Central Bank of Samoa (CBS)

Overview

The Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) is the central bank of the Independent State of Samoa, established on 1 May 1984 under the Central Bank of Samoa Act 1984. The CBS succeeded the Monetary Board of Western Samoa, which had been created in 1975. The institution's headquarters are located in Apia, the capital of Samoa. The CBS operates as the primary monetary authority and financial regulator for the Samoan financial system.

Current Governor (2025-2031): Ms Maiava Atalina Emma Ainuu-Enari, re-appointed February 2026

Ms Ainuu-Enari became the first woman to hold the position of Governor and Chairperson of the Board when she was appointed on 11 August 2011. Her recent re-appointment for a six-year term (2026-2032) reflects confidence in her leadership during a critical period of financial system modernization and digital financial services expansion.

Basic Identity

Classification

Inclusion Justification

What This Entity Oversees

The Central Bank of Samoa exercises comprehensive banking supervision and financial system regulation through its Financial Supervision and Regulation Department (FSRD).

Supervisory Scope

The CBS licenses and supervises:

• Commercial banks and development banks

• Non-bank financial institutions and credit unions

• Insurance companies and insurance intermediaries (brokers, agents)

• Securities brokers and securities dealers

• Other financial institutions as designated

Supervisory Framework

The FSRD's mandate is to:

• Promote and maintain financial stability

• Encourage the soundness and efficiency of the financial system

• Reduce potential damage from bank failures or financial system stresses

• Protect depositors, creditors, policyholders, and unit holders

Prudential Supervision Approach

The CBS's prudential supervision concentrates on:

• Detecting early warning signs of financial institution weaknesses

• Regular on-site examination and analysis of financial reports

• Measuring performance against prevailing prudential standards

• Assessment of capital adequacy, asset quality, and liquidity

• Credit concentration and risk management evaluation

• Compliance monitoring and follow-up actions

The CBS establishes and maintains minimum prudential standards for all regulated financial institutions, covering capital ratios, liquidity requirements, large exposure limits, and operational risk management.

Consumer Protection

The supervisory framework includes consumer protection mechanisms:

• Depositor protection through regulatory oversight

• Policyholder safeguards in insurance supervision

• Fair treatment requirements for financial services

• Complaint handling and dispute resolution processes

The Central Bank of Samoa exercises regulatory authority over the insurance sector:

• Licensing of insurance companies (general and life insurers)

• Licensing and oversight of insurance brokers and agents

• Prudential regulation and supervision of insurers

• Capital and reserve requirement enforcement

• Claims management and consumer protection standards

• Regular examination and compliance monitoring

The insurance supervisory framework, based on the Insurance Act 2007, ensures market stability, protects policyholders, and promotes sound insurance practices. The CBS coordinates with Ministry of Commerce and Insurance on broader regulatory policy.

Capital Markets

The Central Bank of Samoa maintains a registry of securities as part of its financial system oversight, although no dedicated capital market authority currently operates. The Finance Sector Plan contemplates the establishment of a capital market authority under CBS supervision. Currently, securities market activities are subject to general financial regulation and CBS oversight.

The Central Bank of Samoa operates within Samoa's comprehensive AML/CFT framework under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2000 and associated regulations.

AML/CFT Supervisory Role

The CBS is responsible for:

• Development and enforcement of AML/CFT compliance standards

• Supervision of financial institutions' AML/CFT compliance

• Regulatory guidance on Know Your Customer (KYC) and due diligence

• Suspicious transaction reporting protocols

• Coordination with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)

• Compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations

• Implementation of targeted financial sanctions

Compliance Requirements

Financial institutions must implement:

• Customer identification and beneficial ownership verification

• Customer due diligence proportionate to risk profile

• Enhanced due diligence for high-risk customers and activities

• Suspicious transaction monitoring and reporting

• Record retention for compliance documentation

• Staff training on AML/CFT obligations

• Independent compliance oversight

International Compliance

Samoa participates in FATF mutual evaluation processes and maintains alignment with international standards on combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The CBS contributes to national risk assessments and provides regulatory feedback to the FIU and law enforcement agencies.

The Central Bank of Samoa is actively engaged in promoting financial inclusion and financial literacy as part of its mandate.

National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2 (NFIS 2)

The CBS leads the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2, spanning 2022/2023 to 2025/2026, with objectives to:

• Expand formal financial access for underserved populations (women, youth, elderly, micro-small enterprises, rural residents)

• Prioritize digital financial services development

• Increase formal financial inclusion by 40,000 adults by 2025/2026

• Strengthen financial literacy and consumer awareness

• Expand payment system access and digital cash availability

The CBS is a member of the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), participating in global initiatives on financial inclusion policy and capacity building.

