Muhammad Yunus

Current Company

Grameen Bank — Founder

The Banker to the Poor

Muhammad Yunus, an economics professor at the University of Chittagong in Bangladesh, began experimenting with small loans to impoverished villagers in the 1970s after witnessing the devastating famine that swept the country. He discovered that tiny amounts of credit — sometimes as little as a few dollars — could enable the poorest people to start small businesses and lift themselves out of poverty, without needing collateral or traditional creditworthiness.

In 1983, Yunus formalized this insight by founding Grameen Bank, a microfinance institution that issued small loans primarily to women in rural Bangladesh. The bank's model — group lending, peer accountability, and a focus on women's empowerment — proved that the world's poorest people were not only creditworthy but often more reliable borrowers than the wealthy. Grameen Bank has since disbursed billions of dollars in microloans to millions of borrowers.

Nobel Laureate and Global Microfinance Pioneer

Muhammad Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, shared with Grameen Bank, for their efforts to create economic and social development from below. His work inspired the global microfinance movement, leading to the creation of thousands of microfinance institutions serving hundreds of millions of borrowers in developing countries worldwide.

Beyond microfinance, Yunus has championed the concept of social business — companies designed to solve social problems rather than maximize profit for shareholders. His ideas have influenced a generation of social entrepreneurs, impact investors, and development practitioners. In his 80s, Yunus continues to serve as one of the most influential voices on poverty alleviation and inclusive finance in the world.