FirstCaribbean International Bank introduced its new visual appearance and customer service model to customers in the British Virgin Islands, at an official ceremony at its Wickhams Cay branch in Road Town on Monday and on Virgin Gorda on Tuesday.

Both ceremonies, hosted by Mr. Michael Mansoor, Executive Chairman, Sharon Brown, Executive Director Corporate Banking and Michael Spencer, Country Manager of FirstCaribbean International Bank, were followed by customer appreciation days at the branches.

“This afternoon, the blue and gold diamond of FirstCaribbean rises for the first time to take its place of prominence in this country’s business community,” Mr. Mansoor stated.

FirstCaribbean is a result of the combination of two complementary and leading financial services businesses in the Caribbean  CIBC West Indies Holdings Limited and Barclays Bank PLC  with the aim of offering its customers enhanced products and improved and extended access to banking services.

HELPING LOCAL BUSINESS & DELIVERING GLOBAL REACH

FirstCaribbean will focus on the needs of the businesses and people of the Caribbean, while delivering the global reach of its founding institutions.  It is expected to be one of the largest locally listed banks in the Caribbean based on market capitalization, with some US$9 billion in assets and over $70,000 accounts.

Monday’s event in the BVI celebrated a number of significant changes to FirstCaribbean’s operations in the territory.  In addition to the visual changes from the old Barclays signage and staff uniforms to the new FirstCaribbean signage and uniforms, other customer-focused changes have also been implemented.

The bank has introduced four key lines of business across the region to serve distinct customer groups.  Retail banking will serve personal customers with a complete suite of savings, borrowing and investment products, while Corporate Banking will offer unique products and services to small and medium businesses and commercial clients.   Additionally, the International Banking segment and the Large Corporate and Capital Markets segment will serve the unique needs of their distinct customers groups.

“We are also introducing a highly focused customer service approach in which customers will receive specific sales and service support to match their unique banking requirements,” said Ms. Brown. “For example, our corporate customers will have access to skilled relationship managers who will be singularly focused on the needs of business clients, while our personal banking clients will be served by a team of employees specially trained to help them with their unique needs.”

FirstCaribbean employees in the British Virgin Islands have completed a comprehensive customer service training programme designed to upgrade their service delivery skills.

BVI PRE-EMINENCE

The BVI is the tenth in FirstCaribbean’s network to undergo the re-branding changes as part of the bank’s two year long integration programme. Later this year, further technology changes, including the installation of a common bank-wide computer network and the introduction of a new and update suite of products, will also take place. These improvements will come at a very opportune time as the BVI strives to remain a premier financial centre.

Over time, FirstCaribbean will focus on delivering a wider range of services through more banking channels, including telephone banking and Internet banking.

Speaking at the launching, Chief Minister Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith challenged FirstCaribbean to join the government in moving its economic agenda forward.

“After more than 37 years amongst us, I know that you have enough faith in the industry and indeed aspirations of our people to approve loans for areas such as development of small properties for tourism, to support our small entrepreneurs in other businesses and home ownership,” he stated.
The Chief Minister assured them that with the support of his government to small entrepreneurs in terms of training, preparation of business plans etc., all to be managed through the soon to be established Small Business Bureau, “our people will not fail in meeting their obligations to you”.
He pointed out that the BVI is hugely indebted to Barclays for its contribution in financing numerous local resorts and other businesses, residences and government projects in the territory, as well as to charitable causes.