Republic opens new branch at UWI

At the official opening of the branch on Saturday evening, Campus Principal Brian Copeland noted that Republic Bank had been part of the campus for over 50 years.

He said the bank was aware that education was for the preservation and growth of society.

“Their ethos is like ours: that education is meant to ensure survival, individually and collectively.

No bank could have achieved as much as Republic has if it weren’t a learning institution that constantly seeks to reinvent itself in tune with changing times,” he said.

Copeland noted that the new branch was just the first part of a private sector-university partnership which started with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2007.

Other steps would include developing the existing campus quadrangle, a new building for the Creative and Festival Arts, and a revenue-generating Northern Plaza at the entrance of the campus.

Copeland also noted that, for the past seven years, the bank partnered with UWI hosting the “World of Work” programme for final year students.

“As you see, our private sector/university partnership with Republic Bank goes way beyond merely mouthing the words, “corporate social responsibility,” he said.

Nigel Baptiste, Republic Bank Managing Director, agreed, stating that, with the opening of the Campus branch, the bank recommitted itself to always be of service to the stakeholders of UWI, to keep the university community at the forefront in terms of banking solutions, and to the success of all stakeholders.

“We are recommitting to the values that we hold dear as an organisation.

“Our core values of integrity, results orientation, respect for the individual, professionalism, and customer focus.

We are recommitting to partnering with the university to foster youth empowerment through education and exposure,” he said.

Baptiste stated that the construction and outfitting of the building was a $75 million investment and that he hoped the branch would be the flagship in digital banking and environmental responsibility.