At 33, Fátima Merino is a rising entrepreneur in Soyapango, El Salvador. She began in 2012 with just USD 80, selling plush toys from her living room. Despite lacking a credit history, her ambition pushed her to seek financial support. She began in 2012 with just USD 80, selling plush toys from her living room. Despite lacking a credit history, her ambition pushed her to seek financial support.

In 2014, she partnered with Optima Servicios Financieros, who provided her first loan. This enabled her to expand her business, Variedades JARETH, into a structured operation offering beauty products, gym accessories, and more. Her drive and resilience turned a modest side hustle into a vital local enterprise.

Fátima credits Optima as a key partner in her journey. A pivotal moment came in 2020 when a USD 9,000 loan allowed her to buy a vehicle, doubling her revenue and launching a national delivery service. With monthly sales exceeding USD 10,000, she now serves a broad and growing customer base across El Salvador. Each credit cycle has helped her build not only capital but confidence and long-term vision.

Her business success has been matched by personal growth. Fátima has become a skilled manager, mastering customer service and resource planning. Today, she is recognized in her community as a leader and role model for women entrepreneurs, proving how formalization and access to credit can open pathways to prosperity.

Fátima’s story highlights the transformative power of financial inclusion and trusted partnerships. With plans to expand into new communities and diversify her offerings, she remains committed to building a better future for her family and inspiring others to do the same.