BSP Service Fee Charges Clarified - Updated

A few years ago Bank of South Pacific (BSP) had ~12 transactions/service fees that were passed onto customers to pay. This was recently posted on by The Sun (15 June 2019) Facebook page. At the time of this post, the BSP Service Fees on Facebook received 111 comments and 182 shares.

This was reposted on Twitter (see below) and received an overwhelming reaction, too.

BSP SERVICE FEES

1. Branch Withdrl K3.00
2. Acc Maintnce K3.00
3. Branch Dep K3.00
4. Check Bal K0.50
5. Transfer K2.00
6. Mini Stmnt K0.75
7. Dep K3.00
8. Withdrl (ATM) K0.50
9. Withdrl (Counter) K4.00
10. Cheq Dep K7.00
11. SMS Banking K1.50
12. Acc maintnce K10.00

The Sun|PNG

— P.N.G. Insight (@PNG_Insight) June 15, 2019

The BSP CEO clarified that many of the charges were no longer effective. In his media response, he said that BSP 'reduced and removed a number of banking fees' (National, 17th June 2019).

Changes to Fees/year

• Removed Cheque fee/2015 - K2.50
• removed Annual Visa Debit Card Fee/2017 - K100
• Removed Dormant fee account/2018-?
• Removed Statement mailing fee/2018-?
• Reduced Eftpos Merchant Commission-?
• Removed branch deposit fee Kundu standard Account-?

? Means fees not indicated in the media report.

These changes saved customer K50 million. It means that it could have been the amount BSP had collected, cumulatively, from the customers had the fees were not removed.

Here is the response from the BSP CEO

According to the report above, the following are the latest fees for using BSP banking services. Note that BSP has two products that carry different service fees.

Find out about How to Change Your BSP PIN at the ATM

Two BSP products

1. Kundu Package Account

• Monthly fee charged K9.50
• Mobile top-up K0.50
• Esi-Pei Top-up K0.50
• Airline Ticket payment Mobile Banking K2.50
• No Teller Service fee
• Majority of transactions are free

2. Kundu Standard Account

• Mobile Banking Transactions  K0.50
• Eftpos transactions K0.25
• Airline Ticket purchase Mobile Banking K2.50
• Withdrawal with a teller K4.00
• Withdrawal (ATM) K0.50
• Withdrawal (another Bank ATM) K2.50
• No monthly fee
• No deposit fee
• No dormant fee
• Charges per other transaction

Perhaps it is important to note that BSP had responded to the sentiments shared about the different fees it passed onto customers, both past and present. The point here is that any BSP customer must be aware of the different fees charged by their bank. 

And, appreciate the fact that they are actually paying certain amount of money from their bank accounts when they are performing a transaction.

2019 Second Quarter TFF Grant of K105 Million Not Released to Schools 2 Weeks Before Qtr Ends

Some ten secondary and high schools in Milne Bay Province have unanimously decided to end term two prematurely this week, after no tuition fee funds have reached the province this term.

News source: NBC News Milne Bay/Facebook

A Headmaster’s group meeting held this week saw a general consensus to hold board meetings for this decision to be effected within this week.

Chairman of Milne Bay’s Principals & Headmasters Group Ishamel Aurere was frank, he says they’ve operated without funds the entire term and especially for boarding schools, they are now in the red.

“Especially in terms of sustaining the boarding part of schools, because most of us are boarding institutions. Up until now, we have not heard anything on TFF for this term and it's the only area schools depend on for their operations so as we come towards end of term two, no word on TFF from national Government. 

It is very unlikely for schools to hold on until the end of the term. Our deliberations last week ended with the advice each school should return to hold emergency board meetings to effect this decision or to come up with alternatives to hold on."

He says expenses however are not all boarding student rations based, schools had overhead costs such as electricity and water for town based schools and general operations that needs funds for.

He says the decision was unanimous.

“All the schools have not received their component of TFF up to last week so we do not know as to each school's situation and we've given them these options but it's likely most of them will see a premature end to the term".

He says school heads have been reminded to keep within proper channels so it’s likely they will hold emergency board meetings early next week to effect the early shutdown of classes for term two.

