-banking will now be easier
The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry on Saturday commissioned its Lethem branch and a senior official of the institution says banking for residents in the area will now be simpler.
A release from the Government Information Agency said that the bank’s Chief Executive Officer John Tracey explained the transformation in banking transactions that have occurred as a result of technology.
In the presence of President Donald Ramotar and officials of the neighbouring Brazilian state of Roraima, Tracey pointed out that the painstaking system of verification that was required for cheques drawn from Georgetown would no longer be necessary.
“We would have had to take your cheque, it had to be scanned, sent down to Georgetown where they would have to check your balance and your signature, call you back and tell you it’s ok to pay.
That is no longer the case. This branch in Lethem, when you come in with your cheque, drawn on any branch in GBTI, they will get on their system… and be able to approve your cheque… that will happen in a matter of five or ten minutes,” Tracey said.
GINA said that ATM banking is now available in Lethem for the first time along with a drive-in night depository, internet and mobile banking and several other services afforded to GBTI customers in other parts of the country.
Installation of new software recently at that location, coupled with the availability of bandwidth created the means by which the Lethem branch could be connected to the GBTI network, GINA said.
As with the GBTI Diamond, East Bank Demerara branch, a multi-purpose court has been built aback of the Lethem branch for all-encompassing occasions for residents free of cost with no membership requirements, GINA said.
GBTI Chairman Robin Stoby said that confidence in the outlook for Lethem and the Government’s development agenda for the Region Nine community formed the basis on which GBTI took the decision to open a Lethem branch, GINA reported.
“We are pleased however, with the progress that has been occurring in the commercial zone and encourage our entrepreneurs to take advantage of benefits offered,” Stoby said.
President Ramotar who delivered the feature address, described the new branch of the local commercial bank, as a vindication of growth and expansion in Lethem, GINA said.
“When services like banking come into the community, there are two things that happen; it helps to stimulate the economy in the very area… and the same time the community itself by growing, helps them to develop,” President Ramotar told the gathering.
Ramotar commended the bank for its corporate initiatives in the community. Included in these is the promise to donate an ambulance to the Lethem Hospital, GINA said.
