Republic Bank Helping Students

At Republic Bank, we take our slogan “We’re the One for You” very seriously. Every initiative introduced is developed to assist customers in realising their financial goals. That’s why we are pleased to introduce a Student Loan Help Desk to not only provide loans to Barbadians pursuing tertiary education at the University of the West Indies, but guidance to ensure that their educational requirements are planned for whether at home or abroad.

“In January, Republic Bank introduced a Financial Care Unit that focused on assisting Barbadians dislocated by lay-offs across the public sector. So successful was that Unit, that we have integrated that service across our Branch network and have now turned our attention to another pressing need, facilitating loans for education,” said Ian De Souza, Republic’s Managing Director and CEO as he today addressed a press conference to introduce the Bank’s new Student Loan Help Desk.

Located in the Broad Street Sales Centre, and the Warrens branch, the Republic Bank Student Loan Help Desk will provide ease of access and quick turnaround to ensure the readiness of persons entering UWI this September. The Bank’s student loan facilities offer both secured and unsecured loans for educational purposes whether short or long term. Offering loans with interest rates as low as 6.5% the Student Loan Help Desk is accessible to new and existing customers.

This initiative also supports the assertion of Sir Hilary Beckles, Principal of the UWI Cave Hill Campus who recently identified the fall-off of approximately 20% in student applications and the upsurge in requests from existing students for leaves of absence of up to two years to raise the money required to adequately finance their education.

The Student Loan Help Desk will function by appointment during normal banking hours and will strive to facilitate as many appointments as possible. There will be no charge for the service. The Republic Bank has and will continue to facilitate students existing and potential UWI students at the UWI Financial Fairs introduced this year.

Attending the Press Conference were Managing Director and CEO, Ian De Souza, General Manager Retail Banking Wavney Nicholls, Senior Manager Retail Banking Sharon Zephirin, Manager Retail Services Broad Street and Independence Square branches, Steven Jordan, Manager Retail Services Republic Bank Mortgage and Premium Banking Centre and Warrens branch, Lavere Thompson and Customer Service Manager Warrens Branch, Stephen Headley.