ANZ Interest Rates (updated 27.10.09)

Schedule of interest rates released by ANZ Fiji are as follows:

• Business Index Rate - 9.85%;
• Residential Property Loan : Standard Variable Rate - 8.00%, 1 Year Fixed Rate - 7.75%;
• Investment Loan : Standard Variable Rate - 8.50%, 1 Year Fixed Rate - 8.00%;
• Personal Loans : Secured - 11.00%, Unsecured - 15.00%;
• Small Loans : Unsecured - 19.50%;
• Retail Term Deposits: 9 months to 1 year - 2.25%, 1 to 1.5 Years - 3.50%, 1.5 to 2 Years - 3.75%, 2 Years to 3 Years - 4.00%.

Interest rates are on a per annum basis and may be varied by ANZ without prior notice. For investment advice and portfolio management, pls call our office on telephone (679) 3342719 or email info@gilbert.com.fj.

Our Strategic Planning Consultancy

As part of our suit of products, we offer consultancy in the area of strategic planning.

Using a strategic planning model that we have developed, after reviewing other models that are in use, we have developed the current strategic plans for Fiji National Provident Fund, Amalgamated Telecom Holdings, among others.

We have also assisted with developing annual corporate plans for some government agencies/departments. As part of this, we ensure that there is a link between the company's/organisation's strategic plan and its annual strategies and that those responsible for implementing strategies are clearly identified with time frames put in place.

During the current constrained business and economic environment, it might do well for companies to have another review of where they wish to position themselves over the next two to three years and then review/identify new strategies to take them there.

Organisational objectives that might have been relevant in the past two years might need to be reviewed as companies/organisations relook at themselves given the current global/domestic conditions.

If you are a company or organisation that needs assistance in this regard, and need more information on how we can help you, you can call our office on (679) 3342719 or email us on info@gilbert.com.fj.

Our Risk Management Consultancy

We are completing the development of a risk management framework including risk management policies, procedures and processes for an insurance company in Fiji.

As part of this consultancy, we used a risk management product that was have developed after reviewing other models being used overseas and developing a generic model that can be used for companies/organisations in Fiji and the Pacific Islands region.

The product helps us, together with the client, to develop policies to manage risks within the client company/organisation, including processes to identify, assess and manage risks within that company/organisation.

Most companies/organisations around the world and in the Pacific Islands region do not have a good idea of the risks that their businesses engage in or with.

It has been found that managing risks effectively, leads to improved efficiencies, effectiveness and profitability for a company/organisation.

Our product helps a company identify the risks that it engages in/with, assesses those risks and then identifies strategies to manage those risks. We can also recommend suitable changes to a client's organisation structure to put in place an appropriate hierarchy, reporting lines and systems to manage risks within that organisation/company.

If you need further information on this product or a proposal, pls call our office on (679) 3342719 or email info@gilbert.com.fj.

ANZ Interest Rates (updated 30.9.09)

Schedule of interest rates released by ANZ Fiji are as follows:

• Business Index Rate - 9.85%;
• Residential Property Loan : Standard Variable Rate - 8.60%, 1 Year Fixed Rate - 8.10%;
  Investment Loan : Standard Variable Rate - 9.10%, 1 Year Fixed Rate - 8.10%;
• Personal Loans : Secured - 11.00%, Unsecured - 15.00%;
• Small Loans : Unsecured - 19.50%;
• Retail Term Deposits: 9 months to 1 year - 2.25%, 1 to 1.5 Years - 3.50%, 1.5 to 2 Years - 3.75%, 2 Years to 3 Years - 4.00%.

Interest rates are on a per annum basis and may be varied by ANZ without prior notice. For investment advice and portfolio management, pls call our office on telephone (679) 3342719 or email info@gilbert.com.fj.

Reserve Bank of Fiji removes credit ceiling

The Reserve Bank of Fiji earlier this week removed the credit ceiling restrictions placed on banks and credit institutions operating in Fiji.

The removal of the credit ceiling is expected to contribute to growth in bank's and credit institution's lending portfolios with growth by certain financial institutions heavily restricted during the time the ceiling was in place.

Westpac Interest Rates (updated 1.9.09)

Schedule of interest rates released by Westpac Fiji are as follows:

• Business Lending Rate - 9.99%;
• Residential Property Loan : Variable Rate – 9.00%, 1 year Fixed Rate – 8.50%;
• Investment Loan : Variable Rate - 9.50%, 1 year Fixed Rate - 8.50%;
• Retail Term Deposits : 6 to less than 9 months - 2.25%, 9 months to less than 1 year - 3.00%, 1 year to less than 1.5 Years - 3.50%, 1.5 years to less than 2 Years - 3.75%, 2 years to less than 3 Years - 4.00%.

Interest rates are on a per annum basis and may be varied by the bank without prior notice.

Individuals and groups that need investment advice, or advice with regard to capital markets issues, can use our company, Gilbert & Samuels Company Limited. We also do strategic/corporate planning, business continuity planning, capacity assessment and risk management consultancies.

Also contact us if you require investment portfolio management services.

Our contacts are: telephones (679) 3342719, (679) 3544897 or e-mail: info@gilbert.com.fj.

ANZ to reduce interest rates further

ANZ will reduce interest rates further on 29 July 2009.

The reduction in interest rates come about as a result of the Reserve Bank of Fiji's policy for banks to reduce their lending rates to the levels they were as at end December 2008 and for interest spreads to be not more than 4%.

ANZ has also announced that the reduction in interest rates comes together with a raising of the risk preferences that the bank have. The bank has said that it will be more comfortable now with lower risk loans and customers that it would otherwise have been.