SPEECH ON THE OPENING OF NATIONWIDE MICROBANK LIMITED (NMB) NEW BRANCH AT WAIGANI CENTRAL AND 10 YEARS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 9TH DECEMBER 2014 MR. LOI M BAKANI GOVERNOR BANK OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA.
Acknowledgements
Mr. Ray Clark, Chairman of Nationwide Microbank Limited (NMB)
Mr. Tony Westaway, Managing Director, NMB
Board Members of NMB
Other VIPs
Staff of NMB; and,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Introduction
I’m honored to be here at this occasion of the Opening of Nationwide Microbank’s new
branch facility here at Waigani Central to coincide with the 10 years Anniversary of NBM in
Papua New Guinea.
10 years ago, in the gold rich township of Wau in Morobe Province, Nationwide Microbank,
then known as Wau Microbank, began its life in April 2004, when the Bank of PNG gave a
Certificate of Exemption to operate as a micro bank institution in accordance with the
Microbank Pilot Scheme Project Proposal submitted to the Bank in August 2003. This was
the beginning of an extraordinary growth of microfinance activities in Papua New Guinea.
The success of the project, now Nationwide Microbank or MiBank, can be attributed to;
IBBM, as the implementing agency for the project;
ADB, AusAid and PNG Government for financial grants;
Treasury, Finance and Planning Departments which are also part of the current
Microfinance Steering Committee team; and,
the Bank of PNG, which was the executing agency, of which I was the Chairman of
Microfinance Steering Committee.
On the 29 of April 2008, the name Wau Microbank was changed to Nationwide Microbank
Limited (NMB), and the Bank issued a full banking licensed to operate as a microbank under
the Banks and Finance Companies Act 2000. Moving its head office from Lae, Morobe
Province to the PNG Institute of Banking and Business Management (IBBM) here in
Port Moresby, the micro bank has now 12 branches across the country, providing innovative
products and services to suit the rural and grassroots population in the country.
NMB’s Vision
NMB’s vision is ‘to be the most innovative micro bank in PNG and the Pacific region’ and
‘to enable access to banking services for the unbanked and small businesses’.
Operating by its vision, BPNG has been made aware of and approved some of your
innovative products and services under the MiBank label such as MiLoan, MiCash, MiPei,
MiLife, Mifx and I wonder what other Mi-product is on the horizon.
The unbanked people in the rural communities, SME and middle class communities to whom
you operate have in already grasped your product innovations and with some more financial
inclusion and financial literacy efforts, more people will come to realize the important of
your products and services. These innovations will compete very well with the main stream
banks given the fundamental knowledge of banking have been properly embedded within the
minds of our people, both in the rural and urban communities.
The Bank is aware of your plans to move from Passbook driven liability products to
transaction based mobile/electronic products. This is what we are talking about, providing
innovative products to the small people, which you have delivered to rural communities in
PNG.
Microfinance Institutions Developments
Ladies and gentlemen, experiences in other countries indicated that microfinance institutions
have proven to be the vehicle of change in the lives of millions of rural communities, as it
adopts innovative delivery channels and products to provide affordable and accessible
banking services to the people.
Over the last 10 years, the Bank has licensed 5 microfinance institutions in the country, three
of which were licensed in the last three years as a result of the Government’s vision to
promote wealth creation in the rural communities where more than 85 percent of our
population live with a view to reducing poverty and achieving inclusive economic growth in
the long run.
The microfinance institutions have a challenging market to operate in, a market which has
been neglected by the main stream banks for a very long time, but a market if provided the
right attention and product innovations, can be very rewarding and profitable.
I applaud the Microfinance Steering Committee, who took a bold stand 10 years ago to enter
into this riskier market. I, as the Chairman of the Microfinance Steering Committee, then, and
who represented BPNG as the Executing Agency when the project started, am pleased with
how far NMB has grown to become one of the most innovative and leading Micro banks in
Papua New Guinea and the Pacific.
