The Mastercard Foundation’s FIRST+II program, implemented by CapitalPlus Exchange (CapPlus), is supporting Odotobri Rural Bank (ORB) to take bold steps toward becoming a champion of gender-responsive finance. A gender diagnostic has revealed not only barriers but also powerful opportunities for ORB to serve women entrepreneurs more effectively and drive sustainable growth.

The findings highlight that ORB holds significant untapped potential, with its strong deposit base providing the capacity to expand lending far beyond current levels. With targeted interventions, including unsecured MSME lending, enhanced credit appraisal through iCAM, and more innovative liquidity planning, the bank has a realistic pathway to achieve a loan-to-deposit ratio of nearly 70%. This would translate into more capital flowing to MSMEs, particularly women-led enterprises, while safeguarding portfolio quality.

Seizing this opportunity, ORB is preparing to pivot its strategy away from predominantly salary-based lending towards MSME-focused lending, with an emphasis on agriculture and value chains where women play critical roles. This transition positions the bank not only to capture growth opportunities but also to meet the financing needs of underserved women entrepreneurs.

Priority actions will include embedding gender-sensitive practices at branches, tailoring credit assessment tools to reflect the realities of women-led businesses, and upskilling staff in inclusive finance. With these shifts, ORB is set to deliver faster, fairer, and more relevant services for women clients.

To accelerate this transformation, ORB has been selected to host a long-term transformation expert from FIRST+II. This embedded advisor will guide the bank in implementing gender-focused strategies, ensuring that women entrepreneurs are at the center of ORB’s growth story.

Through this journey, the Mastercard Foundation’s FIRST+II program, implemented by CapPlus, is helping Odotobri Rural Bank move from untapped potential to industry leadership, demonstrating how gender-responsive finance can drive inclusive growth and lasting community impact.