Ujjivan Financial Services Ltd. (UFSL) started operations as an NBFC in 2005 with the mission of providing a full range of financial services to the economically active poor who are not adequately served by financial institutions. It was the largest MFI in the country in terms of geographical spread having its operations was spread many states and union territories, and districts across India.
The company was the largest MFI in the country in terms of geographical spread having its operations was spread across vary states and union territories, and many districts across India. Ujjivan's erstwhile business was primarily based on the joint liability group lending model for providing collateral free, small ticket-size loans to economically active poor women. It had also offered individual loans to Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs). Ujjivan had adopted an integrated approach to lending, which combines a high customer touch-point typical of microfinance, with the technology infrastructure and related back-end support functions similar to that of a retail bank.
Business area of the company
The company offers a diverse range of loan products to cater to the specific requirements of its customers. Its products can be classified under two broad categories, namely, group loans and individual loans. Depending upon the end use, these products can be further sub-divided into agricultural, education, home improvement, home purchase and livestock loans. All of its assets under management (AUM) fall under the priority sector lending norms prescribed by the RBI. In addition to loan products, the company also provides non-credit offerings comprising of life insurance products, in partnership with insurance providers such as Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company, Kotak Mahindra Old Mutual Life Insurance and HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company.
Awards and Accreditations
2007: The company was awarded the ‘Unitus Accelerator Award’ at the Unitus Leadership Summit.
2008: The company was awarded the ‘Microfinance Process Excellence Award - 08’ for South Region by Royal Bank of Scotland Group in partnership with PlaNet Finance.
2009: The company was ranked #1 amongst the best companies to work for in the MFI industry under the assessment study conducted by Great Places to Work Institute.
2009: The company was awarded a certificate for reporting on social indicators to MIX under the gold category by Michael & Susan Dell Foundation in collaboration with Ford Foundation and CGAP.
2010: The company was ranked amongst the top 100 companies as India’s best companies to work for by The Economic Times in collaboration with the Great Place to Work Institute.
2010: The company was awarded the ‘Srijan MFI Transparency Award 2010’ in the established MFI category by Intellecap.
2011: The company was ranked #14 amongst the best companies to work by The Economic Times in collaboration with the Great Place to Work Institute.
2011: The company was ranked #1 amongst the best companies to work for in the MFI industry by The Economic Times in collaboration with the Great Place to Work Institute.
2011: The company was awarded as the ‘Organisation of the year’ under the large microfinance institution category at Microfinance India summit.
2012: The company was ranked #16 amongst amongst the top 50 companies having above 1,000 employees in India’s best companies to work for 2012 by The Economic Times in collaboration with the Great Place to Work Institute.
2012: The company was ranked #21 amongst amongst India’s 25 best companies to work for by The Economic Times in collaboration with the Great Place to Work Institute.
2012: The company was ranked #2 amongst the best companies to work for in the MFI industry under the assessment study conducted by Great Places to Work Institute.
2013: The company was ranked #2 amongst the best companies by Endenred - India in collaboration with the Great Place to Work Institute.
2013: The company was awarded amongst India's 100 innovative companies by Inc. India Magazine.
2014: The company was awarded as ‘Best Inspiring Place to Work’ under the NBFC category by Banking Frontiers in collaboration with Deloitte.
2014: The company was ranked #9 amongst the best companies to work for 2014 by The Economic Times in collaboration with the Great Place to Work Institute.
2014: The company was awarded ‘MIX S.T.A.R. MFI 2013’ award by MIX.
2015: The company was awarded the certificate of excellence in recognition of smart innovation at the as Innovative 100 summit by Inc. India Magazine.
2015: The company was ranked #1 amongst the best companies to work for 2015 under the microfinance industry by The Economic Times in collaboration with the Great Place to Work Institute.
2015: The company was awarded the ‘Skoch Order-of-Merit’ for qualifying amongst the India’s best in 2015 for capacity building and financial literacy by Skoch Group.
2016: The company was awarded ‘Corporate Citizen of the Year - 2016’ by Public Relations Council of India.
2016: The company was ranked #23 amongst the Best Workplaces 2016 Asia in the ‘25 Best Large Workplaces (501+ Employees)’ category by the Great Place to Work Institute.
2018: Best Security Practices in Small Finance Bank’ award during AISS 2018.
2018: DSCI Excellence Awards 2018 for ‘Security Practices in Small Finance Banks’.
2018: ERM 'Strategy of the Year' award at the ERM World Summit by RSA.
2019: Best Legal Department of the Year (Medium-Large Category) at IDEX LEGAL Awards 2019.
2020: Received the IBA Banking Technology Innovation Awards for 'The Best IT Risk Management and Cyber security Initiative’.
2020: Won the award for ‘Best Microfinance Bank’ by Asia Money.
Milestones
2004: The company commenced operations as a private limited company.
2005: Obtained registration from RBI to commence operations as an NBFC and commenced operations in southern region of India.
2006: Investment by MSDF.
2007: Introduced employee stock option scheme.
2008: Investment by MSDF, Elevar, IFIF, MUC, and Sarva Capital.
2008: Commenced operations in northern and eastern regions of India.
2009: Commenced operations in western region of India.
2011: Commenced operations in north-eastern region of India.
2011: The company was awarded for outstanding contribution in enrolling 1 million members under the financial inclusion product ‘Group Term Life’ by Bajaj Allianz.
2012: Investment by IFC and FMO.
2013: Granted NBFC-MFI status by RBI.
2015: Investment by Bajaj, CX Partners, NewQuest, Alena and CDC.
2015: Listing of secured and redeemable non – convertible debentures on BSE.
2015: Upgradation of CARE rating for long term bank facilities to ‘CARE A (Single A)’.
2017: Launch of Banking Operations on February 06 2017, 15 live branches were operational as of March 31, 2017.
2017: The bank has achieved breakeven in the first two months of operations with a PAT of Rs. 0.04 Crore.
2018: The company launched two new products to expand its product & service offerings for customers. Theses products were Savings Account for Senior Citizens and Tax Saver Fixed Deposit.
2018: First among Small Finance Banks, as Registrar for Aadhar enrolment.
2019: Launched new business lines - rural agri. business, financial institutions group (FIG) lending, two-wheeler loans, personal loans and overdraft facility.
2020: UFSL transferred its business to the Bank, which subsequent to the RBI licence, commenced its banking operations from February 1, 2017. As of March 31, 2020, UFSL holds 83.32% in the Bank.
2020: Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (material listed subsidiary of the Company) serves over 54.4 Lakhs active customers through 575 branches, and 17,841 employees, spread across 244 districts and 24 states and union territories in India. Its gross loan book stands at Rs 14,153 Crores and a deposit base of Rs 10,780 crore, as on March 31, 2020.
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