Kiva has been providing loans to those in need in the developing world. The loans are a way of helping entrepreneurs find funding for projects in the absence of actual bank lending. Kiva provides a means by which people like you or me can put up the capital (albeit small amounts), pool the capital together and lend it to these micro-entrepreneurs. It’s very worthy as a charity. I’ve only loaned a small amount, but I’m happy to say that this is my second client, and he’s making every effort to pay back the loan. I do think this is a much better way to reach out and teach people how to fish, or at least lend them the money so that they can expand their fishing business, as it were.

Efrain borrowed $1200 about a year ago, and currently he’s repaid about 83% of this amount. It should be repaid on time. For more information, check out more about Efrain Montuffar Olguin and Kiva.org.

With the difficult economy, and increasingly serious problems for lenders, borrowers of all ages, occupations, and salary groups are finding it difficult not just to get credit cards for bad credit, but even those with good credit histories are now being turned away as banks grow much more cautious about their lending decisions.

To some degree, you’ll be able to increase your chances of successful applications during this credit squeeze by checking your credit card history and doing so at least once a year. In doing so, you’ll be able to keep yourself uptodate on your FICO score, check any problems on your credit records, and apply for those ever harder to get credit cards, because you will be better informed.

If it turns out that your credit history is less than stellar, you’ll find that knowing your credit history and current situation will help you in rebuilding your credit history and FICO score.