The Liguanea Branch of CIBC FirstCaribbean has emerged ‘Bank of the Year 2021/22’ for the Caribbean.

The branch won based on a set of metrics quantified and assessed by the bank’s administrators.

Branch Manager Maggie McGann won the ‘Joy Callender Award’, named for the former associate director, Retail Banking Channels, CIBC FirstCaribbean, Cayman Islands, who died of cancer in 2017. 

The branch teams also copped first place in the Jamaica network: ‘Top Retail Sales Award’, ‘Top Business Bank Manager Award’ and ‘Top Platinum Banking Team Award’.

Several members of the sales teams were also commended for their performance, regionwide.

JAMAICA A BIG PLAYER FOR CIBC FIRSTCARIBBEAN

Noting that it is the second year that the Liguanea Branch is being named # 1, Chief Executive Officer Mark St Hill, praised McGann for “sound leadership” and her team for “outstanding teamwork”.

St Hill traveled from the bank’s Barbados-located head office to deliver the news personally at Liguanea, on January 17, following a courtesy call on Prime Minister Andrew Holness and meetings with clients and private sector representatives.

Celebrating with the team at the branch, St Hill said: “Jamaica is a big player for CIBC FirstCaribbean, representing close to 53 per cent of the people we serve. We are very encouraged by the bank’s performance here as you continue to punch well above your weight. We are committed to growing the business and we are putting in place all the enablers for you to do so.”

These sentiments were echoed by Deepa Boucaud, director, retail and business banking and David Small, director, strategy, economics and administration, who accompanied St Hill from Barbados and reiterated the focus on expanded digitisation and simplification of processes “to enable clients to work smarter”.

Nigel Holness, managing director of the Jamaica operations, noted that “the bank closed the last financial year in a very strong position thanks to the retail teams, including the Liguanea Branch which contributed significantly to the bottom line”.

He added: “Our sales teams also performed commendably going head-to-head with their colleagues across the region.”

Describing 2022 as “one of the most challenging years- coming out of COVID-19”, he explained that “we have worked hard to keep focus on our strategy of recovery and carving out a path best suited to this. As an institution, the bar has been raised high and we are determined to surpass even further”.

Owen Francis, director, retail and business banking, praised the employees for their “winning attitude”.

Moreover, he said “that “based on the performances of the various branches on a weekly basis, there was never any doubt that Jamaica would be back in winner’s row”.

Added Francis: “We are a brutally competitive force and it is my honour and privilege to lead this team.”

Replying on behalf of the Liguanea team, and brimming with pride at their accomplishment, McGann declared: “Now I know what it must feel like to win a Grammy.”

She said that “without the efforts of the full team we would not be here sweeping these awards”.

Added McGann: “It does not stop here. We have targets to achieve and we have to continue to work hard. I know I can count on you all to do your part. Thank you everyone.”