About Us / Our History

Our History

Ni Sa Bula, Namaste and Welcome to BSP Fiji!

BSP is one of the largest and most successful banking organisations in the South Pacific. With a proud and established reputation in Papua New Guinea, and a long history of highly successful business in the region, BSP has become the most respected bank in the Pacific.

In addition to being the largest bank in Papua New Guinea, BSP is represented in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Cambodia.

 

Below are some key events in the history of BSP Fiji:

2017 Highlights

2014 Highlights

DECEMBER

  1. Sponsorship Partnership with Apex Clubs of Fiji for the International Leadership Convention
  2. Community Collected 46 pints of blood during the Blood drive in Suva
  3. Community Painting of the ablution blocks at Garvey Park by Tavua branch
  4. Community Renovation of Charmans All Races Club gym by Pacific House branch
  5. Community Upgrade of Rakiraki Tennis court to a multi-purpose court by Rakiraki branch
  6. Community Lautoka Business Centre and Ba Branch joined forces to construct a multi-purpose court for Tavarau Primary School
  7. Sponsorship Fiji Ladies Closing Golf tournament
  8. Sponsorship Institute of Internal Auditors for the 2014 Annual Conference
  9. Donation WWF Pacific Volunteers Dinner
  10. Community Christmas charity and customer rewards program

NOVEMBER

  1. Community Thomson branch team constructs a multipurpose court at Waiqanake District School
  2. Sponsorship Partnership with FASANOC for Fiji Hall of Fame and Fiji Olympic Order dinner
  3. Donation Foundation For The Education Of Needy Children
  4. Sponsorship Joint sponsorship with Digicel for Golden Oldies rugby uniforms
  5. Community Partnership with International Youth Fellowship for the Fiji Information
  6. Technology & Christian Camp
  7. Community Donation to the Police Blue light Sports Clinic Fun Day
  8. Events Customer Cocktail in Ba, Labasa, Savusavu

OCTOBER

  1. Launch of BSP Finance
  2. Event Customer cocktail with the PNG Board in Suva
  3. Sponsorship Partnership with Fiji Swimming Association for the National Short Course event
  4. Sponsorship Partnership with Ministry of Education and Suva City Council for the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" school oratory contest
  5. Sponsorship Partnership with WOWs Kids Viti Levu walk
  6. Sponsorship 2014 Fiji Badminton Nationals tournament
  7. Community Donation to the Fiji Police Wives tournament by BSP
  8. Sponsorship Fiji Human Resources Institute conference joint partnership by BSP and BSP Life
  9. Community Support environmental initiatives at the Fiji National University International Food Festival
  10. Sponsorship HOTEC Tradeshow
  11. Community Donation to the Namosi Provincial Council
  12. Community Donation to the Psychiatric Survivors Association
  13. Sponsorship Uprising Beach Resort Music Festival
  14. Event Customer Cocktails for Diwali in Nadi
  15. Sponsorship TOPEX Annual conference
  16. Sponsorship Fiji Day Bilibili Races in Sigatoka

SEPTEMBER

  1. Community Donation to the Fiji Association of Women Graduates quiz night
  2. Sponsorship Fiji Human Resources Institute conference joint partnership
  3. Donation Fiji's Bushells Biggest Morning Tea
  4. Sponsorship Partnership with Fiji Men's and Mixed Netball Championship
  5. Community Donation to the Raiwai Methodist Fellowship Youth Sports Day
  6. Community "Go Green" donation of rubbish bins toSigatoka Town Council
  7. Community Donation to Saint John Rugby in Natovi
  8. Community Donation to the Tagimoucia Festival in Taveuni