Digital Financial Services

The CBS supports digital financial services expansion, including:

• Mobile money service regulation

• Digital payment system development and modernization

• Agent banking frameworks

• Branchless banking oversight

• Cybersecurity and consumer protection standards

• Financial technology innovation support

Regulatory Powers

The Central Bank of Samoa maintains enforcement powers to ensure compliance with banking laws, regulations, and supervisory directives:

• Issuance of supervisory letters and corrective action directives

• Assessment of penalties and fines for compliance failures

• License suspension or revocation for material breaches

• Receivership and liquidation of failed institutions

• Recovery of assets and depositor protection fund management

• Coordination with law enforcement on financial crimes

The enforcement framework provides graduated responses from warnings to license revocation, commensurate with breach severity.

Regulatory Role and Function

Legal Foundation

The Central Bank of Samoa operates under the Central Bank of Samoa Act 2015, which consolidates and modernizes the foundational Central Bank of Samoa Act 1984. The current legal framework provides:

• Monetary policy formulation and implementation authority

• Currency management and issuance powers

• Banking supervision and regulation authority

• Financial system stability oversight

• Payment system regulation and administration

• Foreign exchange management and reserve custody

• AML/CFT compliance enforcement

Supporting legislation includes:

• Financial Institutions Act 1996 — Regulation of financial institutions

• Money Laundering Prevention Act 2000 — AML/CFT compliance framework

• Insurance Act 2007 — Insurance supervision authority

The Central Bank of Samoa Act 2015 maintains continuity with the original 1984 legislation while enhancing the CBS's capacity to address contemporary financial system challenges, including digital financial innovation and cyber resilience.

Licensing and Authorization Relevance

The Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) is a key licensing authority in Samoa's financial system:

The licensing process typically involves assessment of capital adequacy, fitness and propriety of management, business plan viability, AML/CFT compliance frameworks, and IT systems readiness.

Payments and Money Movement Relevance

The Central Bank of Samoa implements a formal monetary policy framework with the objective of maintaining price stability and supporting sustainable economic development. The CBS's monetary policy functions include:

• Official Cash Rate setting and management

• Open market operations and liquidity management

• Reserve requirement administration

• Inflation targeting framework

• Economic outlook assessment and forecasting

• Monetary policy communication and guidance

The CBS publishes Monetary Policy Statements outlining its assessment of economic conditions, inflation trends, and policy direction. The institution monitors price movements, employment conditions, output growth, and external sector developments as part of its comprehensive macroeconomic analysis.

The Central Bank of Samoa maintains oversight and administration of the national payment system with responsibility for:

• Payment system regulation and oversight

• Clearing and settlement arrangements

• Payment service provider regulation

• Electronic payment infrastructure management

• Standards setting for payment system efficiency and safety

• Coordination with payment system participants

Digital Payment System Modernization

The CBS has implemented a new digital payment system to boost financial inclusion and support economic activity. With World Bank and IFC support, the CBS has modernized payment infrastructure to improve transaction processing, reduce costs, and expand access to payment services.

The Central Bank of Samoa manages Papua New Guinea's external sector stability and foreign exchange operations:

• Official foreign exchange reserve management

• Exchange rate policy and stability maintenance

• Foreign exchange market oversight

• Balance of payments monitoring and analysis

• Capital account and international transaction regulation

• External sector risk assessment and management

The CBS works to maintain appropriate foreign exchange reserves, support external stability, and manage currency risk exposure.

Payment Systems Governed or Overseen

The CBS operates and/or oversees the national payment and settlement infrastructure of Samoa. Specific systems include:

Relationship to Other Regulators

The Central Bank of Samoa maintains active engagement with international institutions:

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

• Article IV consultation and surveillance participation

• Technical assistance cooperation on monetary policy, banking supervision, and financial sector development

• Financial sector assessment programs

World Bank

• Partnership on financial system modernization initiatives

• Support for digital payment system development

• Engagement on financial inclusion and development

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

• Technical assistance programs for financial sector capacity building

• Support for regulatory framework modernization

Regional Organizations

• Participation in Pacific Islands Central Banks cooperation meetings

• Engagement with the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI)

• Coordination on harmonization of supervisory standards

• Regional payment system initiatives

Pacific Islands Forum

• Participation in regional financial coordination and policy dialogue

• Engagement on financial stability and development initiatives

Geography and Jurisdiction Notes

Important Departments and Divisions

Key Public Resources

Central Bank of Samoa

• Address: Leulumoega, Apia, Samoa

• Website: https://cbs.gov.ws/

• Telephone: +685 22411

Governor: Ms Maiava Atalina Emma Ainuu-Enari

Notes on Naming and Language