Rupom’s story

Rupom is a 35 year old, secondary school graduate who lives in the deep rural area of Parulia Village, in Lalmonirhat District, where most of the population relies on agriculture to make a living. Many members of the village are uneducated and faces economic hardship.

Despite the area's challenges, Rupom took a significant step 10 years ago when he decided to establish himself as an agent for Mobile Financial Services (MFS). Upon learning about MFS from relatives, he pursued the path of becoming an agent and started a business under his father’s trade license. Rupom decided to operate out of his father's mechanic shop, which is well-known and trusted in the village. The shop, located in Parulia Bazar—a central marketplace for surrounding villages—became the base for Rupom’s MFS business.

He began by offering DFS services from one brand, and since most of his customers were people he knew personally, he provided informal support. This included visiting customers’ homes to open accounts, delivering cash directly, or advancing cash without an immediate deposit based on trust. His business grew, rooted in these relationships.

As time passed, Rupom expanded his services to include mobile recharges, cash-outs, cash-ins, bill payments, and account openings. He also added Mobile Network Operator (MNO) services to diversify his business. His brother now helps him run the operation, and together they ensure the business runs smoothly.

However, Rupom faces challenges, especially from fraud cases, which many customers bring to him for assistance. Additionally, competition has grown with more agent shops opening in the market and agent banks being set up nearby. This competition has led to a decline in his business, as many customers prefer agent banks for handling larger transactions due to their slightly lower charges.