Press Release No. : 21/2026
Date : 11 August 2026
Press Release No 21 – Reserve Bank of Fiji Releases 2025 Financial Inclusion Annual Report
The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) today released its Financial Inclusion Annual Report 2025 outlining progress in access to finance, women’s inclusion, sustainable finance and digital innovation under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) 2022-2030.
Themed “Inclusive by Design: A Gender-Smart Future,” the report sets out Fiji’s efforts to build an inclusive, resilient financial system for women, underserved communities and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Major highlights during the year included:
- Advancing Policy Support for Women Entrepreneurs: Amongst the year’s notable achievements was the completion of the pilot phase of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi Code) and adopting a national definition and baseline indicators for women owned and women led MSMEs in the MSME Strategic Plan 2025-2030.
- Uncovering Supply-Side Barriers to Women’s Access to Finance: RBF launched the Gender Inclusive Finance Report, developed with the Fletcher Leadership Program for Financial Inclusion and the Asian Development Bank, to guide policies addressing barriers to women’s use of formal financial services.
- Improvements in Women’s Financial Inclusion: Progress was recorded in women’s financial inclusion outcomes. Women’s ownership of demand deposit accounts reached 77.7 percent and access to formal credit rose to 9.6 percent. Women represented 73.7 percent of active registered mobile money users, highlighting the positive impact of targeted initiatives under the NFIS.
- Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Further supporting inclusive economic growth was the establishment of the Fiji Innovation Hub with support from the United Nations Pacific Digital Economy Programme and other partners. The Hub provides entrepreneurs with access to digital tools, networks and expertise to develop innovative solutions and participate more effectively in the digital economy.
- Advancing Sustainable Finance and Climate Resilience: In advancing Fiji’s sustainable finance agenda, the RBF launched the Sustainable Finance Roadmap and Fiji’s first Green Finance Taxonomy, creating a framework to guide climate-aligned investment and mobilise capital towards environmentally sustainable activities. Enhanced parametric microinsurance products expanded financial protection for vulnerable households, farmers, fishers and MSMEs exposed to climate-related risks.
- Expanding Financial Literacy and Capability: Financial literacy and awareness initiatives remained a key focus throughout the year with more than 32,000 Fijians reached through schools, communities, digital platforms and stakeholder partnerships. A new facilitator resource in English and iTaukei strengthened the delivery of financial education nationwide.
- Improved Uptake in Digital Financial Services: The financial sector recorded strong growth in digital financial services, highlighting a more diverse and inclusive financial ecosystem. During the year, payment service providers processed 116.4 million mobile wallet transactions worth $7.3 billion, internet banking registration reached 60.5 percent of banked adults, and 72.2 percent of registered mobile money users were active. The increased uptake in digital financial services saw a reduction in Bank account ownership to 82.9 percent, with a higher account ownership for men than women.
RBF Governor and National Financial Inclusion Taskforce (NFIT) Chair, Mr Ariff Ali said the year’s achievements reflected sustained collaboration across government, the financial sector, development partners and community organisations.
He added, “As Fiji continues to make meaningful strides in financial inclusion, we recognise that significant gaps remain, particularly for women and other underserved communities. This report reflects what collective action can achieve and our commitment to removing barriers to fair, sustainable participation in the financial system.”
Looking ahead, the NFIT and its Working Groups will continue partnering with public and private stakeholders to advance digital identity and payment reforms, strengthening consumer protection and financial capability, expanding access to finance for MSMEs, and inclusive, climate-resilient solutions, particularly for women, youth, rural communities, persons with disabilities and other underserved groups.
RESERVE BANK OF FIJI
For further details, please contact: –
Communications Office:
Telephone: (679) 3223 381 Email: info@rbf.gov.fj
Mr Mervin Singh – Manager Corporate Communications:
Telephone: (679) 3223 229 Email: mervin@rbf.gov.fj