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National Bank opens ATM at Sugars Complex
By Joyette Mills-Ward
Business Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| Mrs Patricia Wilkinson, Marketing Manager and Master of Ceremonies giving Welcome remarks |
RESIDENTS of and visitors to Frigate Bay, who are customers of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, can now access their money with relative ease from that location.
This new development was made possible when the National Bank commissioned a new Automated Teller Machine (ATM) at Sugars Complex in Frigate Bay on the morning of Friday, February 8.
The simple but very symbolic ceremony was chaired by Marketing Director Mrs. Patricia Wilkinson, who told those present that the installation of the ATM has been an initiative to meet customers’ needs in short order.
“National Bank had gone to great lengths to ensure that all of its customers had 24-hour access to their accounts electronically through their online services and physically through their extensive ATM distribution network. Not only are we known for anticipating the needs of our customers, but also for meeting those needs in short order,” she said.
Wilkinson also spoke briefly about the development of the Frigate Bay area and invited its residents to enjoy the new found ease of
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Cuttiing of Ribbon to officially declare ATM#19 open L-R>Patricia Wilkinson, Edmund Lawrence, Dr Earl Asim Martin, Shirna Boland(back turned)
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access to their own money.
Constituency Representative for Frigate Bay, Dr. Earl Asim Martin, took a walk down memory lane and reminded the gathering about the time when National Bank was called Penny Bank and was located at the corners of Market and Central Streets.
He applauded National Bank for its vision in decentralising by being the first local bank to provide banking services in the Sandy Point and Saddlers areas in particular. Dr. Martin said he was convinced that the new ATM was well-placed to take advantage of the economic development that would be taking place on this part of the island.
Dr. Martin commending the vision of the Managing Director and staff of the National Bank for taking the ATM to members of his constituency in East Basseterre.
~~Adz:Left~~ The Managing Director of National Bank, Mr. Edmund Lawrence, declared that the financial institution has seven branches and 19 ATMs countrywide, and management is one ATM away in achieving its goal.
“We took the view sometime ago that wherever we could not bring a branch we would provide banking,” he said, adding this was done to ensure no one was ever too far away from banking services. Lawrence further stated that customers of the Bank of Nevis, both the St. Kitts and Nevis Credit Unions, travellers and others with VISA or MASTERCARD brand cards could also access their funds using a National Bank ATM.
He also rolled back the pages of time to 36 years ago when the bank started with just EC$50 000 and that it is now a $2B bank – to which the attending audience applauded. Lawrence said that 37 years ago the National Bank was non-existent, but today it is now the number one in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Unit (ECCU), “whether it’s a domestic or a local bank, or a local branch of a foreign bank, in any island in the OECS”.
“In the year just gone, the financial year ended June 30, 2007, our Profit Before Tax was over EC$81M or a little more than US$30M. National Bank is described as the largest bank, but banks are the largest businesses in the OECS which means that National Bank is the largest business in the OECS after 37 years of existence,” he added.
Lawrence thanked the loyal customers and the shareholders who he said, “Had the confidence in what we would make in the future when we issued the first prospectus back in 1971. We are working on expanding the reach of the bank and the mix of services it provides.”
In his closing sentiments Lawrence noted that the National Bank has an international reach and global capabilities. “We look forward to the growth in customers and an increase in the use of ATMs, and that the bank will continue to grow, increase and expand”.
After the symbolic cutting of the ribbon by Dr. Martin, local businessman and Chairman of the National Carnival Committee was the first customer to use the new ATM machine.
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Hon. Dr Earl Asim Martin, Constituency 1(East Basseterre) Representative, Minister of Public Utilities, Transport & Post making brief remarks
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ATM #19 gets first customer Mr Gus Williams (local businessman and Chairman of National Carnival Committee)
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Mr Edmund Lawrence Managing Director of SKNA National Bank giving his address
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