FirstCaribbean (Bahamas) continued to deliver a strong financial performance in 2006, increasing profits and assets, and generating a 28% RoE for its shareholders, while trimming its NPL ratio to 5%. Having focused on its frontline activities in 2005, last year the bank turned its attention to its support and facilitating teams to improve service delivery to customers. To boost efficiency, it streamlined various operational activities and enhanced and automated a number of its processes. It also realigned some of its business activities to improve its response to customer needs.
Many of the group’s manually processed transactions have been eliminated to improve customer satisfaction, by reducing errors and delays as well as reducing service costs. This has provided greater efficiency and more timely service, and has reduced risk. The bank launched a Helpful Partner programme, which is designed to address process inefficiencies.
“We are extremely appreciative of this recognition, particularly coming from such a world-renowned source,” says managing director Sharon Brown. “The Banker’s award places FirstCaribbean International Bank ahead of its peers throughout the Caribbean region. That FirstCaribbean International Bank (Bahamas) has been selected as recipient for the second time in as many years speaks volumes about the in-roads we have made in the industry as we seek to improve the lives and livelihood of the people and businesses in our communities. We remain committed to creating the Caribbean and the Bahamas’ number one financial services institution.”
