Banking education benefits 80,000

MORE than 8,000 participants have benefited from Bank South Pacific Financial Group’s (BSP) banking education in Milne Bay since its inception in 2015.
BSP Alotau branch manager Martin Gilo said the bank had been working with the provincial government, visiting parts of the province to conduct product and service awareness and financial literacy training (FLT).
The training focuses on saving and budgeting eventually leading to business development skills.
The Alotau branch was established 38 years ago.
It is assisted by two sub branches – one located at Padipadi Estate in Suau and Losuia in the Trobriand Islands.
Together, they service the province’s four districts.
“Financial literacy training is the way forward in order for us to achieve our strategic goals” Gilo said.
“Our banking education team must run the FLT programme to give our people a better understanding of why banking services exist and how it can benefit our people now and in the long run.”
As part of BSP’s ongoing obligation toward communities in which it operates, BSP Alotau last year delivered medical equipment to Alotau urban clinic and a hand-washing station each to Koeabule Primary School and Raven recreation area.
BSP group general manager Daniel Faunt said despite recent security issues in the province, BSP Alotau branch continued to serve Milne Bay.