The largest microfinance institution in Fiji
Following on the success of its operations in Samoa and Tonga, SPBD Microfinance Limited (Fiji) Ltd. was launched in November 2010 to make available the benefits of microfinance to the low-income and disadvantaged women of the Fiji Islands who constitute 35% of the population. It is the aim of our team to ensure these clients can improve their earnings capacities, develop leadership qualities and skills in managing their businesses and finances so that they can have a better quality of life. SPBD is the largest microfinance institution in Fiji serving over 9,500 households.
Why Fiji?
The Human Development Index ranked Fiji 99 out of 1191 in 2021. 31% of the population lives below the poverty line, and only 15% of the population are salaried workers. The unmet demand for credit for households with very low income is estimated at US$12 million.
SPBD Fiji by the numbers
US $47.3M
Value of loans disbursed
since inception
71,700
Number of loans made to
hard-working women since inception
11,000
Number of
savings accounts
6,600
Number of
loans outstanding
“So much has become possible with SPBD. The benefit has not only been in terms of finance but also things like savings, financial literacy, leadership and independence.”
Vilisi, Fish Seller, Fiji
About Fiji
Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific Island economies though still with a large subsistence sector. Six foreign commercial banks (ANZ, Westpac, Bred Bank, Bank South Pacific, HFC Bank and Bank of Baroda) and three credit companies are active in Fiji. Microfinance providers (for both credit and savings) include three microfinance institutions, four village banks and a cooperative program. The residual unmet demand for savings is evaluated at USD 40M (with 10% corresponding to households with very low incomes) and the unmet demand for credit at USD 39M (with 30% corresponding to households with very low incomes).
Latest News
SPBD Disburses a Record $125m in Micro Loans
Microfinance network South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Fiji has disbursed a record $125million in loans to women-owned and managed businesses in its 14 years of operation in the country. This comes only a year after reaching $100m in cumulative loan disbursements to more than 7000 empowered women entrepreneurs who are managing thriving businesses and transforming […]
SPBD Tonga Celebrates Women’s Microenterprise Success Over 15 Years of Service
South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Tonga marked a significant milestone—15 years of dedicated service in the Kingdom of Tonga—with a grand celebration recognizing the remarkable achievements of female entrepreneurs at its Annual Business Women of the Year Awards, held on 20 June 2025, at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall in Nukuʻalofa. The prestigious awards ceremony honored [...]
Historic First: SPBD Solomon Islands Businesswomen Awards
SPBD Solomon Islands honors women entrepreneurs at its first Businesswomen of the Year Awards in Honiara. A groundbreaking milestone was achieved on the morning of Friday 27th June 2025, as SPBD Solomon Islands successfully hosted its first-ever Businesswomen of the Year Awards at St. Barnabas Cathedral Hall in Honiara. Organized by South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) [...]
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