Partnership aims to train 8,400 people

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday October 16th, 2013

 WESTPAC Papua New Guinea has been delivering financial education to thousands of Papua New Guineans since 2010 through its free personal and business-based financial workshops, a spokesman says. 

“In partnership with the Pacific financial inclusion programme, Westpac is running a training programme to support and develop branch managers to deliver financial education workshops to local communities,” retail banking head Adam Downie says.

He said in doing so, the partnership expected to see at least 8,400 people get free workshop trainings in three months.

Last week, 16 branch managers, including five in-store banking staff and four graduate trainees, attended a five-day workshop in Port Moresby, delivered by Clare Balderston from Westpac Sydney.

Downie said by training its own team members, the bank could accelerate the delivery of education.

“I encourage local schools, church groups and employers to speak to their local branch managers to arrange a financial education session,” Downie said.

“This is to teach people the importance of setting goals and achieving them through careful budgeting and planning.”