After spending ten years as a migrant worker in Thailand, Mr. Oeng Mab and his wife, Mrs. Thoeurn Sokheng decided to return to Cambodia in 2016, living in a rental room in Pailin Province, in the northwest region of Cambodia, bordering Thailand.

With their savings from working in Thailand, they bought a secondhand car to start a taxi business, driving customers from Pailin to Phnom Penh and back. “When I came back to Cambodia, my savings were just enough to buy a car, and I could only rent a small room for my family.” Mr. Oeung Mab added, “I dreamed of having my own house”.

In January 2022, a property developer referred him to First Finance. He decided to take out a $2,500 land loan and another $12,700 to build a house on the land. Now their dream is becoming true as their new home is 80% completed. They plan to move into the new house in a few more weeks after spending about six years living in a small rental room with their four-year-old daughter.

They are thankful to First Finance for providing them with a long-term micro-housing loan. Mr. Oeng Mab said “Applying for the loan with First Finance is my first experience accessing formal lending and it was not as complicated as I had heard. I appreciate the convenient service provided by the staff who were very supportive,” he added. “I might have spent ten more years living as a tenant if I did not find First Finance”.