AUGUST

  1. Community Donation to the Bua Schools Kaji Contingent Sponsorship Partnership with The New Chinese Union and the Chinese Embassy for the inaugural
  2. Chinese soccer tournament in Fiji
  3. Sponsorship Partnership with Fiji Primary Schools Netball
  4. Association for the Primary Schools Inter District Championship in Labasa
  5. Sponsorship Oceania Golf School Western Junior Inter-Primary Golf Competition
  6. Community Donation to the Lautoka Primary School Rugby Association by BSP
  7. Sponsorship Supported the Fiji swimming squad to the
  8. Pan Pacific Championship in Australia
  9. Community Donation to Ratu Navula Secondary School
  10. Community University of The South Pacific Open Day
  11. Sponsorship Fiji Police Force for the Police Commissioner's Cup match
  12. Sponsorship Fiji Oral Health Workers Association
  13. Events Nasinu Trade Show
  14. Events Methodist Church Annual Conference
  15. Golden Jubilees Celebration
  16. Events Hibiscus Expo
  17. Events Ra Microfinance Expo
  18. Sponsorship Pacific Islands Surgeons Association
  19. Events BSP Golf Day at Fiji Golf Club
  20. Sponsorship Oceania Hobie Challenge
  21. Community Prize donations for the 2014 Agriculture show

JULY

  1. Community Painting of Ahmadiya College building
  2. Donation Accor's Race to Survive charity
  3. Donation Hilton Special School's fundraising
  4. Donation Land Transport Authority for the "DrivingSafe and Secure Fiji" program
  5. Event Pacific Harbour invitational Golf
  6. Donation Rotary Pacific Water for Life Foundation

JUNE

  1. Donation Ra School for Special Education sports day
  2. Event BSP Classic Golf Tournament at Denarau
  3. Sponsorship Fiji Hotel & Tourism's Annual General Meeting
  4. Event Participation for the Morning Health Walk
  5. Community Partnership with Partners in Community
  6. Development Fiji for the Nadarivatu farming project

MAY

  1. Launch Launch of Discover & Diners on ATM
  2. Donation Sigatoka Town Day
  3. VISA DEBIT Launch
  4. Events USP Road Show
  5. Events Bua Showcase
  6. Donations Go Green Easter Promotion winners
  7. Events Bua Asco Showcase
  8. Events Nadarivatu Expo
  9. Promotions Bua Roadshow
  10. Sponsorship Computer Prizes for Go Green Campaign

APRIL

  1. Sponsorship BSP Fiji Principals Association Conference
  2. Sponsorship Fiji Teachers Association
  3. Sponsorship Fiji Medical Association Conference
  4. Environment Partnership with the American Embassy for the World Earth Day Clean Up Challenge
  5. Sponsorship Computer Prizes for Go Green Campaign
  6. Participation Earth Day Clean up
  7. Donations for Microfinance Tours to Rabi and Rotuma
  8. Sponsorship Community Project Labasa Tennis Court

MARCH

  1. Sponsorship World Water Safety Day
  2. Event Launch of BSP Visa Debit card
  3. Sponsorship Tavua Kindergarten Community Project
  4. Sponsorship Computer Prizes for Go Green Campaign
  5. Sponsorship Business House Basketball
  6. Sponsorship Business House Lawn Bowls
  7. VISA DEBIT Launch
  8. Giveaways for Customers to attend Marist 7s
  9. Valentines giveaways in all branches

FEBRUARY

  1. Sponsorship Fiji Correctional Services Sports Day
  2. Green Day Promotion
  3. Sponsorship for Mareqeti Viti
  4. Events promotion and participation at Showcase
  5. Participation at Ra Exposition
  6. Go Green Prizes Lautoka Muslim College
  7. Go Green Prize for Vuci Methodist Church
  8. Go Green Prize for Nabekavu Primary School
  9. Promotions Valentines in Central and Western Division

JANUARY

  1. Sponsorship for Northland Football Association
  2. Green Day Promotion
  3. Sponsorship Go Green Art Competition
  4. Sponsorship for Naitasiri Expo
  5. Go Green Prizes Rakiraki Primary School
  6. Go Green Prizes Lautoka Primary School
  7. Go Green Prizes Penang Sangam High School
2013 Highlights

DECEMBER

  1. Donation gas stove and oven for Loloma Home, Nadi
  2. Sponsorship FENCE Fiji Social Club Dinner
  3. Donations for Cyclone Evan -Ramakrishna Mission Nadi.
  4. Donations for Save the Children Fiji -Back to School
  5. Sponsorship BSP Titans Cricket team
  6. Sponsorship Save the Children Fund
  7. Sponsorship for FENCE Fiji
  8. Donation Rakiraki Muslim Primary School

