MCIL Regulated · Apia, Samoa

Samoa’s first
digital credit union

Better loans. Smarter savings. Built for Samoa and the Pacific diaspora — on your phone, wherever you are.

Tupe lelei mo Samoa — i luga o lau telefoni

1%
Monthly interest rate
15%
One-time O&S fee
~40%
Cheaper than finance companies
•••• •••• •••• 4521
FCU Member
•••• •••• •••• 7291
FCU Member
Loan approved
WST 5,000 · Personal
Wallet credited
WST 910 received
MCIL Regulated under CUA 2015
Bank-grade security
100% digital — no branch needed
Proudly Samoan
Our Loan Products

Loans built for
real life in Samoa

Simple, transparent, and up to 40% cheaper than finance companies. No hidden fees, ever.

Personal Loan

For everyday needs — school fees, medical bills, home improvements, or whatever life throws at you.

1% / month
Reducing balance · Up to 12 months

Vehicle Loan

Finance your car or truck with competitive rates and flexible repayments over up to 3 years.

1% / month
Reducing balance · Up to 36 months

Gadgets Loan

Get the phone, laptop, or device you need now. Fast approval, flexible weekly or fortnightly repayments.

1% / month
Reducing balance · Up to 12 months
All loans include a one-time O&S fee of 15% of the loan amount (minimum WST 75). Interest is calculated on a reducing balance — the more you repay, the less interest you pay.
0%
Monthly interest rate — lowest in Samoa
WST 0
Minimum loan amount available
0%
Cheaper than traditional finance companies
0%
Digital — apply from anywhere, any device
Loan Calculator

See exactly what
you’ll pay — before you apply

No surprises. Adjust the sliders and get your real repayment numbers instantly.

Loan type
Loan amount
WST 5,000
WST 500WST 100,000
Repayment period
12 months
1 month12 months
Monthly repaymentWST 542 /mo
One-time O&S fee (15%)WST 750
Total interest paidWST 325
Total cost of loanWST 6,075
Savings vs finance companies~WST 1,200 saved

Calculated at 1%/month on a reducing balance. O&S fee minimum WST 75. Results are indicative only.

Principal vs Interest each month
Principal
Interest
How it works

From application
to wallet in minutes

Everything done through the FCU app — no branch visits, no paperwork, no waiting.

Valid photo ID
Passport or driver’s licence
Samoan citizenship
Proof of citizenship required
Selfie check
Quick liveness verification
Email address
For account verification
01

Create your account

Register from any device. No branch visit, no paperwork, no queues. Mobile app coming soon.

02

Apply for a loan

Choose your loan type, amount, and repayment schedule. See exact costs upfront.

03

Get approved

Our team reviews quickly. You’ll know exactly what you’re signing before you commit.

04

Funds in your wallet

Approved funds go straight to your FCU digital wallet. Withdraw, transfer, or pay directly.

For the Diaspora

Send money home
to Samoa — smarter

Support your family in Samoa by topping up their FCU wallet directly from Australia, New Zealand, or the US.

  • Australian banks5–8% total cost
  • Western Union3–6% total cost
  • Remitly2–4% total cost
  • FCU wallet top-up~1–3% total cost

Diaspora top-up via Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Wise — coming soon.

You send from Sydney
AUD $500
via Apple Pay
Instant transfer
Family receives in Apia
WST 910
Credited to FCU wallet instantly
FCU
Save up to AUD $25 vs Western Union on every transfer
Why choose FCU

Finance that works
for Samoa

We’re on a journey to bring modern financial services to every Samoan.

Up to 40% cheaper

Our 1%/month reducing balance rate is significantly lower than finance companies. Save thousands on a WST 10,000 loan.

100% digital

Apply, manage repayments, and check your balance from your phone — 24/7, no branch visits needed.

MCIL regulated

Licensed under the Credit Union Act 2015 by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Labour. Your money is protected.

Built for the Pacific

We understand fa’alavelave, irregular income, and the realities of Samoan life. Designed around how Samoa works.

Member-focused

FCU is a credit union — no external shareholders, no profit motive. Every decision guided by what’s best for members.

Diaspora connected

In Auckland, Sydney, or LA — FCU connects you financially to home. Send money, support family, stay connected.

About Folau Credit Union

Innovative and simpler
financial services
for every Samoan

Folau Credit Union was established to provide innovative and simpler financial services to Samoa. We believe every Samoan — whether on the islands or abroad — should have access to modern, affordable, and dignified financial products.

“O le Folau o le alofa — The voyage of love.”

MCIL Licensed Credit Union Act 2015 Apia, Samoa Member-owned Pacific diaspora Compliance →
Compliance & Trust

Built on transparency
and regulated practice

Folau Credit Union operates under Samoan law with robust AML/KYC standards — because your money deserves an institution you can trust.

