The increasing maturation and sophistication of the microfinance industry is producing some exciting trends. For various reasons, not the least of which is growing competition, microfinance institutions (MFIs) are learning more about the needs and demands of their target market. One of the things MFIs are hearing is that loans for microentrepreneurs only meet a small part of the demand for financial services in low-income communities. A microloan may help a household to increase its income, and may even help build some assets, but it does not reduce the household's vulnerability or exposure to risks. Easily available savings services can go a long way toward addressing this need, as households build a nest egg from which they can draw down in case of emergency or to smooth cash flow imbalances.