Meet Maria

When Maria first joined her husband’s tire shop eight years ago, she had big dreams for expanding the business and increasing her family’s income. In need of initial funds to purchase new tires for the business, Maria heard about Grameen America from a fellow borrower in the neighborhood and received her first loan of $1,500 in 2011.

Four years later, Maria is on her ninth Grameen America loan and business is booming. She already has over six employees and plans to expand the business even further and purchase the property.

Maria says the Grameen America program works for women like her because the loans are easy to navigate and more accessible than traditional banks. She loves serving as a mentor for other borrowers in her community and showing them that a $1,500 loan can truly empower both them and their families.