A vision of financial inclusion for the South Pacific
In January 2000, Samoa became our initial and flagship microfinance institution of the SPBD Network. Today, SPBD Samoa is often used to launch new products and pilot initiatives. Our teams work in nearly every village in Samoa and have been financially sustainable since 2007. SPBD currently serves almost 20,000 families in Samoa, almost 60% of households.
Why Samoa?
Poverty in Samoa remains a challenge. According to the UN, 25% of all Samoan families live below the poverty line of US$2 per day. A substantial portion of the population continues to grapple with limited access to basic necessities such as education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. Additionally, issues such as limited infrastructure development in rural areas exacerbates the problem. Samoa has also been affected by external shocks such as the global economic downturn and, more recently, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
SPBD Samoa by the numbers
US $103M
Value of loans disbursed
since inception
118,400
Number of loans made
to hard-working women
18,500
Number of
Savings accounts
6,400
Number of
loans outstanding
“I am not weak anymore because of SPBD. I am strong.”
Felauai, SME Member (Sausage Maker, Produce, Taxi), Samoa
About Samoa
Samoa is considered the cultural heart of Polynesia. However, underdevelopment of the financial markets has been identified as a binding constraint to private sector development. There are four commercial banks (ANZ Bank, BSP Bank, National Bank of Samoa, and Samoa Commercial Bank) and other non-bank financial providers (such as the Development Bank of Samoa, the National Provident Fund, and SPBD Samoa) the country still ranked 98th out of 190 economies for ease of doing business (ranking from the best to the worst) in Doing Business 2019 (www.doingbusiness.org).
Latest News
SPBD Relocates Labasa Office to Boost Accessibility and Visibility
South Pacific Business Development (SPBD), a key player in Fiji’s microfinance market, has moved its Labasa operation to a new location on the main road of Labasa Town. The relocation was a strategic decision for the organisation, aimed at increasing visibility and accessibility for clients and stakeholders, according to SPBD Fiji’s managing director Elrico Munoz. […]
Crowdfunding Success: $15M in Micro Loans Delivered Through Kiva and SPBD Partnership
Nearly 10,000 micro loans amounting over $15 million have been funded through a partnership between crowdfunding firm Kiva and the South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Fiji. This was revealed by Kiva Microfunds’ Asia Pacific investment manager Mark McDonagh when he officially opened SPBD Fiji’s Labasa office yesterday. “Seven years into Kiva’s partnership with SPBD Fiji, […]
SPBD Fiji expands to tenth branch office in Nausori on the Island of Viti Levu
The South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Fiji officially opened its 10th branch in Nausori in June 2024. The new brannch is its latest addition since it established operations in Fiji in 2010. The new branch will provide financial services and business development opportunities to women in the Tailevu region. “Nausori itself has a thriving presence […]
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