Phnom Penh, Cambodia – May 21, 2025 – First Finance continues to distinguish itself as a leader in ethical and responsible financial practices in Cambodia. The institution has achieved a significant milestone by demonstrating strong performance in the inaugural Code of Conduct assessment, securing a very good score of 99.2%. This achievement positions First Finance as one of the first movers in this crucial program endorsed by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC), the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA), and Cerise+SPTF.
The comprehensive Code of Conduct assessment, conducted by the globally recognized independent body [M-Cril], subjects financial institutions to a rigorous evaluation against stringent, Cambodia-specific standards. These standards are vital for ensuring fair and transparent pricing, promoting responsible product design and delivery, safeguarding client data privacy, handling grievances effectively, ensuring ethical client treatment, enhancing good governance, and upholding ethical staff conduct.
This accomplishment in the Code of Conduct assessment underscores First Finance's deep commitment to the highest ethical standards and responsible financial practices. Achieving a very good score in this initial assessment firmly establishes First Finance's leadership in institutional conduct within the Cambodian financial sector.
Adding to this significant achievement, First Finance has also secured the prestigious Gold Client Protection Certification for the second consecutive time, achieving an exceptional score of 99.1%. This continued recognition highlights the institution's deep-rooted and unwavering commitment to ethical and responsible client treatment, the highest accolade in this domain.
"We are immensely proud to be among the first institutions to proactively embrace and achieve such positive results in the Code of Conduct assessment," stated Mr. Say Sony, Chief Marketing Officer and Chairman of Sustainability Steering Committee of First Finance. "The strong endorsement from the National Bank of Cambodia, the Association of Banks in Cambodia, the Cambodia Microfinance Association, and Cerise+SPTF underscores the critical importance of ethical conduct within our industry. This achievement, in conjunction with our consecutive Gold Client Protection Certification, clearly demonstrates our comprehensive commitment to both safeguarding our clients' well-being and maintaining the highest standards of integrity across all facets of our operations."
These dual achievements – a strong debut in the Code of Conduct assessment and the repeat Gold Client Protection Certification – firmly establish First Finance as a benchmark for ethical and responsible finance in Cambodia, setting a high standard for both institutional conduct and client protection within the industry