Businesses benefit from Republic Bank’s Commercial Customer Business Program

Investment in people towards improved financial management can be a significant benefit to businesses working to overcome challenging economic times.

That encouragement for local small business operators came from Kareem Manning, Senior Analyst, Corporate & Commercial Credit - Republic Bank (Barbados) Limited, as he delivered the closing remarks to graduates of the Bank’s fifth annual Commercial Customer Business Program.

Catering to clients of the Bank’s Corporate and Commercial Credit department, the Commercial Customer Business Program is offered in association with the Cave Hill School of Business (CHSB), University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus for six weeks.

Manning said the special training, which covered aspects including understanding the business environment; managing people and the sales process; financial management; effective communication; and customer care excellence, demonstrated Republic Bank’s commitment to the development of the small and medium sized sector and by extension the local economy.

“We recognized the challenges that the strain of our economic situation has had on the management of small businesses and decided that we must assist. We are also convinced that training such as this will positively impact the credit worthiness of small businesses, because you have been exposed to these fundamental business practices,” said Manning.

Going further, Manning said the Commercial Customer Business Program was a testament of what could be achieved when industry partners worked closely together towards a common success goal.

“We partnered with the Cave Hill School of Business to provide you with the tools necessary to empower and propel your businesses to become successful. As you return to your businesses, we hope that you will implement many of the teachings of the last six weeks and continue the cycle of learning and connecting the “forces” needed to propel your business to the next level.”

Thanking Republic Bank for their support and involvement, Executive Director and CEO of the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business and Management (SCHSBM), Mr. Ian De Souza said developing and looking after the people who supported organizational success was the critical factor.

“The message is simply this, in running your organisation, focus on your people; as I think Richard Branson says: “look after your people and they will look after your business”, and I have learnt that to be true,” De Souza said.