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Press Release No.27.2026 - Solomon Islands 50 cent circulation coin now features the King Charles III new effigy.
HONIARA – 24th SEPTEMBER 2026— Royal Australian Mint in collaboration with CBSI, marks another important chapter in the progress of Solomon Islands currency with the release of the second SI circulating coin to feature the King Charles III effigy, the 50-cent coin.
Struck in Canberra at the Royal Australian Mint, the coin’s obverse features the King Charles III effigy designed by Daniel Thorne the same effigy that was launched in 2025 and appears on current $1 coinage along with the words Charles III Solomon Islands 2025.
HONIARA – 24th SEPTEMBER 2026— Royal Australian Mint in collaboration with CBSI, marks another important chapter in the progress of Solomon Islands currency with the release of the second SI circulating coin to feature the King Charles III effigy, the 50-cent coin.
Struck in Canberra at the Royal Australian Mint, the coin’s obverse features the King Charles III effigy designed by Daniel Thorne the same effigy that was launched in 2025 and appears on current $1 coinage along with the words Charles III l Solomon Islands 2025.
HONIARA – 21st SEPTEMBER 2026— In October 2026, the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands will release an updated $100 banknote.
The updated banknote retains the same familiar design and introduces an enhanced security thread, providing a quick and easy way to check that the note is genuine. The new thread works alongside the existing security features:
CHECK
When the banknote is tilted, the security thread changes colour from green to red, complemented by a pulsing movement effect.
Press Release No.25.2026 - CBSI REMINDS MERCHANTS TO MAINTAIN TRANSPARENT AND NOT IMPOSE CARD PAYMENT SURCHARGES
HONIARA - 17 SEPTEMBER 2026— The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) wishes to remind Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale (EFTPOS) merchants who are imposing surcharges on customers paying by card, stating that this practice is unauthorised, unfair, and must stop immediately.
CBSI has received growing concerns from consumers and commercial banks that some EFTPOS merchants are passing the merchant service fee directly to customers. This fee applies to international card transactions (Visa and MasterCard) and is intended to be absorbed by the merchant as a cost of doing business, not to be charged to consumers.
HONIARA - 17 SEPTEMBER 2026— The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) wishes to remind Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale (EFTPOS) merchants who are imposing surcharges on customers paying by card, stating that this practice is unauthorised, unfair, and must stop immediately.
Press Release No.24.2026 - National Demand Side Survey to Assess Access, Usage and Quality of Financial Services and Products in Solomon Islands - 2026
HONIARA, 16th September 2026— The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) in collaboration with Tebbutt Research will conduct its second Financial Services National Demand Side Survey (DSS) from September to October 2026. In 2015, CBSI conducted its first Demand Side Survey with the support from Pacific Financial Inclusion Program (now UNCDF) and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion.
HONIARA, 16th September 2026— The Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) in collaboration with Tebbutt Research will conduct its second Financial Services National Demand Side Survey (DSS) from September to October 2026. In 2015, CBSI conducted its first Demand Side Survey with the support from Pacific Financial Inclusion Program (now UNCDF) and the Alliance for Financial Inclusion.
Press Release No.23.2026 - Strongim Wantok: CBSI Governor Says Wansolwara Collaboration Will Deliver Real Benefits for Melanesian Communities
The Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI), Dr. Luke Forau has reaffirmed the Bank's strong commitment to the Wansolwara Collaboration, describing the initiative as a practical expression of Melanesian partnership that will strengthen cooperation among central banks and contribute to better economic outcomes for citizens across the region.
PORT MORESEBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA – 8 SEPTEMBER 2026— The Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI), Dr. Luke Forau has reaffirmed the Bank's strong commitment to the Wansolwara Collaboration, describing the initiative as a practical expression of Melanesian partnership that will strengthen cooperation among central banks and contribute to better economic outcomes for citizens across the region.
Press Release No.22.2026 - CBSI Governor Appointed Vice Chair of Regional Financial Inclusion Initiative
The Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) has been formally appointed as Vice Chair of the Pacific Islands Regional Initiative (PIRI), following the leadership rotation endorsed at the 15th PIRI Leaders' Roundtable held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) has been formally appointed as Vice Chair of the Pacific Islands Regional Initiative (PIRI), following the leadership rotation endorsed at the 15th PIRI Leaders' Roundtable held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
The appointment reflects the growing role of CBSI in advancing financial inclusion and digital finance initiatives across the Pacific region and reinforces Solomon Islands' commitment to regional collaboration and policy leadership.
Press Release No.21.26 - CBSI Governor Dr. Luke Forau Launches AFI WG-CONNECT to Strengthen Global Financial Inclusion Leadership and Collaboration
Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI), Dr. Luke Forau officially launched WG-CONNECT, a new Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Working Group Alumni Programme aimed at strengthening collaboration, preserving policy expertise, and maintaining engagement among former AFI Working Group members worldwide
Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI), Dr. Luke Forau officially launched WG-CONNECT, a new Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Working Group Alumni Programme aimed at strengthening collaboration, preserving policy expertise, and maintaining engagement among former AFI Working Group members worldwide.
At its meeting on 28th August 2026, the Board of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) decided to maintain the policy rate at 1.5% for the next six months. The decision reflects the Board’s assessment that the current inflation outlook is driven predominantly by supply-side and external factors rather than by excess domestic demand and that a stable exchange rate and subdued domestic demand are expected to cushion, to some extent, the pass-through of external pressures on domestic prices.
At its meeting on 28th August 2026, the Board of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) decided to maintain the policy rate at 1.5% for the next six months. The decision reflects the Board’s assessment that the current inflation outlook is driven predominantly by supply-side and external factors rather than by excess domestic demand and that a stable exchange rate and subdued domestic demand are expected to cushion, to some extent, the pass-through of external pressures on domestic prices.
On behalf of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands, I congratulate the Minister, the government and all stakeholders on the re-launch of the Small and Medium Enterprises Credit Guarantee Scheme.
Press Release No.19.2026 - Government and CBSI Relaunch SME Credit Guarantee Scheme to Strengthen Support on Local Businesses
The Solomon Islands Government today officially reopened the Small and Medium Enterprises Credit Guarantee Scheme (SMECGS), marking a renewed commitment to improving access to finance for micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country. The reopening ceremony was held at the Ministry of Commerce Industry Labour and Immigration (MCILI) Conference Room in Honiara and attended by government officials’ financial institutions and development partners.
HONIARA, 27th August 2026— The Solomon Islands Government today officially reopened the Small and Medium Enterprises Credit Guarantee Scheme (SMECGS), marking a renewed commitment to improving access to finance for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country. The reopening ceremony was held at the Ministry of Commerce Industry Labour and Immigration (MCILI) Conference Room in Honiara and attended by government officials’ financial institutions and development partners.
