BOB (Bank of The Bahamas Limited) recently honoured 24 long serving staff as a part of its 25th anniversary celebrations. The dedicated employees were recognized at a special reception at the Balmoral Club where they were presented with awards by BOB Managing Director Paul McWeeney and Chairman Mr. Richard Demeritte.

Mr. Demeritte said BOB’s success has been the result of disciplined, exemplary and wise leadership supported by committed and steadfast employees who are the heart and soul of the organization.

“We are especially grateful to our long serving staff. We could not have arrived at this point without loyal and skilled employees who were faithful to the vision of the Bank,” Mr. Demeritte said.

Among the honourees, Jennifer Ritchie, Officer-in-Charge for BOB’s Eight Mile Rock branch said she could remember when there were only three Bank of The Bahamas branches and each branch shared two calculators apiece.

“We’ve been around from the time of using ledger cards for customers’ accounts & GL accounts. We’ve been around from the time when balancing was the order of the day & tellers raced each other to see who could balance first so we could then race each other to see who could tick off their customer statements the fastest. This group of honorees has seen the bank grow from 3 branches to 13 branches. This group of ladies is dedicated, loyal, committed and trustworthy. We also have “stickability,” Mrs. Ritchie said.

Also among the honourees, Berthia Knowles, Branch Manager for Thompson Boulevard Branch started working at Bank of The Bahamas as a teller in 1988, the same year the bank was established. Through the years she said she has seen the bank evolve and grow. She was privileged to have played a pivotal role in the implementation of the bank’s previous and current Core Banking Systems and to witness a major shift in leadership from partial foreign ownership to 100% Bahamian ownership.

“The fact that decisions can be made right here in The Bahamas is a plus.” Mrs. Knowles says and she offers this advice to her younger colleagues for a successful career:

“I encourage everyone to know their customers and find out their needs. Also, take the time to know their jobs, and always perform and serve with excellence,” Mrs. Knowles said.

With 4,000 Bahamian shareholders and more than 370 employees across the archipelago, BOB (Bank of The Bahamas Limited) this year celebrates its 25th anniversary of operation. BOB is a leader in financial services with 13 branches in seven islands and a long history of firsts in the local Banking Industry. BOB has four times received the Euromoney Award for Excellence in Banking and was named Best Bank in the Country three times by The Banker, part of the Financial Times Group.

PHOTO-CAPTION:

LONG SERVING ---Twenty-four BOB staff were recently honoured for long and dedicated service. Pictured above from left to right: (Seated) Alice Josey, General Operations; Kaye Ward, Credit Card Processing; Elnora Major, Operations; Pauline Allen–Dean, former Managing Director, Bank of The Bahamas Limited; and Karen Laing, General Operations; (Standing) Berthia Knowles, Thompson Boulevard Branch; Tanya Davis, GGAELS; L. Sandra Butler, Internal Audit; Ruth Adderley, General Operations; Clayre Johnson, General Operations; Richard Demeritte, Chairman, BOB; Paul McWeeney, Managing Director, BOB; Anna Mae Burrows, Corporate Credit Grand Bahama Division; Gayle Hepburn, Corporate Credit; Jennifer Ritchie, Eight Mile Rock; and Clarice Varence, Operations. Not pictured: Gloria Nixon, Human Resources; Lillian Fox, Village Road; Vernincha Peet, Shirley Street; Julia Dames, Loan Administration; Judy Miller, Loan Administration; Sonya Seymour, Freeport; Donzella Burke, GGAELS; Dandria Bowe, Project and Change Management; Nadane Saunders, Harrold Road; Joan Cooper, Loan Administration; and Sherene Bullard, Freeport. (Photo by Wendell J. Cleare).