Bank Staff praised for Digital Transformation

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, March 18, 2024 – Following a busy year that included a massive digital transformation of the local banking platforms and increased loan sales, Republic Bank’s staff are being hailed for their hard work and ingenuity.

Managing Director and CEO, Anthony Clerk, explained, “In 2023, we switched over to the Republic Bank Financial Holdings Limited’s (RFHL) suite of technology platforms, bringing a new internet banking platform and several new benefits and improvements to our local customer base. This major initiative would not have been successful without the yeoman service of employees across the network.”

With thousands of retail customers downloading the new RepublicMobile app and commercial customers making use of new capabilities such as sending wire transfers through the new RepublicOnline platform, Clerk said that the digital transformation was a success and brought the bank in line with competitors. He credited the troubleshooting, late nights and quick responses to customer concerns from various teams across the network for the quick transition and steady uptake of the new digital products and services by customers.

During surprise presentations to winners of the 2023 Managing Director’s Spirit of Republic Award at various locations across the island on Thursday, Clerk took the opportunity to praise the Bank’s best and brightest as well as all members of staff who collectively contributed to the Bank’s success.

Digital Marketing Specialist in the Marketing and Corporate Communications department, Keimar Williams, and Network Analyst in the Information Technology Department, Ndomo Sobers, won the Managing Director’s Spirit of Republic Award in the PC 1 - 10 and PC 30 - 52 categories respectively.

Dubbed the “social media guru” of Republic Bank Barbados, Williams was credited for his contributions to the Conversion Communications team throughout the Bank’s conversion to RFHL’s digital platforms. He assisted with the creation and roll out of the Let’s Talk Conversion video series, participated in radio programmes to educate the public on the pre- and post-conversion processes and managed the Barbados’ leg of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tournament. Williams said he has a “sense of pride” in being part of an institution where he can “add some value and execute engaging and innovative campaigns”. Other nominees in the category were Barclay Rudder, Cherry-Ann Redman, Donna Dear, Lester Daniel, Lisa Springer, Marquita Burrowes, Matthew King, Micha Abraham, Sharece Lewis, Sophia Lewis and Tanya Smith.

Meanwhile Sobers was described as an “outstanding”, “duty-conscious” employee who can be called on at any time, “day or night”. During the RFHL Migration Exercise, he oversaw the conversion of all ATMs in the network. In the face of tight deadlines, he arranged local configurations with vendors, testing with branches, and trouble-shooting sessions with his colleagues. Sobers said he is driven by “the ability to learn new things”, and to give back to the organisation in order to help meet its goals. Other nominees in the PC 30 - 52 category were Elroy Yearwood, Patrice Aqui and Paula Pearce.

For all their hard work throughout the digital transformation process, the Information Technology Department was named Unit of the Year, beating out the Human Resources Department and the Corporate & Commercial Credit Department. While the Limegrove and Warrens Branches were also nominated for Branch of the Year, it was the Speightstown Branch in St. Peter that copped the prize. The northern team was lauded for exceeding its net profit target by 18%, while receiving the highest scores in the Customer Service Survey and for maintaining high levels of employee engagement throughout the year.