CIBC Caribbean announced a second capital injection this year—$25 million (J$3.862 billion) for its Jamaican operations. This follows a first capital injection of just under US$5 million in January of 2024.
Several years ago, CIBC Caribbean identified Jamaica as one of its key markets for growth, and began a programme of development and investment there, to facilitate the financing of loans, improve its infrastructure and increase the number of employees available to serve its current and planned expanded customer base.
The bank has also set about increasing its social media and advertising presence and its community profile in Jamaica.
In making the announcement, CEO, Mark St Hill, noted: “Jamaica’s economic outlook continues to improve with the country’s credit ratings upgraded to BB- (S & P) and B1 + (Moody’s) in 2023 and GDP growth projected at 1.8 per cent in 2024, the outlook is promising. CIBC Caribbean is ready to play its part in assisting with that growth.
“We have been reaching out to our clients, both in personal and business banking and corporate and investment banking and we are seeing an upward trend in client confidence and interest in our products and services. Our recent rebranding to CIBC Caribbean has added to that interest and confidence and clients are ready to do business with us. This capital injection will help to support our efforts to help our clients make their ambitions become reality by supporting their plans for the future.”
CIBC Caribbean has focused its recent activity in Jamaica on maximising the market opportunities in the country by engaging and interacting with existing and new customers through enhanced products and pricing, digital channels, and marketing, traditional and digital.
The bank has also worked hard on providing a seamless and radically simplified onboarding experience for new clients and has launched several offers such as high interest savings products and fixed deposit offers with competitive rates for client investments.
Managing Director for CIBC Caribbean in Jamaica, Nigel Holness, said the bank’s activities in Jamaica are about more than providing financing. “As a relationship bank, we take our responsibility as a corporate citizen seriously.”
“Not only have we been expanding our marketing in Jamaica and actively growing our business, but we have also been working hard at our relationships with the people of Jamaica. We’ve reached out to several schools to promote cyber security awareness, financial literacy, and a general understanding of how banking and finance works. Our children have had interactions with our team in Jamaica, and in some instances visiting executives that are sure to make a lasting impression on them.”
From left: CEO Mark St Hill, Chief Information Officer, Esan Peters and Director, Digital Banking – Stacy Belnavis meet the Grade students of the Emmanuel Christian Academy in Jamaica and their teacher.
St Hill also stated: “The majority of our customers in 2024 see and experience an omni-channel bank, providing a first-class service that delivers loans in 10 minutes or less to qualified clients, cards that are printed on the spot, online account opening, online local and international wires – and should I even have to says it – instant payments such as our hugely popular First Pay.
At CIBC Caribbean, 94 per cent of transactions across the bank are now done digitally, our Personal and business banking online and mobile banking transaction volumes have increased by 27 per cent year-on-year and our corporate online banking transaction volumes have increased by 11 per cent year-on-year and by contrast, over-the-counter transaction volumes have decreased by 23 per cent year-on-year.
The regional bank head noted: “there has been good appetite in Jamaica for our digital services, though there will always be demand for in branch services for those who need a bit more assistance, our aim is to strike the right balance so that each client feels well cared for and that there is a welcoming CIBC Caribbean face to help them with their banking needs”.
Our cards products have been hugely popular as well, with our fantastic security options that put the control of the card’s safety in the hands of the client, by allowing them to monitor transactions and turn ‘on’ and ‘off’ the card as needed. That’s been a huge plus.”
St Hill noted: “We have a great team in Jamaica, always willing to serve our clients. We are looking forward to a bright future there, for a long time to come.”