CIBC FirstCaribbean opens new premises

PHILIPSBURG – CIBC First Caribbean International Bank opened its new office at the Emmaplein on Wednesday evening with a festive ceremony in the presence of bank executives, Prime Minister Leona Marlin-Romeo, Minister Jorien Wuite, Mike Ferrier and Emil Lee and MP Franklin Meyers.

Country manager Garth Sherwood welcomes invited guests to the bank’s new home, noting that the road to recovery is long.

Mark St. Hill, managing director of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank in Barbados was on the island for the opening of the bank’s branch office in Cole Bay in 2016. “It seems like yesterday,” he said. “St. Maarten is the only country in our region that has completely refurbished its premises.” Twelve years ago the bank opened on Back Street.

St. Hill said that the bank will kick off its home-financing campaign across the region in February. “That initiative is especially opportune for St. Maarten.”

The bank’s CEO Gary Brown noted that CIBC FirstCaribbean’s roots in the Caribbean go back to 1836 and said that the bank has $12 billion in assets in the Caribbean.

Brown entertained his audience with a story about a dinner he recently enjoyed in Barbados; when he wanted to pay with his credit card it was refused. His debit card was also refused. When he later checked out the properties of his card he found out that he had activated the following feature: block card.

“I had cash on me so I could leave the restaurant without having to wash the dishes,” he joked.

Branch manager Perry Wilson thanked all in attendance for their presence, before guests moved on to the ribbon cutting and a brief tour of the bank.

Photo caption: Prime Minister Leona Marlin-Romeo and country manager Garth Sherwood handle the oversized scissors for the ribbon cutting while Mark St. Hill (l), managing director CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank in Barbados, and the bank’s CEO Gary Brown keep an eye. In the background is Minister Emil Lee. Photo Hilbert Haar.