DBS Bank India, in collaboration with CRISIL, has unveiled the third report in its “Women and Finance” series.
Based on a survey of 400 self-employed women across 10 major Indian cities, the report reveals unique insights into their circumstances and experiences as entrepreneurs. It examines their sources of business funding, banking habits, digital payment preferences, workforce dynamics, and adoption of sustainability measures within their businesses.
Additionally, the report delves into challenges such as perceptions of gender bias and analyses how factors like age, income level, and geographical location shape their decisions. It identifies critical areas where women entrepreneurs seek support and opportunities for business enablement.
65% of self-employed women in Indian metros have not taken a business loan, with 39% relying on personal savings to fund their enterprises. Among those who have obtained loans, bank loans were the primary choice, preferred by 21%.
Women entrepreneurs often use personal assets for collateral, with 28% leveraging personal property and 25% turning to gold—reflecting their risk-averse approach to investments. 64% of respondents who use gold as collateral predominantly invest in safer options like savings accounts and gold.
39% of women entrepreneurs use cash credit (CC) and overdraft (OD) facilities, followed by corporate credit cards (25%) and property-backed term loans (11%). 39% of respondents cited competitive interest rates and flexible repayment terms as key factors influencing their choice of bank for loans.
Commenting on the report, Divyesh Dalal, Managing Director & Head – Global Transaction Services, SME and Institutional Liabilities, DBS Bank India, said, “The insights from our latest ‘Women and Finance’ report highlight key areas where we can make an impact. We see opportunities to boost awareness and adoption of government entitlements through education and training.
Additionally, it underscores the need to build entrepreneurial ecosystems with networking platforms and communities that foster collaboration, mentorship, skill-building, and knowledge exchange to accelerate growth for women in business.
DBS Bank India goes beyond traditional banking to support entrepreneurs and be a trusted partner for SMEs and startups. We will continue working with partners like CRISIL to better understand and empower women in their entrepreneurial journeys, backed by data-driven insights.”
