The Sagicor Bank on Tuesday officially opened its latest branch, the ‘Phygital’ ABM and ATM Services, at Up Park Camp in Kinston.

According to Chorvelle Johnson Cunningham, the CEO for Sagicor Bank, the opening of the Up Park Camp branch makes history, as no other military base across the Caribbean has a commercial bank operating on its grounds.

“This branch originated as a payroll service for soldiers, but has now evolved into a modern banking facility,” she said. “It was just a trailer then…and now it’s an omnichannel branch. We are extremely proud of the years of partnership and service between us and the JDF…so we will continue to ensure that we deliver service. Today is not just about the opening, but what the space represents: trust, transformation, and the future of banking in Jamaica.”

She explained that the facilities at the Up Park Camp Branch were among the most modern and capable to date, consisting of new features that could simplify banking. The ‘Phygital’ system in place is the second to be implemented by Saigcor in Jamaica, with it having both physical and digital services available at all times.

“A Phygital Branch blends the best of both worlds, and I know for the JDF that works, because half of the time they are not here and we believe that wherever they are we should be able to serve them. ‘Phygital’ is a buzzword, which means self-serving services via a digital kiosk, with 24/7 access to an IAMB (Intelligent Automated Banking Machine), and most of all, enabling us to meet our clients where they are,” Johnson Cunningham said.

Christopher Zacca, president and CEO of the Sagicor Group, said the special bond between his organisation and the JDF is growing stronger and is a model for others to follow.

“Today’s opening reaffirms a longstanding and valued partnership between Sagicor Group Jamaica and the Jamaica Defence Force,” he declared. “Our shared story dates back to the 1970s, when we first established banking services at the JDF. And now, more than 50 years later, we proudly continue that tradition, with a renewed sense of purpose and a facility that reflects where Jamaica is headed.”

Zacca declared that the Up Park Camp ‘Phygital’ branch opening was to mark the renewal of the shared Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between both parties for another two years.

“This new branch at Up Park Camp, and this partnership that it represents, is a living, breathing example of what public-private relationships can achieve…Security is not just about the physical, but its economic also. Through this branch, we enforce our belief that every Jamaican deserves the financial tools and knowledge to build lasting wealth for themselves and their families,” Zacca said.

The Sagicor leadership announced that more and bigger announcements are in store for the rest of the year, with plans for an additional 10 Kiosks and 5 IAMBs in development, among many other initiatives.