Banker to the Poor: The Autobiography of Muhammad Yunus by Muhammad Yunus | Summary & Study Guide

Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus is the story of the Grameen bank program, which is founded in Bangladesh by Yunus to help the poor. In 1983, the credit program is formed to provide small loans to the poor. Yunus has a dream of helping the poor to help themselves. He feels that if they receive a little financial help in the form of a loan and are taught some basic principles of financial management, they will act responsibly and do the rest themselves. He begins to formulate this philosophy in 1976 when he comes upon forty-two women in a small village that make chairs. They need money to buy the raw supplies so he loans them $27 of his own money. They put his money to good use and develop a thriving business. On the basis of this experience, he begins to develop his theories and program to help eradicate poverty in the third world.

This study guide includes the following sections: Plot Summary, Chapter Summaries & Analysis, Characters, Objects/Places, Themes, Style, Quotes, and Topics for Discussion.