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Knowing the difference between SACCOs and Microfinance Institutions will help you make an informed decision especially if you interested in starting a business since you need resources and capital.  That’s where SACCOs and Microfinance Institutions come in. Before you proceed, you need to understand what is the difference between the two.  That is a question many people ask themselves.  Others think that these two entities are one and the same.  That they do the same thing: give loans at a low price.  Whilst it’s true these two institutions offer cheap loans, there is a world of difference between them.  Let us explore the differences.

Structure

Sacco stands for Savings and Credit Co-operative. It is an institution formed by a group of people who have a common factor, usually a profession, where they live or worship in order to provide a worthy return for their savings as well as empower their members by providing lower interest loans.  It is a financial institution by the members, for the members. It belongs to its members who manage it democratically. The purpose of Saccos is the help its members achieve certain common goals to better their lives that they would ordinarily not be able to do individually such as housing, gaining assets such as motor vehicles, buying land, funding education etc. Your can explore the top 10 Saccos in Kenya and decide which one fits you.

On the other hand, Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) are designed to provide financial services to low-income people. These entities are funded by external loans, grants or investors.  They target low-income clients, mostly, women. Also, these institutions help aspiring entrepreneurs generate income, build assets, manage risks and meet their household needs.  Here are the top microfinance institutions in Kenya to help you grow as a business person. The end goal of MFIs is to have its users outgrow these smaller loans and become ready for a traditional bank loan.

Governance

SACCOs elect a volunteer board of directors from their membership.  Members each have one vote in board elections, regardless of their amount of savings or shares in the Sacco. 

For microfinance institutions, they are run by an appointed board of directors or salaried staff.

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Profits

Profits made in Saccos and microfinance institutions are used differently. 

For instance, in Saccos, profits earned are used to lower interest on loans, for higher interest on savings or for new products and service development. 

At microfinance institutions, profits are used for cash reserves or divided among investors.

Products and Services

Saccos offer members a platform to access low-cost loans.  Members are required to buy membership into the Sacco first then place their savings there.  After the loan application, member must seek out other members to guarantee him. As the loan needs to be guaranteed by other Sacco members.  The collateral is the member’s savings and well as that of those who have guaranteed the loan.

However, microfinance institutions focus on micro-credit.  Where people in small business form groups of 10-15 people who save together and borrow together.  The aim is to help these budding entrepreneurs access loan backed by the group model which acts as a collateral.  The terms vary from institution to institution. 

Membership Transactions

The difference between the two is Saccos you can join alone whilst with microfinance institutions you join as a group at the same time.  Your savings are clustered together as a group and all transactions are done group wise.  While in Saccos you hold an individual account and you only need other members when you need guarantors for our loan. 

At the microfinance, you have to do each and every transaction together.  Some Saccos offer ATMs, banking halls, digital banking to help you do your transactions easily as an individual.  Whilst for microfinance institutions you must make regular visits to the community group for your transactions.

Benefits

When you join a Sacco, you will get low interest rate loans, high annual return on savings realized through a divided payment.  You will be encouraged to own assets such as land and houses as many SACCOs offer them at a highly discounted rate to its members and there is less bureaucracy in getting a loan.  If you are working, the Sacco is for you.  Besides SACCOs pay an annual dividend of at least 10 percent of your shares, some SACCOs give up to 15 percent of our shares. It is a good place to be especially when you have school going children and your only income is your salary plus a busy job schedule that leaves no time for business.

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Benefits of joining a microfinance are high if you are a budding entrepreneur.  Here you will be able to build your business step by step with the support of other business people like yourself.  You will also benefit from business training that is offered by some of the microfinance institutions to help you build your business.  Microfinance institutions can help you grow your small business until you are able to qualify for loans at traditional commercial banks.

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