“
“
Across the Caribbean,
Johannes noted, there seems
to be an awakening of national
consciousness and pride in
things local.
Not many institutions last for
as long as 1 st National Bank has.
Economic uncertainties and
financial crashes have seen many
banks close over the years – but
not 1 st National Bank. Johannes
chalks the bank’s successes to his
predecessors and all those who
would have contributed to creating
the foundation on which the bank
continues to build. That foundation
was a heavy focus on national
development, and the development
of customers, shareholders,
and employees. It’s a focus that
continues to run through the entire
organization – from the Board of
Directors to management to staff.
It’s the kind of focus the bank
will need to build on as it cruises
towards its centennial in 2038. Johannes described 2019 as “a
fantastic year from a financial
standpoint”. While the official
numbers have not yet been
finalized, preliminary figures
suggest that 1 st National Bank’s
overall performance for last year
has been as good as 2018.
While 1 st National Bank focuses
on growth, Johannes said growth
must be sustainable, prudent and
profitable. He noted that while
the bank remains excited and
optimistic about what the future
holds, its rich and successful
past can only be replicated by
capitalizing on the present. “From all metrics, the numbers are
continuing to move in the right
direction and we’re encouraged
by that,” Johannes said, with an
optimism that is fast becoming
rare in banking circles. “We want
to thank Saint Lucians for the
support that they have given to 1 st
National Bank for buying into the
message that we are putting out
there. It’s translating into better
numbers for the business. I mean,
a healthy national bank is the
signal of a healthy nation. So I’m
thankful for that.”
“Right now, my focus is on five
years at a time, with 2020 being
the first of a number of years that
I need to remain focused on,” said
Johannes. “We need to drive our
strategy to make sure that we
execute and deliver results of which
Saint Lucians can be proud.”
In 2018, the bank finished the year
at about EC$9.9 million in profits,
up from EC$3.4 million the previous
year. Non-performing loans stood
at 8.65% in 2018; however, the
bank expects that to decrease
significantly, with the ultimate
objective being getting it below
5%. Johannes believes St. Lucians
have responded positively to the
bank’s core messages and beliefs
over the years.
Across the Caribbean,
Johannes noted, there seems
www.slyoumag.com | February - April 2020
to be an awakening of national
consciousness and pride in things
local. Growing up, the only places
he felt that pride most were in
Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.
Today, however, he thinks the St.
Lucian pride shares a nexus with
Dennery Segment, Daren Sammy,
Levern Spencer, Teddyson John,
Ricky T, Tarriba do Nascimento, and
Nina Compton.
“These are people who fuel us
with pride,” he stated. “So, more
and more, people from across the
Caribbean are gravitating to things
that are produced, manufactured
and have roots in their community.
What that says is that we have
looked outside, learned from them,
and are now capable of producing
at a quality level that matches
what’s out there internationally. I
think it’s a blessing to be here at
this time when this national pride is
surging. We’re also well positioned
to capitalize on that because
people are gravitating towards
institutions that understand them.”
While he admits that international
banks do have a role to play in
the socio-economic development
of Caribbean societies, Johannes
argues that regional customers
are often treated like numbers
and credit scores. It is difficult, he
noted, for someone in a remote
country who does not understand
how Saint Lucians earn despite
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