Equity Bank in Kenya is a bank with principles that dictate reaching the majority of the Kenyan population, including those at the base of the pyramid. Its booming business in this area can largely be contributed to lending to people with little collaterals, beyond the potential disgrace of letting friends down. If a woman secures a mortgage ‘with the matrimonial bed’ it is unlikely that she will ever default – and Equity executives are not shy of using societal shames. They lend at low interest rates of the tune of 8 per cent per 6 months. Read more here.