Sellers can now access banking services at Lae market

By JIMMY KALEBE
LAE Main Market vendors can now access basic banking services within the market after Bank South Pacific’s Lae market branch yesterday opened a cash agent in premises.
The initiative by Lae City Authority and Lae MP John Rosso, was welcomed by vendors, especially women, who have been victims of petty crimes such as pick-pocketing and bag-snatching leading to them losing their earnings.
Representative Ruth Korao, a mother-of-eight children from Henganofi from Eastern Highlands, said the mothers in town had access to such banking services but not those in rural areas.
“When we come here and sell our produce and want to go back home, we become victims of petty crimes and that is how our money get stolen from us,” she said.
Korao said now that BSP has come in to open up a cash agent at the market, mothers and women could access basic banking services like cash deposits, withdrawals, fund transfers and balance enquiries.
“This banking facility will help us save our money and save our lives as well,” she said.
“This will also in the long run encourage us to enter into a savings culture.”
Lae main market manager Gou Tabaray said being one of the biggest markets in the country, this service was a must as there had been instances where vendors had been robbed. He said the service was targeted to vendors, especially women, and the public as well.