This paper reviews the achievements of the ‘microfinance revolution’, throughreference to the now extensive literature. It finds that there are many opportunities to improveand innovate. To illustrate this finding, the paper concentrates on examining what we need to know to design and deliver better financial products to the poor, especially the poorest. Itargues that financial services for the poor are essentially a matter of helping the poor turn theirsavings into sums large enough to satisfy a wide range of business, consumption, personal,social and asset-building needs. 

The key question that needs to be asked is, where do these people live that are in such debt and what are the socioeconomic characteristics of the areas that they live in? This information is needed to develop more appropriate strategies in assisting this communities that are in such debt, including debt councelling services and education programmes.