MCIL
Regulatory body
CUA 2015
Governing legislation
5 yrs
Record retention
Annual
AML review cycle
MCIL Regulated · Apia, Samoa
Credit Union Act 2015
MLPA 2007 Compliant
FATF-aligned Standards
Member-owned · No profit motive
Regulatory Status

Licensed and registered
under Samoan law

Folau Credit Union is registered as a credit union under the Credit Union Ordinance, regulated by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL). As a licensed financial cooperative, FCU is bound by all applicable Samoan financial legislation and operates under the direct oversight of the MCIL Registrar.

MCIL Registered

Registered credit union under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour — Samoa's authority for cooperative financial institutions.

Credit Union Act 2015

All operations are governed by the Credit Union Act 2015, including member eligibility, lending rules, governance obligations and financial reporting.

Member-owned Structure

FCU is a non-profit cooperative with no external shareholders. Every member has equal ownership. Governance is exercised through an elected Board of Directors.

Annual Compliance Review

FCU conducts a full internal AML/KYC quality assurance review at least once per year, with findings reported to the Board Compliance Committee.

AML / CTF Framework

Anti-Money Laundering &
Counter-Terrorism Financing

FCU maintains a comprehensive AML/CTF programme aligned with Samoa's national financial crime framework and FATF international standards.

Governing Legislation

  • Money Laundering Prevention Act 2007 (as amended 2015)
  • Money Laundering Prevention Regulations 2009
  • Counter Terrorism Act 2014
  • Credit Union Act (CUA) 2015
  • Samoa National AML/CFT Strategy 2024

Programme Requirements

  • Appointed AML/CTF Compliance Officer
  • Board-approved AML/CTF Policy
  • Annual staff ML/TF risk awareness training
  • Internal quality assurance — minimum annually
  • Suspicious transaction reporting to FIU

Risk-Based Approach

  • ML/TF risk assessment conducted and reviewed annually across all products and member channels
  • Enhanced due diligence applied to high-risk members, politically exposed persons, and cross-border transactions
  • Extra precautions enforced on transactions involving jurisdictions without adequate AML systems
  • Transaction monitoring systems in place for ongoing member activity screening
Know Your Customer

How we verify
every member

FCU applies a rigorous, document-backed identity verification process before any member relationship is established. No account is opened without satisfactory identity verification.

Step 01

Photo Identity

Valid passport or driver's licence. Document authenticity checked against national ID standards.

Step 02

Samoan Citizenship

Proof of Samoan citizenship required. Membership is limited to Samoan citizens whether resident locally or in the diaspora.

Step 03

Email Verification

Email address confirmed via one-time code. Used for account security and ongoing member communications.

Step 04

Liveness Check

Selfie-based liveness verification confirms the applicant matches their submitted ID in real time.

Compliance Officer

Dedicated oversight
at every level

FCU has an appointed AML/CTF Compliance Officer who holds direct responsibility for the implementation and oversight of the compliance programme, staff training, and regulatory reporting obligations.

CO
AML / CTF Compliance Officer
Folau Credit Union — Compliance Division
Apia, Samoa  ·  Reports directly to the Board
info@folau.com
Legislative Framework

The laws that
govern FCU

Every FCU policy, product, and procedure is designed in compliance with the following Samoan legislation and regulatory frameworks.

CUA 2015

Credit Union Act 2015

The primary legislation governing the registration, operation, and oversight of credit unions in Samoa under MCIL. Covers membership, lending, governance, and financial obligations.

MLPA 2007

Money Laundering Prevention Act 2007 (as amended 2015)

Establishes AML obligations for all financial institutions in Samoa, including KYC requirements, transaction monitoring, record retention, and suspicious transaction reporting to the FIU.

MLPR 2009

Money Laundering Prevention Regulations 2009

Detailed procedural regulations supplementing the MLPA, covering customer due diligence standards, beneficial ownership identification, and reporting thresholds.

CTA 2014

Counter Terrorism Act 2014

Requires FCU to screen against terrorist financing risks, apply enhanced due diligence to high-risk transactions, and report suspected terrorism financing to relevant authorities.

AML/CFT 2024

Samoa National AML/CFT Strategy 2024

Cabinet-approved national strategy aligning Samoa's financial sector with FATF international standards. FCU's compliance programme is designed to meet the objectives of this strategy.

Data & Privacy

How we protect
your information

FCU takes the security and privacy of member financial data seriously. All data handling practices comply with our obligations as a licensed financial institution under Samoan law.

Active

Encrypted storage

All member data, KYC documents, and transaction records are encrypted at rest and in transit using bank-grade security.

5 Years

Record retention

Business transaction records and KYC documentation are retained for a minimum of 5 years in line with MLPA 2007 requirements.

Limited

No data sharing

Member data is never sold or shared with third parties for commercial purposes. Disclosure occurs only as required by law.

Ongoing

Continuous monitoring

Member accounts are subject to ongoing transaction monitoring to detect and report suspicious activity as required under the MLPA.

Questions? Get in touch with our team.

info@folaucu.com