The four largest microfinance providers experienced a growth rate of 70 -75% between 2003 and 2006 and, as a general trend, smaller providers too have significantly increased their loan portfolios and outreach in recent years. In Bangladesh, non-governmental organisations are the most common providers of microfmance to the poor. However, there are also a number of government-sponsored MFIs, Cooperatives and Credit Unions, Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs), as well as statutory banks, commercial banks, development banks, involved in micro-lending. Furthermore, institutions that act as intermediaries between banks and borrowers also play an important role in Bangladesh both for regulations and for the provision of loans to the small microfmance institutions.