68 graduate from Republic’s Youth Link Programme

REPUBLIC Bank has won a young admirer, and no doubt, a customer at that. She is Natalya Black, one of 68 young people who graduated from the bank’s 2004/05 Youth Link Apprentice Programme on Tuesday evening at Hilton Trinidad. Black was chosen to deliver the valedictory address. In her own words, she did so  “with a profound sense of gratitude, awe and humility.” She spoke glowingly about Republic’s commitment to the national community, claiming that it was expansive and well-documented. “The Youth Link Programme is only one of the many avenues by which this organisation contributes to the well-being of the country’s citizens,” said Black.

She added: “In the highly organised manner which I have come to associate with anything under the umbrella of Republic Bank, the apprentices were assigned to various branches of the bank.” She echoed her fellow graduates sentiments when she said, “We have been introduced and exposed to all aspects of banking, counter services, cash management, support functions as well as the commercial, retail credit and administrative departments.” She said the extensive training they received entailed visits to the bank’s sophisticated family at Endeavour, Chaguanas where Branch Support. Training and Delivery Centre are located.

“At Branch Support, we were thrilled to see the Republic Bank Mechanism of competence at work with its RISA/Unposted, Audit Bills Payable, Statement Dispatch and mail departments working comfortably and efficiently to ensure that the branches could deliver quality service to customers. “An exhaustive programme it was, but challenging, rewarding, comprehensive and memorable. “We have evolved from fresh-faced, enthusiastic novices into fresh-faced, enthusiastic, competent, well-informed forces to be reckoned with,” Black said. Bheeshma Boodram won the award for the Most Outstanding Apprentice.