September 11, 2011

As part of an ongoing effort to fully migrate risk ratings to our new and enhanced risk rating system, Kiva has conducted a re-assessment of the level of risk posed by this institution.

During this re-assessment, our analysts were able to gather updated operational and financial information about the institution, as well as speak with key members of the staff. 

Kiva's new risk rating system, which now includes half stars, has enabled us to display Prisma Honduras's risk rating with a higher level of granularity. As a result, Prisma Honduras's risk rating will now be displayed as 2.5 stars instead of 3 stars. 

We have prepared a blog post with more information on Kiva's new and enhanced risk rating system, along with a chart showing the relative magnitude of the overall changes for Kiva's portfolio.  To view that, please go here: http://www.kiva.org/updates/kiva/2011/09/07/kiva-risk-ratings-now-with-half-stars.html.

Prisma Honduras has been informed of the change in the display of their rating on Kiva's website.

Original Partner Description

Prisma de Honduras, S.A. : “Préstamos que cambian vidas”. This translates literally to “Loans that change lives”, the well-known Kiva slogan.

One of Kiva’s first field partners, Prisma de Honduras, S.A. joined the Kiva family in 2008 in an effort to expand the institution’s funding sources, and to promote the Kiva concept in Honduras. Prisma de Honduras, S.A. is a for-profit institution, a member of the holding company Prisma Microfinance Inc., which is based in Boston, USA.

Prisma Microfinance, Inc. entered Honduras’ microfinance market as a new loan provider in February of 2004. The initiative began as a microfinance program in FINACOOP, a local agricultural cooperative, under an administrative agreement valid until July of 2006. After September of 2006 Prisma began to function as an independent company, aimed at expanding its operations through low cost business and service centers, and under its own organizational structure promoting a strong operational team to achieve its goals. Currently it is in a process of strengthening its operations and foundations.

PRISMA’s primary niche in the marketplace is micro and small entrepreneurs in the commercial, production, and service centers. It also targets individual wage/salary earners. Prisma provides loans for amounts between 5,000 Lps (~US$270) and 200,000 Lps.(~US$10,800); clients who receive loans for under 22,000Lps (~$1200) for commercial use and/or asset acquisition are eligible to be posted on the Kiva website.

PRISMA is a member of the Red de Microfinancieras de Honduras (REDMICROH), a national networking organization that unites member microfinance organizations to promote strong and stable service within the industry in Honduras. In 2008 the national magazine Miroempresas & Microfinanzas recognized Prisma with the “Premio Impulso MicroEmpresarial” for their work in supporting the development of MIPYMEs. 

As of September 2011, PRISMA has a total of 17 employees, 8 of whom are loan advisors. They operate out of four offices, serving four departments (Francisco Morazán, El Paraíso, Valle, and Choluteca). Its branches are located in the following cities:

• Tegucigalpa
• Danlí
• San Lorenzo
• Choluteca

PRISMA is also a Kiva lender! http://www.kiva.org/lender/prismahonduras

Check out the Prisma lending team: http://www.kiva.org/team/prisma_honduras

For all Prisma loans currently fundraising on Kiva, click here