According to the principles of the Grameen Bank, the bank should go to the people rather than the people coming to the bank. All banking transactions are done at centre meetings attended by borrowers and bank workers. The branch borrows from the head office whenever it needs funds, at the rate of 4 percent for housing loans (on-lending at the rate of 8 percent) and at the rate of 12 percent for income-generating loans (on-lending at the rate of 20 percent).

At the end of December 1999, the bank, through its 1,149 branches, was serving 2.35 million members. It has disbursed, by December 1999, Tk. 124034.96 million (US$ 2978.20 million) as general loans. Its recovery rate is close to 91 percent. Group members had saved more than Tk. 9675.76 million (US$ 230.05 million) by December 1999. The bank's operation reached 39,706 villages, out of about 68,000 in the country.

The bank has also introduced housing loans for the poor. A durable shelter is one of the basic requirements for people to be able to organise and discipline their actions, and at the same time undertake plans and programs for creative pursuits. People without a home tend to be uncertain, worried, and unstable, which affects their every action. The ownership of a house infuses people with a sense of confidence and honour that enables them to start dreaming of a better life. Furthermore, homestead is also often the workplace for the rural poor. A bank member can borrow up to Tk. 25000 (US$ 500) for constructing a simple tin-roof house. The interest rate for housing loan is 8 percent. Housing loans are paid back in ten years, in weekly instalments. More than 510000 such houses had been constructed by December 1999, for which a total amount of Tk. 7467.31 million (US$ 185.42 million) has been disbursed. The average size of housing loans was only Tk. 14537 (US$ 350 approx.). This experience proves that, given the opportunity, the poor can provide decent housing for themselves.