Bangladesh has already been well known as a country of micro finance miracle. Some of the major Micro Finance Institutions' (MFI) models of Bangladesh have been replicated in different parts of the world. More than seven million households have already, been brought under MF across the country. In spite of such increasing trend in last one and half a decade, MFIs have earned a lot of criticism. Major critiques are: MFIs are imposing rigid discipline in collecting installments; beneficiaries have no legal ownership over the capital of the organization- the fund accumulated as service charge, lack of accountability and transparency etc,. In MFIs, beneficiaries' participation has been frustrating; and local issues and variations are not considered.

COAST has been trying to overcome these genuine observations i.e. striving to give its MF program a human face. COAST has introduced a soft repayment schedule in some cases for the time being, such as, one may get relaxation in repaying his/her installment for several weeks for unavoidable circumstances if the group agrees to it. In bi-monthly Program Management Meeting (PMM), representatives of the People's Organizations (PO) take part actively at different levels of organization in the discussion and sharing on the program as well as on management related issues. Attending such meetings enable them to participate in the organizational decision making process. A flexible saving withdrawal system has already been introduced in response to clients' need so that they can withdraw savings any time in a year. COAST has a gender sensitive approach in micro-finance. Pregnant mothers get special relaxation on repayment for three months and they can withdraw their savings during pregnancy.

At present (Nov. 2001), under the three projects, total number of COAST’s group members are 24,910 in 1074 groups. Total amount of Members' savings is Tk 3,12,51,167, and repayment rate is 93%. The amount of outstanding is Tk. 7,20,23,617 and cumulative disbursement is Tk. 33,75,72,900. In 2001, cases of member drop out have been reduced compared to the previous year. However, reasons behind the drop out were migration, inability to give installment, reluctance of husband, far distance, sickness, deaths, dishonour to shomiti rules, family problems and so on. COAST has been operating its micro finance program in the areas where due to different geographical location and natural vulnerability, livelihood is widely different. In Kutubdia, people are loosing their lands because of river erosion and land selling rate has been decreasing while lands are more stable and economic potentials are high in Moheskhali. There is an increasing rate of land selling and purchasing in the island. In Dhalchar of Bhola, lot of economic activities is taking place through out the year, but in absence of any commercial bank micro-finance activities are facing difficulty. In the southern part of Bhola, adjacent to the embankment, group members are locally called 'ukhraite', who do not have own land to live and they are mostly erosion driven migrant families. Operating micro-finance with them needs different types of intervention.

COAST is committed to develop 'a set of values' exclusively for micro-finance program aiming to direct the program to be more pro-poor, value oriented ' and socially responsible business. Separate program for hard core poor is under active consideration. COAST believes that such outlook will, minimize the harshness and will give more human face to micro finance in the days to come.