 Since then, it has become a fully self-sufficient microfinance institution – operating mainly in Bangladesh, but with presence in Africa and South America.ASA offers financial services to including micro-credit, small business credit, regular weekly savings, voluntary savings and life insurance – and aims to follow a simple, standardised, low-cost system of organisation, management, savings and credit operations.It was initially funded by donors, then some small commercial bank loans, then low-cost loans from a subsidised wholesaler, and finally from client deposits and retained earnings.