The Bank of the South Pacific (B.S.P.) will be temporarily closing its Vaitele branch for the purposes of expansion over the next few months.

In a public notice on Saturday, the bank notified its customers of the temporary closure of its Vaitele Branch starting next week.

“Bank of the South Pacific wishes to advise a temporary closure of our Vaitele Branch for construction of an extension and refurbishment work, commencing 28^th June 2021 for a duration of 11 weeks,” the bank notice reads.

“Due to increasing business activities, we are expanding the size of the branch to cater for enhance (sic) customer service facilities and security requirements.”

The bank assured that alternative banking facilities at the Main Office on Beach Road will still be available.

The Vaitele Branch staff will be relocated to the main branch in Apia to cater for the expected increase in transactional activities over the next weeks.

“Our Mulifanua branch will also be opened for general teller and MoneyGram services,” the notice reads.

“We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the Vaitele Branch renovations during this 11 week project.” 

The BSP Financial Group Limited is a bank originating from Papua New Guinea with branches across the Pacific including Cook Islands, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu. 

The regional bank expanded its services to Tonga, Samoa and Cook Islands in 2015, and most recently to Vanuatu in 2016.

Last year, BSP was recognised for its health-focused initiative and other diverse range of community projects that were funded by the bank every year, synonymous with their vision to be the leading financial service provider in helping Pacific communities prosper.

Some of the 2020 projects included the renovation and building of new restrooms as well as tiling of homes belonging to nurses and doctors.

The former Minister of Health, Faimalotoa Kika Stowers, thanked B.S.P for the health-focused initiative and for continuously supporting the efforts of the Government for the benefit of Samoa’s people.

Other B.S.P projects this financial year included work and donations to Mapuifagalele Home for the Elderly, Mapuipulotu Home for the Elderly, Samoa Victim Samoa Group, Samoa Cancer Society, Fitman Men’s Conference, Carmelite Sisters, Goshen Trust, School Prize Givings, Water Tanks, Manase Tourism Festival and the Go Green clean up campaign.