Being able to receive a decision on his loan application in mere minutes was a major boon for Kingston-based mathematics educator Matthew Johnson* who was able to acquire financing recently quickly via a secure financial app. He never needed to wait in line at a bank and the process was seamless. As a result, he was able to cash in on a deal to keep alive his ambitions of becoming a homeowner. 

“I was introduced to the ONE JN Passport at the JN Bank Duke Street branch in downtown Kingston after failed attempts to get a loan at other financial institutions and was pleasantly surprised at the efficiency of the technology after being discouraged by the processes experienced elsewhere,” explained Matthew Johnson*.   

Describing the passport service as ‘top tier’, the educator shared how the convenience of the technology enabled him to quickly access an unsecured loan at JN Bank, which he urgently needed to close a land purchase.

“The passport was feasible because I needed the loan one week after the time that I applied for it and it actually came in time. The whole online thing now makes it much easier in all honesty, and I was quite surprised,” he shared. “I have been to other financial institutions, and it was taking a while and I said ‘Ok I’m just going to cancel this and try another bank’. With the Passport app, the loan officer let me know everything I needed to upload, and it was pretty straightforward.”

The 25-year-old educator, who is married and in his second year in the profession, said the technology helped him to unlock a viable strategy for building wealth. He said from reading books and having discussions with family members, he is learning how to invest in real estate, and intends to use his land to secure his family’s financial future. 

“The ONE JN Passport has put me one step closer to realising my goals. I’m going to build a house on the land, and I’m just waiting until I’ve finished paying off this loan so I can actually take out a mortgage to build. My aim was to purchase the land, build on it then rent it out and use that as collateral to apply for another property. I intend to do all that while still giving back to Jamaica as a teacher here,” he shared.

He had applied for the unsecured loan via the passport in April 2024 and said if he had not used it, his situation would likely be different today.

“It would have changed my situation and if I missed that deadline, I would have an additional financial burden because if you don’t pay at a particular time, they give you an extension and with that extension comes with a penalty or late fee,” he said.

While also expressing admiration for the customer service he received at the bank, Mr Johnson said he has been referring others to the passport because of his overall experience and what it is doing for his financial empowerment.

Ricardo Williams, head of branch sales and relationship management at JN Bank said the ONE JN Passport is a ‘big deal’ for financial services. “The truth is banking and financial services can be time-consuming and the Passport removes some of the annoyances we typically encounter. The ability to conduct financial services outside of a branch is a clear advantage and you can use it to conduct your business efficiently and at your own convenience,” he explained.

The ONE JN Passport, launched by the JN Financial Group, enables users to provide their personal information once to the JN Group, then use it multiple times to access services such as JN Bank unsecured loans and regular savings accounts. In time, it will also offer access to the services and products of other companies in the JN Financial Group.