REPUBLIC Bank is looking to make its brand more visible across the Caribbean. Towards this end, its communications team, based in Trinidad, headed down to Guyana last week to engage the local media, and will soon visit other Caribbean territories.

The visit comes as the Bank looks to highlight its services and social programmes locally, particularly its support of the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations. General Manager of Group Marketing and Communications (Trinidad), Ms. Michelle Palmer-Keizer, pointed out that the key objective of the Communications team, from a group perspective, is to maintain, strengthen, enhance and deepen relationships with the media throughout the length and breadth of the region, and even more so in the territories where Republic Bank is visible.

“Strengthening is not only important from a local perspective, but is also as important from a regional perspective. We want to develop relationships with you that give each of you the comfort to reach out to the Communication Team in Trinidad to discuss matters relevant to the Republic Bank Brand, whether from a Caribbean territory or our African subsidiary, HFC Bank in Ghana,”

Ms. Palmer-Keizer made these remarks to media representatives at an event Friday evening.
She said her team remains committed to charting the course expected of the Caribbean financial institution of choice – a course with many new directions, one direction being the formation of the bank’s Holding Company, Republic Financial Holdings Ltd., in December 2015. That company, she said, was created to bring the structure of Republic Bank Group in line with international best practices, to facilitate future growth and sustainability.

She outlined some ground-breaking achievements made by the Group for the year ended September 30, 2015.
Ms. Palmer-Keizer observed that a bank, or any financial institution, cannot function on its own. She added, “Our great achievements could not have come about without the support of our various stakeholder groups across the region”. One of those groups, she said, is the media.

“Having a solid relationship with you all is, for us, as critical and effective as a light in the darkness. Getting to know you and working with you, that is how our societies are made aware of the resources available to them, financially and socially”.

She outlined that, at the heart of everything the Bank does, lies the aim of building successful societies. “We don’t just enter a territory and open our doors and ‘take your money’,” as they say. When we enter a society, we look at what we can do to better it,” she affirmed.

And attesting to this, she said that on Thursday the Group launched its ‘Power to Make a Difference’ programme with Guyana’s neighbour, Suriname, just four short months after entering that market.

Meanwhile, Mr. Richard Sammy, Managing Director of RBL Guyana, shared some of the Bank’s plans for 2016, as it renews some of its commitment to continued mutual relations in the communities served in Guyana.

Unveiling plans, he announced first and foremost that:
* Republic Bank Guyana will be integrally involved in Guyana’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, both at a national level and through its branch network, with activities for its staff, customers and the communities they serve.

* In 2016 the Bank’s Power to Make a Difference” Social Investment programme will be extended to include environmental literacy and addressing the issue of teen pregnancy.

* The Bank will continue its focus on youth development, strengthening Guyana’s rich cultural heritage through music and the performing and visual arts, and being a voice for autism awareness in Guyana.

* The Bank is moving apace with expansion and upgrades, with plans for a new Banking facility at Triumph, East Coast Demerara to further enhance customers’ access to the Bank’s suite of products and services.

* It will continue to play its part in maintaining the standard of excellence in financial services that earned Republic Bank the coveted Latin Finance Caribbean Bank of the Year Award 2015.

Meanwhile, through its vibrant Staff Volunteerism movement, the Bank is keenly engaged in several community projects. Mr. Sammy said that RBL Guyana looks forward to sustaining and growing its engagement with the media, which in turn will offer the general public a clearer understanding of Republic Bank’s vision for its customers and the nation.