higher costs associated with small loans.

Restricted Financial Services:
MFIs typically offer basic services such as credit and savings, but may lack more advanced options like investment opportunities or insurance, limiting financial choices for consumers.

Credit Risk:
Lending to low-income individuals without traditional collateral increases the risk for MFIs if borrowers default on their loans.

Over-Indebtedness:
Borrowers who take out multiple loans from different sources risk falling into a cycle of debt if they cannot generate sufficient income to repay their debts.

Ethical Concerns:
Issues regarding client treatment, transparency in loan terms, and ensuring that microfinance practices genuinely benefit the communities served are critical to address.

Micro Finance Company Registration Process

Step 1 - Documentation

An application in the required format must be submitted to the RBI along with the following set of documents in order to be granted a license. The application may be rejected in its whole if any of these documents are not submitted at the time of submission. It is advised that all necessary paperwork be organized before starting the application procedure in order to prevent such a scenario.

Step 2 - Incorporate your company

A MFI-NBFC may choose to incorporate as a Private Limited Company or as a Public Company. Hence, the first step in establishing MFI-NBFC is for your firm to be incorporated as a Public or Private Limited Company, depending on what best meets its requirements. Here at Setindiabiz, we offer our comprehensive and affordably priced packages for the incorporation of both private and public limited companies. You can visit our official website on company registration in India to learn more and to make use of our services.

Step 3 - Insure Minimum Capital

An MFI-NBFC cannot file an application for RBI approval unless it have sufficient capital. The applicant company must have a minimum capital of Rs. 5 crores before it seeks for the required license from the RBI, since this is the stipulated capital limit, also known as the net owned funds for the same. Keep in mind that this sum is Rs. 2 crores for India's northeastern states.

Step 4 - Deposit Capital

Following the arrangement of the required capital of Rs. 5 crores, the funds must be put as a fixed deposit into an FD account formed in the NBFC's name at any scheduled commercial bank. The banker also has to get a No Lien Certificate.

Step 5 - Apply for RBI license digitally

The required application for an RBI license can be found on the RBI's official website. The application needs to be downloaded and manually completed. Once completed, the application must be uploaded by attaching a scanned copy of it and the necessary document scanned copies. Once an application is successfully submitted, a reference number is generated.

Step 6 - Submit the application to the RBI regional office

A copy of the application, the application reference number, and copies of the necessary documents must be sent to the RBI Regional Office after the application has been electronically submitted. After reviewing the application and successfully verifying its contents, the relevant authorities forward it to the RBI Central Office.

Step 7 - Issuance of RBI license

The RBI grants a license to the applicant company within a few days of the application being submitted. The NBFC can start functioning as a microfinance firm without any difficulties or roadblocks after obtaining the license.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


What is a microfinance company?

A microfinance company is a financial institution that provides small loans and financial services to individuals or businesses with limited access to banking facilities, primarily focusing on rural and low-income populations.

Who regulates microfinance companies?

Microfinance companies in India are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Certain types of microfinance companies operate as Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC-MFIs) and must comply with RBI guidelines.

What is the minimum capital requirement for registering a microfinance company?

The minimum capital requirement for a microfinance company varies depending on its type. For NBFC-MFIs, the minimum net-owned funds (NOF) required are ₹5 crores (₹2 crores for companies registered in the Northeast).

What services can a microfinance company offer?

Microfinance companies can provide small loans, credit, savings, insurance, and other financial services to underserved populations. The primary focus is to promote financial inclusion and empowerment.

What is the process for registering a microfinance company?

The registration process includes incorporating the company under the Companies Act, 2013, meeting RBI's capital and NOF requirements, and obtaining an NBFC license from the RBI, if applicable.

What compliance requirements do microfinance companies have?

Compliance requirements include periodic reporting to the RBI, maintaining prescribed credit limits for borrowers, adhering to fair practices, and ensuring transparency in operations.

Can microfinance companies accept deposits?

No, microfinance companies (NBFC-MFIs) are generally not allowed to accept public deposits. Their operations are limited to providing loans and other credit services to members or clients.