Six secondary schools and four high schools in Milne Bay will be affected.

These include Cameron, Hagita, Holy Name, Watuluma, Misima and Wesley Secondary Schools and Suau, Cape Vogel, Kiriwina and Kuiaro High Schools.

This does not include primary schools but it’s highly they are also in the same boat.

Cameron Secondary School in the heart of Alotau when contacted this morning confirms they officially sent off students today. 

They were finishing off with tests and exam paper corrections today, before being sent off for possibly a months' term holiday, classes to resume third week of July.

Principal Edward Malona reveals, "Teachers here however will take only a week's leave and will be spending three weeks to put in place strategies for catch up work for classes missed as they've just completed their term exams."

We sought comments from local Education Advsior Roma Tuidam who tells us the matter has been brought to the department by Alotau MP Charles Abel who reveals, Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra has advised him they’ve received an initial K25 million and this will be disbursed to high and secondary schools this week, however they are in need of a further K80 million for all schools.

Source: Facebook/NBC Milne Bay

PNG Kumuls vs Toa Samoa Pacific Test

The 2019 Pacific Test is sure to be a ripper between the PNG Kumuls and Toa Samoa at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday June 22.

Papua New Guinea Kumuls is putting together a strong 18 men team for the Pacific Test 2019 composed of players from NRL and Queensland Intrust Cup:

• NRL= 7 players
• Wynnum Manly = 3 player
• PNG Hunters = 5 players
• North Devils = 1 player
• Townsville Blackhawks = 1 player
• Burleigh Bears = 1 player

Recommended reading: samoa vs png 2019 and Lions vs PNG Kumuls Fixtures.

1. Edene Gabbie Wynnum Manly
2. Edwin Epape Wynnum Manly
3. Enock Maki PNG Hunter
4. James Segeyaro Brisbane Broncos
5. Junior Rau PNG Hunters
6. Justin Olam Melbourne Storm
7. Kurt Baptiste North Queensland Cowboys
8. Kyle Laybutt Townsville Blackhawks
9. Lachlan Lam Sydney Roosters
10. Luke Page Burleigh Bears
11. Moses Meninga PNG Hunters
12. Nixon Putt Norths Devils 
13. Rhadley Brawa Wynnum Manly
14. Rhyse Martin Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
15. Stanton Albert PNG Hunters
16. Terry Wapi PNG Hunters
17. Xavier Coates Brisbane Broncos
18. Zev John Melbourne Storm

For the complete Pacific Test samoa vs png 2019 and British Lions vs PNG Kumuls fixtures, see here.

School Reform in PNG: Reforming Home, School and Society - an Academic's Book Worth Reading

The book is an academic's view on School reform in Papua New Guinea. It looks into children, parents and family as the building block of true school reform.

Titled School Cultures: Powerful Mediums to Transform Individuals, Schools and Societies, the book addresses family, classroom and school as the main setting for powerful reformation of the school culture.

To buy the book, contact details are provided below. A must-read book for parents, teachers, school administrators and provincial and national education officers.

Facebook/Dr K. K. MALPO

Here is an original post from the author...

"A holistic approach to School Reforms" is what Dr. K. Kelep-Malpo's latest book on "School cultures: Powerful mediums to transform individuals, schools and societies" brings out.

Parents, especially young parents and families of today must buy as the point on "Homes and families being the first institutions of character building is substantially discussed.

Parents are further urged to train their children to make Quality Decisions whilst under their care before they leave home.

Graduates with Character come out of schools where strong Christian values, beliefs and practices like Retreats,TSCF, Scripture Union etc are encouraged.

Classrooms as Engine rooms where future architects of society are made, must be well catered for, for PNG's robust and quality workforce.

Head teachers with visions to transform schools are needed for PNG's schools today.

It is a must buy book for School boards & administration plus provincial authorities for holistic and not piecemeal reforms.

You can purchase this book from Dr. K. Kelep-Malpo (72328963) email address: malpokapa@gmail.com or Moses Elias - POM (70454290) email address; emson72.me@gmail.com.

Re-posted from the author's Facebook page.