GBTI gears to stretch tentacles in 100 countries

Dec 30, 2010 News

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By Leonard Gildarie
One of the country’s leading commercial banks has announced several new loan packages to target “green” projects across the country, including solar panels and wind towers.
The announcement was made yesterday when the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry (GBTI) launched its spanking new branch at Diamond, East Bank Demerara. Two other banks, Demerara Bank and Republic Bank, are also due to open soon in the area.
The commissioning of the GBTI branch at Diamond also saw Government calling on commercial banks and other businesses in the area to collaborate and even build a lighted walkway to improve the aesthetics.
GBTI also announced that it is ready to start construction of a branch at Lethem, Region Nine.
In a ceremony attended by President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Sam Hinds, other Government Ministers and customers of the bank, GBTI’s Chief Executive Officer, John Tracey, also announced that the bank will be collaborating with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) to introduce a new line of trade and finance facilities in Guyana. This new line of credit will allow GBTI to effectively issue letters of credit for 200 banks in 100 countries.
He noted that the institution, always mindful of the needs of its customers, has been in the East Bank Demerara area since 2007 when it opened a branch at Princess Hotel, Providence.
The bank then followed this up by opening a temporary branch at Grove. This year also saw the bank commissioning its Corporate Headquarters at Kingston.
The official signaled the bank’s intentions to not only become a permanent fixture in the area but also to make a significant input into sports, culture, the hospital.
According to Tracey, the bank has even gone ahead and built two tennis courts at the Diamond branch for use by the youths in the area.
Chairman of the bank’s Board of Director, Robin Stoby, noted that bank was fully cognizant of the fact that more than 50,000 residents and businesses line the East Bank Demerara corridor with the area undergoing rapid changes with the last few years.
The Diamond branch, in addition to boasting of the normal services, will also boast the country’s second drive-through ATM machine.
Earlier this year, a similar ‘drive thru’ facility was introduced at the bank’s Kingston Corporate Headquarters.
Customers at the Diamond branch, Stoby announced, will be receiving waivers until February on safe deposit boxes and other fees.
Yesterday GBTI also donated four beds and committed itself to give an ambulance to the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital which is located just opposite the edifice.
Regarding the “green” loans facility, Stoby disclosed that the new services will see low interest rates and 25 per cent discount on fees with a moratorium on payments for about six months.
The Chairman, referring to GBTI’s recent new services, said that since joining up with the government’s low interest mortgage rate programme four years ago, it has issued 750 loans totalling over $2B.
Additionally, the bank has managed the European Union rice fund of $1.8B and recently launched with government a $500M loan facility for single mothers. Already, more than 500 loans under this programme have been granted with $105M disbursed.
In August also, in recognition of the telecommunications development, the bank launched its web banking services.
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, said that GBTI has aggressively been leading the industry and over the last few years has launched several new products including local and international credits cards, its Providence branch and Corporate Headquarters and has participated in the single parent women’s loan and low income housing program, among other areas.
The “green” loans are another example of the proactive nature of the bank’s initiatives, he said.
Commenting on the strides made by GBTI, Singh also acknowledged that these came when the institution is recording robust growth with a 70 per cent rise in its assets and a significant rise in lending portfolios.
GBTI’s move is prime example of how the private sector is responding to the “deliberate policy” stance of the government, the Minister told the gathering.
And President Jagdeo, in congratulating the bank for taking the initiative, also wondered when local banks would be moving to the East Coast Demerara area. Between the city and Rosignol, there are no banks although a significant amount of money is earned and passes through the area.
The President also announced that the long-awaited Credit Bureau is nearly set-up and will tremendously improve the way banking is done in Guyana.
However, the Head of State criticised the laxity of some countries, which, following the recent world financial crisis had promised reforms and increased regulations. But all that has happened is that a few peripheral decisions have been taken with not much else happening.
He warned of another crisis and was confident that Guyana, once it maintains its current stability, can stave off any potential problems.
The official noted that Guyana has a strong footing with its reserves now the highest at any time. Guyana’s foreign reserves is standing at a robust US$830M, he said, tripling from 2005.
The President also warned that with monies coming for the hydro project at Amaila Falls and from the carbon funding, the challenge for the present administration and future ones will be how to spend the money wisely because any mistakes can reverse the gains made.
Regarding criticisms that government may be plunging too much money in housing and could face a mortgage crisis similar to the one that hit the US, the President dismissed this saying that the systems employed by local banks are too robust.
Government recently bought some lands from GuySuCo that will see some 15,000 new homes springing up between Agricola and Diamond in the next few years.

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