The high cost of commercial microfinance remains a barrier to financial services for the poor and, in particular, the rural poor. Some low-cost approaches, like community-based savings groups (CBSGs), have shown promise. However, these groups, armed with a strongbox and a ledger, are non-commercial, and therefore training and scaling is dependent on donor funding. Technology now allows for the community-managed approach – along with its mutual support and savings objectives – to be done commercially: Digital Savings Groups (DSGs). Developed and tested by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in Tanzania, and with the support of its partners (see page 4), the DSG solution is a new way for remote communities to gain access to a sustainable financial service on a self-help basis.