NOVEMBER

  1. Donation Pacific Harbour Police Post
  2. Donation Rotuma Day Games
  3. Sponsorship RFMF - Sukuna Bowl
  4. Sponsorship Denarau Classic Golf
  5. Sponsorship CWM 90th Anniversary Dinner

OCTOBER

  1. Sponsorship Ministry of Environment Go Green Campaign
  2. Sponsorship Ra School for Special Education
  3. Sponsorship Nadi School for Special Education
  4. Sponsorship Pacific Harbour Golf
  5. Sponsorship IIA Annual Conference
  6. Event St John Pancake Breakfast
  7. Sponsorship Diwali Cocktail
  8. Donation Seventh Day Adventist Primary

SEPTEMBER

  1. Community Donation to Nadi Wailoaloa Crematorium Committee
  2. Sponsorship FIB Awards
  3. Sponsorship Sigatoka Hospital Charity Golf
  4. Sponsorship Serua Provincial Scholarship Fund
  5. Sponsorship Fiji Golf Club Ladies Championship
  6. Community Contribution - Police Suva Cluster

AUGUST

  1. Donation to Indian Cultural Center for Events
  2. Sponsorship of PPSEAWA Fiji Conference Calendar
  3. Sponsorship Sila Central Old Scholars - staff quarters renovation
  4. Sponsorship Tilak High School magazine
  5. Community support for Lautoka Special School fundraising
  6. Sponsorship Australian Business Council

JULY

  1. Sponsorship Friendly North Festival
  2. Sponsorship Fiji Hobbie Competition
  3. Sponsorship Leadership Fiji ALUMNI 2013 Retreat
  4. Sponsorship Sangam College National Celebrations - Nadi
  5. Sponsorship and participation Open Day Golf Charity Drive
  6. Sponsorship for FENCE
  7. Donation Bula Festival
  8. Donation Tokaimalo Show
  9. Donation Ministry of Education Sports Day
  10. Donation ACSOG 60s Market Day

 JUNE

  1. Sponsorship to Team Fiji for 2013 Pacific Mini Games- Wallis and Futuna.
  2. Sponsorship MSG Trade and Fair Show
  3. Event Blood Drive
  4. Sponsorship World Day against Child Labour

 MAY

  1. Sponsorship AFBC Forum Platinum - sponsor
  2. Sponsorship Raiwai Volleyball Association
  3. Participation at Golf Charity Event

 APRIL

  1. Sponsorship Children's Marching
  2. Sponsorship Nasese Earth Day
  3. Sponsorship Stingray Swimming Club
  4. USP Educare Partnership

MARCH

  1. Sponsorship for World Water Safety Health
  2. Sponsorship Hare Krishna Food for Life
  3. Sponsorship Vatukoula Kindergarten
  4. Sponsorship Summer Cup
  5. Environment - Vunisamaloa Sangam School

FEBRUARY

  1. Sponsorship Sawakasa Kindergarten School stationary
  2. Sponsorship BSP Titans Cricket team
  3. Sponsorship Salvation Army Lautoka
  4. Sponsorship Leadership Fiji
  5. Sponsorship Squash Fiji

JANUARY

  1. Sponsorship Local Council Administrators Conference
  2. Sponsorship International Women's Day Charity Donation
2012 Highlights

DECEMBER

  1. Sponsorship Community Project Savusavu Park
  2. Donation Dilkusha Home
  3. Donation St Vincent Home
  4. Donation Computers for QVS
  5. Donation Cyclone Evan victims
  6. Sponsorship National 7s team
  7. Promotions Christmas Greetings to customers

NOVEMBER

  1. Sponsorship Corporate Golf Nadi
  2. Sponsorship Nawajikuma Church
  3. Sponsorship Kaji Rugby Skills Academy
  4. Sponsorship Police Sukuna Bowl
  5. Sponsorship Mini Olympics
  6. Sponsorship Burebasaga 7s
  7. Donation Churchward Curcuit
  8. Events Ratu Latianara School clean-up
  9. Donation Nabua Primary School library

OCTOBER

  1. Sponsorship Korovou Community project
  2. Events Fiji Day March
  3. Donation to Shiuomkan Ramayan Mandal
  4. Sponsorship BSP/Digicel Golf Event
  5. Sponsorship Sigatoka Library
  6. Sponsorship BSP Rubbish bins for Nausori Town
  7. Sponsorship RBF Sigatoka Expo
  8. Events Korovou Road Show
  9. Community Project Vatukarasa

