“This is bringing banking to people,” Fishing village chief Robert Satu said when Westpac launched their 19th in-store bank at the Fishing Village area.
Mr Satu said Westpac’s 19th Instore bank at the Fisheries Market is now going to make his banking easier.
The communities at the Fisheries Market in Honiara, can now access Westpac In-store banking services at their doorstep which was made possible by Westpac’s new In-store Banking outlet that opened on Thursday 17 August, 2014 at the Seafront Enterprises.
Community Chief Robert Satu, also applauded Westpac Bank for having the confidence in the Fishing village community and exposing them to banking services, where everyone especially women and families, can now open an account to save money mainly from their fish sales.
“To support the community and this new banking partnership, I will happily be a referee for our community members who wish to open a bank account with Westpac,” he said.
Owner of Seaview Enterprise, Layda Viva said they were excited to enter into the partnership with Westpac.
“Thank you for choosing our community and our store which will help both the sellers and the buyers in this community.
“I finally know how to save my money after selling my produce. I usually spend all the money that I get in my market takings and return home with store goods and no cash left in my pocket. Opening an account at this In-store bank was easy and has also encouraged me to put all my money away safely at the end of the day,”said Lorrene David a frequent market vendor from Guadalcanal at the Fisheries Market.
Westpac’s new In-store Banking location, which is the bank’s nineteenth in the Solomon Islands and second in Honiara, to date; allows Westpac account holders to access a number of banking services all from an Eftpos machine at their local merchant. Everywhere Banking Team Leader Joyce Nukumuna stated that it was exciting to assist many of the Fisheries Village members and market vendors who embraced this concept of banking resulting with 350 new accounts opened. “All new customers to the bank are also automatically included into Westpac’s mobile banking service which is a supplementary to the Instore banking service,” she said.
Westpac Account holders using the Seafront Enterprises In-store bank can conduct balance enquiries, make cash withdrawals or cash deposits, transfer funds between accounts, pay bills where customers and payees are registered for Bill Pay, pay fellow Westpac customers and also print mini-statements for recent transactions. Westpac Customers may conveniently dial *130# on their mobile phones.
General Manager of Westpac, Mr Kutila Pinto added that, “In-store banking is the new way to do banking. In-store banking changed banking in Regional Solomon Islands. Westpac took the Bank to the villages and due to it’s tremendous success, Westpac has brought the In-store bank to Honiara now. In saying this, Westpac is opening its 20th IN-store bank at the Rove Fish Market Store, opposite the Rove Police Headquarters today.
Westpac is a strong supporter of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands’ Financial Inclusion initiatives. In enhancing the 2015 Financial Inclusion agenda, Westpac has developed a strategic partnership with Our Telekom that has enabled it to offer mobile phones for sale at a program only available to new customers who register into Westpac’s mobile banking at this new In-store launch.
Westpac is also looking at similar partnerships with other provincial governments and businesses to establish and ensure In-store Banking is operational and successful throughout the Solomon Islands. The Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) has been a key funding partner in the development and roll out of this service under the auspice of UNCDF, UNDP, AusAid and the EU. Support of In-store Banking is jointly funded by a grant from MicroLead.
