Development Bank of Samoa review

Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Development Bank of Samoa lends directly to Samoa's businesses, community groups and nationals, with a fixed rate on business and secured lending. Borrowing costs run at an APR of 8% to 12% on loans of WST 1,000 to WST 250,000, though an approval fee of 1.5% of the amount approved sits on top.

Key facts

Best for
Samoan businesses and community groups wanting a long, fixed-rate loan.
APR
8% to 12% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan amount
WST 1,000 to WST 250,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Term
12 to 180 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Arrangement fee
Application fee $50 small / $100 medium; approval fee 1.5% of loan amount approved; stamp fee $50 per loan agreement form (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Credit check
Hard (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Funding time
Within two to three weeks of request (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rate type
Fixed (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Lender type
Direct lender (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Eligibility
Samoa Nationals, companies or community groups; foreign investors verified by CBS, MCIL, MOR; good credit record; minimum age 18 and maximum age 60 years (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Origination fee (%)
1.5% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Loan types
Business, Secured, Guarantor (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Credit needed
Good (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Development Bank of Samoa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Samoa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
1974 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Pricing model
Fixed rate
Official website
dbsamoa.ws

Apps and profiles

Elsewhere
facebook.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • A fixed rate on business, secured and guarantor loans, so the payment does not move with the market.
  • Loans of WST 1,000 to WST 250,000 over terms of 12 to 180, which lets a business spread a larger purchase rather than take a short cycle.
  • It lends as a direct lender, so you deal with the bank itself rather than a broker.

Cons

  • Fees stack up: an approval fee of 1.5% of the amount approved, an application fee that depends on whether the business is small or medium, and a stamp fee on each agreement form.
  • Funding takes Within two to three weeks of request, so it will not suit an urgent cash-flow gap.
  • A hard credit check and a good credit record rule out files with any recent strain.
Development Bank of Samoa

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Scored 9.2 / 10 by BorrowCue.

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Who it suits

  • Samoan nationals, registered companies and community groups holding a good credit record.
  • Planned equipment and working capital needs, since terms run 12 to 180.
  • Foreign investors whose details are verified by CBS, MCIL and MOR.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone who needs cash inside a few weeks, because funding takes Within two to three weeks of request.
  • Borrowers with a thin credit file, since a good record is needed and the credit check is hard.
  • Borrowers shopping on euro or peso terms: Creduma ES starts at from €12,000, and Sofkredit charges 10.74% to 18.06%.

How Development Bank of Samoa compares

Where Development Bank of Samoa is available

Available
Samoa

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What rate does Development Bank of Samoa charge?+

Rates are fixed and run at an APR of 8% to 12% on business and secured loans. The bank is a direct lender, so you deal with it rather than a broker. That APR sits at the level of the secured loan market median at 11.52%.

What fees sit on top of the interest?+

You pay an application fee, which is lower for a small business than for a medium business, plus an approval fee of 1.5% of the amount approved and a stamp fee on each loan agreement form. Add each to the headline APR of 8% to 12% before you compare.

How much can I borrow, and over what term?+

Borrowing runs WST 1,000 to WST 250,000 in WST over terms of 12 to 180. Loan types cover business, secured and guarantor lending, so a company that can offer security, or a community group with a guarantor, sits inside the same band. Ask the bank which type applies to you.

How long does the money take to arrive?+

The bank funds Within two to three weeks of request. That suits a planned equipment purchase or working capital need rather than an urgent gap. If the cash has to arrive sooner, a lender advertising quicker release is the better fit.

What credit history do I need?+

A good credit record is the stated standard and the credit check is hard, so approval is decided on the strength of your file rather than a quick score. A good record is what the bank describes it needs, and the search result stays on your file.

Who can apply?+

The bank lends to Samoa nationals, companies and community groups, and it verifies foreign investors through CBS, MCIL and MOR. Applicants must be adults inside the bank's stated age limits and hold a good credit record, with a good file the expectation.

How do I reach the bank?+

Support runs on phone, email and help centre, so the bank is reachable by phone, by email and through its help centre. Business purpose and security questions are handled by the bank itself, which helps if your case needs explaining.

Is the rate fixed or variable?+

Fixed. The bank offers fixed-rate lending only, so the rate on an agreement holds while it runs and the payment does not shift with the market. The term can stretch to 12 to 180, which is how a longer fixed period stays affordable.

Sources

  • dbsamoa.ws checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Headquarters, Support channels

    “Main Office 12 Main Beach Road, Level 2, DBS Building, PO Box 1232, APIA, SAMOA”

  • dbsamoa.ws/about-us checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Founded, Legal entity, Lender type

    “The Development Bank of Samoa was established in October 1974 under the Development Bank Act 1974”

  • dbsamoa.ws/faqs checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Funding time

    “When can I get my funds/cheque? Within two to three weeks of request”

  • dbsamoa.ws/our-product checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Credit check

    “Normal DBS screening for credit assesment applies”

  • dbsamoa.ws/rates-charges checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Pricing model, Arrangement fee, Origination fee (%), Rate type

    “Normal Lending - 8 %”

  • dbsamoa.ws/small-and-medium-business-loans checked September 26, 2026

    Backs: Loan amount, APR, Credit needed, Eligibility, Loan types, Term

    “SMALL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Amount: $1000 to $50,000 ... MEDIUM DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Amount: $50,001 to $250,000”

Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Representative example.

Development Bank of Samoa

Development Bank of Samoa

Samoan businesses and community groups wanting a long, fixed-rate loan.

9.2/10See alternatives

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