SEPTEMBER

  1. Events Blood Drive
  2. Sponsorship Biggest Morning tea
  3. Launch China Union Pay
  4. Sponsorship Gold Water Carnival
  5. Community Project Vatukarasa Village
  6. Sponsorship Save the Children Fund
  7. Donation St Agnes Primary School
  8. Events Blood Drive
  9. Donation Ba Festival

AUGUST

  1. Sponsorship Community Project Qeleni, Taveuni
  2. Sponsorship Mens Squash team
  3. Sponsorship Fiji Sun Hibiscus Charity Chest
  4. Sponsorship Mai Life Hibiscus Charity Chest
  5. Events Asco Kadavu Expo
  6. Sponsorship BSP time check
  7. Sponsorship Nadroga Sangam School Carnival
  8. Sponsorship Fiji's Biggest Morning Tea - Cancer Society

JULY

  1. Sponsorship Fiji Corrections Service
  2. Donation Fiji Methodist Church
  3. Events sponsorship and participation "Tae Kami-Save it or Shave it."
  4. Community awareness support for Fiji Police
  5. Sponsorship Fiji Agriculture Show
  6. Community Project Tacirua East

JUNE

  1. Sponsorship Community Project Levuka Public School
  2. Sponsorship Savusavu Open Day

MAY

  1. Sponsorship AFBC Forum Platinum - sponsor
  2. Sponsorship Raiwai Volleyball Association
  3. Participation at Golf Charity Event
  4. Donation Malake Village School.
  5. Donation to International School Fun Day
  6. Donation Nawaqa 7s

APRIL

  1. Promotion BSP/Digicel Cash campaign
  2. Donation Flood Relief Ration packs
  3. Donation Waiqanake School Bazaar
  4. Promotions Bua Expo Show
  5. Donation Sigatoka Flood Appeal
  6. Sponsorship Bua Expo

MARCH

  1. Sponsorship PMs Golf Charity Event
  2. Events Earth Hour Participation
  3. Sponsorship Fiji Military Forces prizes
  4. Sponsorship Nawailevu Community Project
  5. Donation Flood Relief Ration packs
  6. Sponsorship Nasinu Secondary School
  7. Promotion Asco Expo in Bua

FEBRUARY

  1. Donation for Flooding Victims and Relief
  2. Sponsorship Fiji Hockey

JANUARY

  1. Sponsorship Official Banker of Uprising 7s Tournament
  2. Donation for Flooding Victims and Relief
  3. Sponsorship Namarai 7s
  4. BSP Uniform Fashion Show
2011 Highlights

DECEMBER

  1. In the spirit of Christmas, BSP make donations totalling $10,000 to Fiji Red Cross, Father Law Home in Lami, Senior Citizens Home in Samabula and Fiji Society for the Blind.
  2. BSP launch the Free Text Top Up on 290 and BillPay on SMS Banking.
  3. The main prize in the Switch, Swipe and Win, $50,000, is won by Jone Ravitu of Nadi.  $50,000 was also won by 50 winners for the period July - December 2011.
  4. BSP launch our 100th ATM in Fiji at Asco Motors Service Station, Waqadra, Nadi.  We have the largest ATM network of all Banks in Fiji.
  5. BSP launches BSP Online - Personal Internet Banking which is on par with modern international internet banking products.

NOVEMBER

  1. The 2nd year of partner with Digicel Fiji in the sponsorship of the Digicel Fiji 7s team.
  2. BSP sponsors the Special Recognition Award in the Prime Minister's Exporter of the Year Awards.

SEPTEMBER

  1. Go Green 2011 saw 172 schools, with over 34,870 students and 3,550 teachers and friends participating to beautify Fiji.  BSP also donated rubbish bins to Suva City Council and Rakiraki Town Council.

 AUGUST

  1. BSP launch the Switch, Swipe and Win promotion, with $100,000 in cash prizes, the first such large promotion for any Bank in Fiji.

 JULY

  1. The Government of Fiji signs a historical agreement with BSP and Asco Motors for the leasing of vehicles for the Government fleet.
  2. The BSP Farebrother Cup Challenge Series begins for the 2nd season with a historical match; Nadroga vs Macuata at Subrail Park, Labasa.  This is the first time a challenge match has been held at the challengers' home ground.  Nadogo defend the Cup for a 2nd season.

