GBTI re-commissions state-of-the-art Regent Street Branch
--Now offers Quality Lifestyle Loan
By Shirley Thomas
Guyana Chronicle
November 7, 2003
At the recent re-commissioning of GBTI's Regent Street Branch and the launching of the GBTI Quality Lifestyle Loan Plan. From left are: Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Robin Stoby; Chief Executive Officer Mr. R.K. Sharma, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Training Officer, Ms. Patricia Clarke. (Picture by Cullen Bess Nelson)
THE Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry hosted a function last week to launch the GBTI Quality Lifestyle Loan Plan and to re-commission its Regent Street Branch.
Re-designed at a cost of approximately $80M, the former wood-based architecture of the Regent Street edifice has given way to sophisticated contemporary designs in tiles. The building now stands in stark contrast to the other structures in the prime commercial area.
According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GBTI, Mr R.K. Sharma, the enhanced facility incorporates all the features of a full service bank premises. These include two Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), which increase to 11, the number of GBTI machines countrywide.
Chairman of GBTI Mr. Robin Stoby told the gathering: "Customers have been afforded greater space in which to conduct their business, and the staff has been provided with better facilities."
These include improved locker facilities; night bag and bulk cash facilities; in-house data processing; internal auditing; training facilities and waiting area facilities.
Mr Stoby is optimistic that the future of banking in Guyana will, to a large extent, be in the services that commercial banks can offer in the field of electronic banking. To this end, he envisions the day when small loans will be processed on the telephone, through the Internet, or at ATM machines.
Meanwhile, in keeping with its mandate to be an organisation that values the relationship with its customers and clients, the bank also announced the creation of a GBTI Quality Lifestyle Loan Fund of one billion dollars to promote home ownership; home improvement; vehicle improvement, acquisition of consumer items and other personal initiatives among the people of Guyana.
The plan, which places a high premium of family togetherness and family values, has already launched a painting competition for children under the theme: "At Home with the family". The competition encourages children to paint scenes depicting the interaction of family members while at home.
According to the Chairman, the GBTI Quality Lifestyle Loan Plan is intended by the bank to encourage Guyanese to aspire towards an improved standard of living by utilising the financial services offered by the bank.
"At GBTI our mission to provide quality services is guided by our quality lifestyle philosophy. We understand people's needs and want to play a key role in their ability to enjoy a better way of life," explained CEO Sharma.
He continued: "At GBTI, it is important to us that we assist people in achieving their goals, and with the launch of this billion-dollar GBTI Quality Lifestyle Loan Plan, we will continue to play an important part in our people's future."
And Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who unveiled the commemorative plaque to symbolically re-commission the facility, described the bank's Quality Lifestyle Loan Plan as a credible signal that progress is being made in the economy.
Alluding to a comment by Chairman Stoby that, "Some may say that our banking industry in Guyana is in the doldrums," due to a reduction in the opportunities available for investment and growth, Prime Minister Hinds affirmed that Guyana's economy does not need to be in the doldrums. He challenged leaders in various fields to find the urge and drive to develop the nation's resources, and so contribute towards eliminating unemployment.
The Regent Street Branch (formerly Barclay's Bank) was first opened in 1955, and subsequently renovated. Following the closure of the Main Street Branch of Barclay's Bank in 1978, and the then Church Street Branch in 1998, this branch was tasked with absorbing many of the customers formerly served by those two branches.
CEO Sharma said that a key strategy of the bank over the years has been the recognition of the importance of the Regent Street facility for its location in a prime commercial area with a significant need for professional banking services.