I. Classification by institution:
1. Microfinance provided by the government: such as government discount loans for poverty alleviation and microfinance guarantee funds for urban employment and re-employment.
2. Micro-credit for NGOs: About 300 NGOs mainly rely on international assistance and social donations.
3. Microfinance business independently operated by financial institutions: such as microfinance business operated by credit cooperatives, city commercial banks, newly-built microfinance companies and individual trust and investment companies.
Second, according to the service object and purpose:
1. Non-profit micro-credit: for the purpose of poverty alleviation and employment, mainly micro-credit from government and non-governmental organizations.
2. Profit-making microfinance: for profit, mainly operated by financial institutions.
Third, according to whether it is sustainable:
1. Sustainable microfinance: based on financial self-financing.
2. Phased microfinance projects: not pursuing self-financing but mainly relying on subsidies and donations.
The above categories can be combined into different types of microfinance institutions, such as sustainable public welfare microfinance institutions, commercial sustainable microfinance institutions and so on.