IN INDIA, THE ECONOMIC DIVIDE BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR MARGINALIZES SOME OF THE POOREST TO SUCH EXTENTS THAT THEY ARE LEFT WITH NO HOPE TO ESCAPE THEIR POVERTY. IN DESPERATION, THEY OFTEN TURN TO A LIFE OF CRIME OR GET ENTRAPPED BY LOCAL LOAN SHARKS. IN SALAAM LOANS, WE CREATED A LOAN PRODUCT FOR THOSE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, WHICH OVERLOOKED THE APPLICANT’S CREDIT SCORES (WHICH BANKS INSISTED ON AND MOST APPLICANTS DIDN’T HAVE) AND ALLOWED PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK TO EVALUATE THESE APPLICATIONS ON THE BASIS OF APPLICANT’S DREAMS AND AMBITIONS. THIS ESSENTIALLY ALLOWED US TO SHIFT THE POWER OF LOAN APPROVAL FROM THE HANDS OF BANKERS TO THAT OF MASSES. SALAAM LOANS WAS AN ATTEMPT TO BUILD A BRIDGE OF CONVERSATION OVER THE ECONOMIC DIVIDE, ALLOWING THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN DOING GOOD TO REACH OUT AND ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER.