DAI assisted LBDI to expand its business, particularly to the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) segment. The banking sector in Liberia is extremely small, comprising only five operational banks. Ecobank and LBDI dominate the sector, both managing around 30,000 accounts.

LBDI has a great growth potential, especially in expanding its outreach to previously under-banked segments. Within the Liberian context, LBDI has the highest capacity to respond to many of the financial markets, including corporate, real estate, domestic savings mobilization, and remittances (such as Western Union money transfers).

LBDI was in need of stronger credit risk management procedures to ensure that its expansion plan was sustainable in the long-run, particularly as it expanded its lending portfolio to include the riskier MSME segment. DAI’s team addressed all aspects of lending, including product development, policies and procedures, staff development, marketing and sales, and institutionalization of the lending function within the bank.