muhammad yunus is a bangladeshi banker and economist who was born on 28 june 1940. he was a professor of economics and is famous for his work in microcredit. microcredit is a name for giving small loans. these loans are given to people with very little money. most banks do not give microcredit. yunus started the grameen bank. in 2006, yunus and the bank together, were awarded the nobel peace prize, "for their efforts to create economic and social development from below." yunus himself has received several other national and international awards. he published a book called "banker to the poor" and helped start the grameen foundation. in 2007 yunus planned to start a political group called nagorik shakti ("citizen power") in bangladesh, but he has chosen not to start this group. he is one of the founding members of global elders.