The National Bank of Anguilla (NBA) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. The activities commenced on Sunday March 6, with Directors, Management and Staff attending the divine service at St. Mary’s Anglican Church.

L-R: Mr. Joseph N. Payne, Ms. Bernadine Horsford, Ms. Pamela Riley and Mr. Val Banks

The service was conducted throughout by the Right Reverend Errol Brooks, Bishop of the Diocese of the Northeastern Caribbean and Aruba.

In delivering his sermon on the subject of vision, Bishop Brooks praised the pioneers of the National Bank for having the courage and foresight in creating and establishing the locally-owned institution in March 1985.

He noted that there were those who, “wearing dark glasses,” felt it was not a viable venture and were not prepared to take the entrepreneurial risk. “Today, 20 years on, NBA, is not only a national institution, but is recognised across this region and internationally,” he said.

NBA’s Promoters L-R front row: Marcel Fahie, W. Fleming and Kennedy Hodge Back row: Timothy Hodge, Cecil Niles, George Kentish, Albert S. Lake and Ralph Hodge

The Bishop went on: “Kudos are in place for the successive Board of Directors, the Management and Staff for their determination, hard work, vision and commitment to this institution. Kudos are also in order for the shareholders, the customers who have kept faith with the bank over these years.

“We thank the staff members who try daily to do their best to meet our needs. I think it is fair to say that they are quite efficient. We pray that they will continue to serve the public in this wonderful way. One of the advertisements of the bank puts it well: ‘NBA more than banking – a commitment to Anguilla’s development.’

“You see my brothers and sisters, a vast amount of our island’s physical and social development has come about through the facilities of this institution. The theme of your celebrations - ‘Creating Means, Fulfilling Dreams,’ – is quite apt. NBA has helped many persons to achieve their dreams by making its resources available to them. It is always an act of generosity to encourage people along life’s way. The success of the bank ought to serve as an inspiration to us as individuals. It is good for us to dream and to follow our dreams.

Directors, Management and Staff singing at St. Mary’s

“The success of NBA is something that we should laud as a people. It tells us that we should be courageous. We must not be afraid to venture out. We must be audacious in our outlook. Follow your heart and act on something that you know to be true for you. Demonstrate that you are committed to exploring your dreams and prove to yourself that it is important by doing something. Actions speak louder than words. The success of this institution tells us that hard work, perseverance and dedication to the task do have their rewards.”

During the service, NBA’s personnel participated in the Scripture and Church readings and also sang a hymn.

The bank’s anniversary activities continued on Tuesday, March 8, with Customers’ Appreciation Day when refreshments and gifts were distributed in the lobby area as part of the programme.

Directors, Management and Staff singing at St. Mary’s

Chairman of the Bank, Joseph Norris Payne, delivered the opening remarks at a brief ceremony in which he traced the early establishment of the bank and the hard work of the promoters. He noted that NBA, which survived many obstacles, came into existence following the purchase of the Bank of America branch on the island for US$550,000.

Mr. Payne observed that Bank of America had given Anguilla a gift which had worth more than the sale: four experienced Anguillian workers – Selwyn (Roy) Horsford, E. Valentine Banks, Icilma Hazell and Bernadine Horsford who now hold leading positions in NBA. “I term them to be the four human stanchions on which the National Bank of Anguilla stands,” he declared, calling for a round of applause for them and the confidence they had given to the public in the bank.

“NBA is now celebrating 20 years among us for which we rejoice,” Mr. Payne continued. “Those persons who bought shares have repeatedly reaped the fruits of their labour. Those who stood on the fence, looking through their dark glasses, objected, discouraged and prevented others, were in the words of an illustrious Anguillian, ‘suffering from an acute illness of stigmatism.’”

Staff of NBA with Anniversary cake

He pledged the bank’s continued commitment to the best interest of the people of Anguilla. “May you enjoy a wonderful day, remembering that NBA is not only for banking, but also for creating means and fulfilling dreams for the development of the Anguillian homeland,” he added.

NBA’s Manager of Loans, Bernadine Horsford, said that over the past 20 years the bank had benefited from such attributes as innovativeness, creativity and dedication demonstrated by a number of persons at the helm. She said that those attributes had come to the fore through divine guidance and the willingness of the Directors and Management “to go beyond what appeared on the horizon and the responsiveness of the staff in delivering quality service.”

Miss Horsford said that another reason for the bank’s success was the tremendous support the institution had received from its shareholders and customers.

“The activities associated with NBA’s 20th Anniversary, would have fallen woefully short if we did not show our appreciation to you, the customers, for all you have contributed to this bank over the past 20 years,” she added.

Chief Executive Officer, Valentine Banks, supported the remarks by the Chairman and the Manager of Loans and announced the winners in a competition arranged by the bank covering six areas of its operations. The winners were as follows: Jerome and Amorette Bethel for having the oldest passbook dated March 8, 1985 (when NBA was established); Zulma Webster and/or Marita Hansen for the oldest bank statement dated November 1993; the late John Hawley who had drawn the oldest processed cheque on November 23, 1993 and payable to the Anguilla Electricity Company; and Mitchell D. Hodge for having the oldest loan agreement dated February 1988. No one presented a document for the oldest term deposit. The winner of the award for having been born on March 8, 1985 was Jovaughn Jovantie Vernon Delaney.

Mr. Banks was grateful to all the participants in the competition, the shareholders, customers and the general public for their support over the years.

The next anniversary activity of NBA will be its 20th Anniversary Awards Dinner at the Anguilla Great House on Saturday, March 12.

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