BSP opens SME office in Lae

BANK of South Pacific’s Small-to-Medium Enterprise (SME) customers in Lae can expect an improved and better service with the opening of a new office to cater for them.
It is located inside the new Brian Bell Plaza on Mongola Street and was opened for business on Monday.
SME business centre branch manager Richard La’a said the office would serve customers in Lae and parts of Eastern Highlands.
“We are replicating the model we have at the Waterfront (in Port Moresby),” La’a said.
“That is the same thing we are rolling out for the Mamose region. We will service the clients who have SME accounts with us.
“Whether you have a loan with us or just a transaction account, the SME market caters for that.
“This (branch) is not for mass market but specifically for the SMEs.
“We have deposit rooms here as well as lending rooms here.”
La’a said the branch would process deposits, loans, new accounts, bank cheques and visa debit cards.
“We have the branch manager and team leader plus six staff,” La’a said.
“At the moment our SME clients in the Momase region, our loan book value, is a little bit north of K10 million.
“That’s about 150 to 160 clients. That’s for loan customers.
“Customers who have existing accounts with us would be around 300 to 400.”