Poverty is widespread in Bangladesh, with up to 26% of the population living below the national poverty line. Microfinance provides financial services to those without access to traditional banking, through small loans without security requirements. Muhammad Yunus founded Grameen Bank in 1976 to provide microloans to the rural poor of Bangladesh, especially women. Grameen Bank allows borrowers to start small businesses, breaking the cycle of poverty - a 2008 internal survey found 65% of borrowers had risen above the poverty line.