In 1997, Grameen Bank has completed its 14th year of operations as an independent Bank. Grameen Bank is now operating through 1105 Branches, 118 Areas and 14 Zones. The Bank now has 22,72,503 members. The volume of General loans disbursed since inception amounted to Tk. 81780 million of which Tk. 16271 million was disbursed during this year.

The Bank is now operating in 37,937 villages. The total cumulative savings of the members have now risen to Tk. 21466 million.

Grameen Bank's housing loan programme continues to remain a great source of hope for a new and better life for the Grameen Bank members and their families. Since 1984 Tk.6241 million was disbursed as housing loan of which Tk.688 million was disbursed during 1997.

Grameen Bank's recovery position remains excellent as before. The Bank ended the year with reinforced confidence in the ability of the poor people and the Bank staff to shoulder any responsibility that is most likely to benefit the poor.

We hope to make ourselves more useful to our members in their efforts to build better lives for themselves in the coming years. In the meantime, we present some statistical information on the activities of the Bank during 1997.

Professor Muhammad Yunus
Managing Director
Grameen Bank
Mirpur 2, Dhaka 1216
February, 1997