Each new client joins a group o i e borrowers

Chuck Ward, President, Chuck Ward & Associates, a leadershipcoaching irm. In a special awards ceremony, Julie England, ice president o TexasInstruments R ID Systems, is to recei e the Distinguished In ormation SciencesAward on January 24 at 10:30 am. England will join pre ious recipientsRoss Perot and Bill Gates in this prestigious circle o honor "It is truly an honor to recei e such a prestigious award. I only hope that mycontributions to the ield can make an impact on uture generations to encouragethem to make their own mark," said award winner and Texas Instruments executi eJulie England. In addition to outstanding session content, AITPs President, Deborah Lo ellwill deli er AITPs new strategy and plans or growth and prosperity in the uture. or more in ormation, isit AITPKristine Collins312-673-5755 Copyright Business Wire 2009. NEW YORK, NY, Jan 15 (MARKET WIRE) At a time when some banks are shrinking because o high loan de aultrates, Grameen America has experienced an astounding 99.5 percent loanrepayment rate in its irst year o business and is expanding to makee en more small loans to low-income U.S.

All aresel -employed, without assets or credit ratings, and most are immigrantmothers, whom Jorgensen said are strongly moti ated to impro e their amilies' li es.Although the loans were made only with simple receipts, 99.5 percent wererepaid on time. Additionally, each borrower opened a sa ings account a irst or most and together ha e deposited $80,000 in sa ings to date.Within a year, i these borrowers continue paying on time and ha e noad erse credit reports, they can expect a credit score o 650 or higher."Gi en the world economy's current credit woes, it is worth noting thatGrameen America's unsecured and irtually undocumented loans to poorimmigrant women ha e per ormed better than the secured and hea ilydocumented housing loans gi en to much wealthier indi iduals, who arede aulting at much higher rates," said Jorgensen.Grameen America holds all loans it issues, and its representati es meetwith borrowers in their homes be ore making a loan, then again ace-to- ace each week, to ascertain how things are going and re iew loanutilization and repayment obligations By contrast, in more than hal o all the U.S. housing oreclosures, lenders and borrowers had nocommunication in the prior 12 months, Jorgensen said.Grameen loans rest on a simple oundation: Trust among indi iduals romthe same community. Each new client joins a group o i e borrowers.While loans are the indi idual's responsibility, group members help ind,e aluate, monitor, and support other borrowers with similar backgrounds.I one member alls behind, no one else in that group can borrow moreuntil e eryone's loan is current. go ernment, and legaldocumentation used in mortgages and asset-backed securities."Grameen America's success in 2008 comes as many people wonder what wentwrong and how to impro e inancial per ormance," said Pro essor Yunus."Only 30 minutes rom the headquarters o many o the world's largest andmost sophisticated inancial institutions, this simple Grameen lendingoperation is thri ing and growing small businesses through loans a eragingjust $2,000."Grameen will continue to in est in the real income-producing acti itieso our poor but trustworthy borrowers," Yunus said, "while also buildingsustainable health care and education programs to support them." ogel said, "Grameen America borrowers in Queens ha e shown theirwillingness and ability to take control o their li es and utures.Together, they are creating a culture o trust, sa ings, and hard work andbuilding a better world or themsel es and their children.

The per ormanceo these irst loans re lects the undamental 'non-negotiable' Grameenbelie that e ery person, without exception, has the skill, moti ation,and ability to care or hersel and her amily. The borrowers do all the work.""There is no stronger moti ation or more reliable and producti ein estment than a mother seeking to support her children," saidJorgensen. "Our borrowers are less daunted by the recession and morewilling to continue taking thought ul risks to start or expand abusiness. Not many people are gi ing theirbankers lowers these days, but Small said Medina was uniquely help ul and"like amily."About Grameen AmericaGrameen America, whose core lending operations are in Queens, is amicro inance organization dedicated to ser ing low-income communitiesthroughout the United States by loaning unds, at reasonable terms, orincome-producing acti ities. Chairman Muhammad Yunus selected Shah Newaz,a 27-year Grameen Bank eteran to lead the U.S operation. Newaz hasrecruited i e bilingual center managers rom the largely Latinocommunities.Grameen America is committed to building a ull sel -sustainingorganization that will expand across the United States to assistlow-income people in building better utures or their amilies.

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