Amid surge in MFI defaults, small borrowers binge on debt

The number of borrowers taking loans from three or more lenders was 11 million, or 13% of the total microfinance borrower base of 85 million, showed the latest data collated by credit bureau CRIF High Mark, and seen by ET. At present, the microfinance sector is reeling under severe asset quality stress. The sectoral gross nonperforming assets ratio rose to an 18-month high of 11.6% at the end of September