Female clients attend a weekly Grameen Bank branch meeting. The Grameen Bank was established as an alternative to traditional banking, providing credit and loans to the poor without the need for collateral and eliminating exploitation of the poor by money lenders. Instead, the bank's financial resources are made available to clients on the bases of mutual trust, participation and accountability. The microfinance scheme has created opportunities for self-employment among unemployed people in rural Bangladesh, allowing them to invest for the future..