Welcome to the website of ASA, one of the leading Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and the best managed MFI of the world. ASA started its mission in 1978 with the aims to improve the condition of the people living at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid and establish a society free from poverty and economic disparity. Initially, ASA programs focused at awareness-raising and group formation for the poor aiming at integrated development through asserting rights of the poor, education, mini-irrigation, primary health, credit for income generation etc. Later based on a decade of grassroots experience, it was realized that micro lending might serve as the most effective tool in fighting poverty in Bangladesh. The realization was transformed into a reality in 1991. Since then through its innovative, cost-effective and sustainable microfinance approach, it achieved the status of the most efficient MFI in the world in 2007 as selected by Forbes magazine, USA. Besides, ASA won the “Banking at the bottom of the pyramid” award arranged by the Financial Times, London and International Finance Cooperation (IFC) 2008. Presently, ASA renders multifaceted services to more than five million people of Bangladesh as well as underprivileged people of some other developing countries. Up to June 2014, cumulative loan disbursement of ASA was BDT 851.42 billion (US$ 10.95 billion) while loan outstanding (Principal) was BDT 59.29 billion (US$ 0.76 billion). During the period, ASA maintained on the average operational self-sufficiency (OSS) 202.72%, financial self-sufficiency (FSS) 127.03 and rate of recovery 99.63% of the microfinance program.