The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Ltd has extended its reach into the hinterland, opening a branch at Port Kaituma, Region One yesterday; the first in the area.
The new branch is expected to serve the two to three thousand persons in the area as well as those passing through, particularly miners. Port Kaituma’s GBTI branch is currently housed in temporary accommodations, until the construction of its building is finished later this year.
The decision was taken to open a branch at Port Kaituma,because it is seen as a budding community with a lot of potential.
Customers will be able to access all of the services that are available at the other branches including a 24-hour ATM and online transactions. The bank will be open from Monday to Friday with ten staff serving customers. This new GBTI location is its 11th branch.
Speaking at the launching, Chairman of the Board of Directors Robin Stoby SC said GBTI has been working to provide remote areas with ongoing face-to-face banking services and opportunities for increased levels of financial activities. He added that banking services continue to expand nationally to bring persons in remote areas together.
Delivering the feature address, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said that the growth of Port Kaituma is very evident while adding that things persons in the community would normally have to go to Georgetown for can now be accessed right there. This, he said, is one of the direct benefits of the new GBTI branch to the people. He added that as services such as a bank comes to a community, the people of that community can start to think of themselves differently.
