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Message from Suresh Sookoo, Chief Executive Officer, Caribbean Banking, RBC on RBC’s 100th anniversary in Barbados.
products, solutions and services in the future. In this, our centennial year, it is with deep appreciation that I thank the Government and people of Barbados for supporting us over a century of THIS YEAR RBC Royal Bank marks successful operations. We are proud to 100 years of operations in Barbados. partner with you in the long-term From modest beginnings on No. 9 Broad development of Barbados. Street in 1911, RBC Royal Bank In celebrating this milestone, it is blossomed into a valued and respected fitting that I pay tribute to all our financial leader, drawing on its global employees, present and past, who are not strength and local expertise to deliver only the heart and soul of our bank, but competitive products and services to an the architects of our every success. I expanding Barbadian client base. applaud their commitment and dedication Following the acquisition of RBTT to excellence. They continue to give Financial Group by RBC in 2008, we meaning to our core values – service, have been focused on integrating the teamwork, responsibility, diversity and operations of RBC and RBTT to integrity – going the distance every day create one RBC in the Caribbean, to make RBC a rewarding place to work underpinned by our combined strengths. and do business. The combination of our operations in In keeping with the RBC way of Barbados will create one of the country’s doing things, we will continue to operate largest banks and provide a whole new responsibly where ever we are located, world of banking opportunities. supporting a wide range of community Today, RBC’s Caribbean Banking initiatives through donations, operations span 19 countries across the sponsorships and employee volunteer region, with 125 branches and close to activities. 7 000 employees serving more than We are leveraging RBC and RBTT’s 1.6 million clients. Through our expansive more than 100-year heritage in the network, we will be able to offer you region to give you the best of two access to an even greater range of companies as we put our strength to
SURESH SOOKOO work for you: best-in-class global banking practices and resources, with in-depth local knowledge of the region. In the not too distant future, we will begin operating our combined Barbados operations under an updated RBC brand expression. This rebranding signals our confidence in the future and demonstrates the strength and heritage of RBC to all our key stakeholders in the region. RBC takes pride in its achievement in Barbados over the past century. I would also like to thank all of our clients for their trust and confidence over the years as we look forward to many more years of serving them.
Message from Horace Cobham, President/Country Head, RBC Royal Bank (Barbados) Limited on RBC’s 100th Anniversary in Barbados. IT IS with a deep sense of gratitude and humility that we commemorate 100 years of unbroken service in Barbados. Not many businesses in Barbados can boast of such longevity, and as we observe this milestone, it is worthwhile to reflect briefly on the journey that has brought us to this point. HORACE COBHAM (GP) In 1911, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) entered Barbados, operating out of a small office on No 9 Broad Street with a total staff count of just four employees. RBC underwent rapid expansion, first outside of Bridgetown and then across the island, becoming a strong, market leading brand, which is now deeply entrenched in the financial services landscape of Barbados. Being a part of the Royal Bank of Canada, means being a part of one of the biggest and best banks in the world, which allows us to bring to Barbados unparalleled financial expertise and service by leveraging the vast international resources at our disposal. As part of a global bank, we are acutely aware that success in each country is very much a function of how you are received by the people who live there, and whether the reception you get is short lived or enduring. That’s why today, we express our gratitude to the Government and people of Barbados who have embraced us so warmly; our valued clients in Barbados who continue to place their confidence in us; and our committed and hard-working employees who are our most ardent flag-bearers. RBC is deeply appreciative of the support we have received and remains more committed than ever to the people of Barbados. We have stood by you as Barbadians underwent numerous challenges in the 100 years past, and we will
continue to stand by you for many more years to come. Our commitment to Barbados is also reflected in our shared responsibility in contributing to the island’s development. Besides being a premier provider of financial services, a taxpayer and purchaser of local goods and services, our mandate requires that we demonstrate good corporate citizenship, which means being actively involved in the support of our communities. Over the years, we have sponsored many initiatives in support of Education, Art and Culture, the Environment, Sports, Social Services and Health. In addition, our employees give tirelessly of their time, skill and energy to various non-profit initiatives aimed at improving this nation. Whatever we have contributed to Barbados, directly or indirectly, we recognise that it is given back to us several times over, in the loyalty that our customers have shown to us. In the 2010 independent survey of various sectors of our economy conducted by NISE (the National Initiative for Service Excellence), RBC was rated No. 1 for customer satisfaction of all banks and we are immensely grateful for this vote of confidence by our customers. On behalf of everyone at RBC Royal Bank (Barbados), I thank the people of Barbados for their unwavering support through the years and for helping us to become the bank that we are today. With all of you on our side, we stand ready to launch into the next 100 years of continued service to all Barbadians.