The challenge now is to have as many people in the rural communities, middle class and
SMEs to participate in the banking activities at the micro level. For this to be possible, again
financial literacy and financial inclusive program is very critical to impart banking
knowledge to the majority of the population.
BPNG’s role in Financial Inclusion & Financial Literacy
The Government devised its Vision 2050 policy to promote wealth creation with a view to
reducing poverty and achieving inclusive economic growth in the long run. This pillar of
government policy is consistent with the objective of BPNG as specified under the Central
Banking Act (CBA) to promote economic growth in PNG. In this regard, the Central Bank
developed its strategic plan for 2012 to 2015 and prioritized financial inclusion as one of its
key objectives to pursue.
The Central Bank has a strong focus on financial inclusion, spreading access to financial
services and the knowledge of the benefits of savings and obtaining SME and micro loans as
capital funds for small business activities to generate income so to reduce poverty and
achieve inclusive economic growth.
The Bank acknowledges NMB’s efforts in the last 10 years in bringing banking facilities and
financial literacy programs to the unbanked population in the country. Through NMB, most
of the unbanked population have now been brought to the monetised economy and people’s
lives, both in rural and urban communities have changed forever through your innovations.
This shows that what we started, as a project 10 years ago have lived up to its expectation.
The Bank also acknowledges NMBs support in the financial expositions that are being hosted
by BPNG and I am sure that you will continue to be a partner with us in this initiative going
forward. More financial literacy awareness and education are needed to be provided to the
communities to address the issues of financial incompetence. Various mediums can be
utilized including financial exposition, CEFI, radio, TV, and others.
Challenges for Micro banks in PNG
Ladies and gentlemen, in my other role as prudential regulator of our financial system, I have
seen a generic challenge being faced by all micro banks operating within the country.
There have not been any form of reliable capital support being provided from the existing
shareholders and raising additional capital from potential shareholders has been difficult. This
is because micro banks are by majority owned by the government and its institutions and
ongoing shareholders capital support commitments is an issue. Further, most potential
investors are reluctant to inject their funds in the business because they are of the view that
doing business in the micro lending market and in rural communities is a very risky business.
With not much capital to generate adequate profits to meet expenditures and to grow its
capital base, the Bank noted that most microfinance institutions are in breach of prudential
capital and Provisions requirement of BPNG. The breaches in capital ratios are a result of
increases in loans (or risk-weighted-assets) given a stable or declining capital levels. In
addition, when loans are not repaid for longer periods of time, micro banks have to make
provisions for possible write-offs. This negatively impacts on the profitability of these
smaller microfinancial institutions and therefore capital levels.
However, Ladies and gentlemen, micro banks should take this challenge more positively.
They should find ways to provide innovative products that can be fully accepted by
customers whilst improving earning opportunities at the same time. Microbanks should now
enter the growing middle class and SME market to sustain its operations and I am aware that
NMB has strategized to enter this market going forward. On this note, I want to strongly
emphasize to customers that when you borrow, you are obligated by agreements which you
signed to repay those loans.
Relocation of Branch from Garden City to Waigani Central
One of the key issues which the Bank of PNG and Centre for Excellence in Financial
Inclusion would like to achieve going forward is the accessibility of the products and services
to consumers, the bulk of whom are in the rural areas. We are encouraging financial
institutions to design strategies and innovative ways to bring their products and services
closer to the consumer.
The relocation and opening of the Waigani Central Branch is testament to the points which I
have just elaborated on. In this case, Waigani Central is the centre of Port Moresby City
where most of the customer can easily have access to this facility. With the large car park
facilities, and accessibility to PMV stops, offices and business houses, I am pretty sure that
the relocation of Port Moresby Branch at Garden City to Waigani Central is a strategy one,
which will see increases in customers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I congratulate Nationwide Microbank on the opening of the Waigani Central
Branch on the occasion to celebrate the 10 years Anniversary of NMB.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for listening.