Financial Crime World

Financial Inclusion in Samoa: Key Indicators and Access Points

Overview

A recent survey conducted by the Financial Demand Side Survey (DSS) has provided valuable insights into the state of financial inclusion in Samoa. The survey, which covered a period from March 2014 to March 2015, gathered data on various indicators related to financial access points, usage, and demographics.

Key Indicators

Growth in EFTPOS Terminals and Agents

  • The number of EFTPOS terminals per 10,000 adults in the ROU region has seen significant growth, increasing from 23.52 in 2014 to 24.38 in 2015.
  • Similarly, the SAV region recorded an increase from 18.02 to 19.20 during the same period.
  • The number of agents per 10,000 adults nationally has risen steadily over the past year, with a significant jump from 7.22 in 2014 to 13.01 in 2015.

Geographical Coverage

  • The number of branches per 1,000 km² has remained constant at 8.83.
  • The number of ATMs per 1,000 km² increased slightly from 20.85 to 26.15.
  • The ROU region recorded a significant increase in EFTPOS terminals per 1,000 km², from 223.67 to 225.09.

Mobile Financial Services

Access Points

  • The number of access points per 10,000 adults increased significantly from 0.41 to 9.74 over the past year.
  • The AUA region recorded the highest growth rate in this area, with an increase from n/a to 17.13.

Financial Inclusion Indicators

Deposit Accounts and Credit Accounts

  • 39% of adults have at least one type of regulated deposit account.
  • 13.4% of adults have a regulated credit account.
  • 34.9% of adults with active deposit accounts have made transactions in the last 90 days.

Gender Disparities

Active Deposit Accounts

  • 35.1% of adult women have an active deposit account or hold deposit accounts.

Visual Representation

Maps illustrating the distribution of bank branches, ATMs, cash-in/cash-out agents, and mobile money agents across Samoa were included as annexes to the report, providing a visual representation of the country’s financial landscape.

Conclusion

The survey provides valuable insights into the state of financial inclusion in Samoa, highlighting areas of growth and disparity. The findings can inform policy decisions aimed at increasing access to financial services and promoting financial inclusion for all segments of society.