MAY

  1. Colonial Fiji Life Ltd rebranded to BSP Life (Fiji) Ltd and launches the "Celebrating Life" campaign with over $20,000 in prizes.

 APRIL

  1. The BSP Torch Relay for the Coca Cola Games visits 69 schools in 12 days.  The torch was carried by 145 runners and seen by over 5,000 students.

 JANUARY

  1. BSP launches a School Fee Loan with a $10,000 donation to the Foundation for the Education of Needy Children in Fiji (FENCS Fiji.)
2010 Highlights

NOVEMBER

  1. BSP sponsors for the Small Business Award in the Prime Minister's Exporter of the Year Awards.

 OCTOBER

  1. BSP runs the 'Go Green' environmental campaign to promote the preservation and cleanliness of the natural environment that is so critical to the daily lives of the people of the Pacific.  This is the first of such an initiative for a Bank.
  2. BSP is the first corporate company in Fiji to sign the National Employment Centre agreement with the Government of Fiji which makes us the first company to adhere to the National Employment Centre Decree of 2009 agreeing to take on 5% of the staff roll under this scheme.   

SEPTEMBER

  1. BSP announces the decision to retain its Life & Health Insurance business with a view to expand across the Pacific.

JULY

  1. BSP Group Board in PNG meets and visits Fiji operations.
  2. Ratu Malakai Naiyaga appointed the Managing Director for Colonial Fiji Life Limited. Naiyaga served in various senior executive roles in the Colonial Fiji Group from 1987 to 2004, after which, he was seconded to CBA Indonesia.  He was the President and Chief Executive of Commonwealth Life.  He progressed to the Director SME and Commercial Banking in May 2008 and held this position until his return to Fiji.
  3. BSP announces its sponsorship of the Farebrother Sullivan Cup, the oldest rugby competition in Fiji. Nadroga defend the Cup against all challengers for the season.

 JUNE  

  1. BSP launches SMS Banking, a first for Fiji and the Pacific.

MAY 

  1. BSP launches the BCN Convertible Notes on the South Pacific Stock Exchange allowing Fiji citizens and Fiji businesses to buy an interest in BSP that are convertible to Fiji-class shares at the maturity of the notes.

MARCH 

  1. Rebranding of CNB launched with the Love Your Bank campaign. 
  2. BSP announces its co-sponsorship of the Digicel Fiji 7s team.  
  3. BSP sponsors the NCSMED Small Business Expo.  
  4. BSP provides $100,000 to 4 donor organisations towards relief efforts after Hurricane Tomas.

FEBRUARY 

  1. Kevin McCarthy appointed Fiji Country Manager heading BSP's Fiji operations.

2009 Highlights

DECEMBER 

  1. BSP buys the Colonial Group. So all the companies within the Colonial Group officially become part of Bank South Pacific Group.

 JULY 

  1. Bank of South Pacific announced their interest to acquire Colonial Fiji Group of Companies.

Below are some key events in the history of Colonial Fiji:

January 2006 The Commonwealth Banking Group of Australia (CBA) purchased 49% of Fiji Government shares for F$28 million to obtain 100% ownership of Colonial National Bank.

December 1999 Domestication for Colonial business in Fiji. New name being Colonial Fiji Life Ltd.

October 1999 - Launched Colonial First State Investments and a suite of three unit trusts

August 1999 Launched the Colonial National Bank.

June 1999 Launched HealthCare Pacific, a joint venture with Mayne-Nickless of Australia, Fijian Holdings and Unit Trust of Fiji.

February 1999 Purchased 51% shares of the then National Bank of Fiji

May 1997 Colonial listing as a Public Company on the Australian and New Zealand Stock Exchange.

December 1996 Colonial officially demutualize and becomes a shareholding company.

March 1991 Group acquires Blue Shield (Pacific) Ltd.

1876 The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited opened its first overseas Branch in Fiji (two years after Cession).

1873 The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited was founded in Melbourne, Australia by TJaques Martin. This was the time which followed the great gold rushes which had led to an overwhelming increase in the Victorian population.

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