ST ANN, Jamaica — First Global Bank (FGB), the banking subsidiary of the GraceKennedy Group, has opened a new branch in Ocho Rios, St Ann. It’s the second opening in two months, with another introduced in Manor Park, St Andrew, in December.

The commercial bank now has seven branches islandwide with others located in New Kingston, Liguanea and Duke Street in Kingston and St Andrew, another in Montego Bay, St James, and the last in Mandeville, Manchester.

The new branch, which according to group CEO Don Wehby costs J$240 million in investment, is located in Soni’s Plaza on Main Street in Ocho Rios. The branch head is Arlene Williams, who is described as a local banking executive.

On Tuesday, the group said the new branch would serve both individuals and businesses with new banking technology.

FGB says the branch features a Video Teller Machine (VTM), an interactive technology that allows customers to connect with a remote teller through two-way audio/video interaction. A similar machine was recently introduced at Manor Park.

The Video Teller Machine, allows live tellers at First Global’s Teller Centre to interact with customers inside the Ocho Rios branch and complete up to 95 per cent of transactions typically completed by tellers at counters, it was noted.

The machine will be open between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm from Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The branch’s opening hours are 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Fridays.

The new branch will also feature a multi-currency dispenser and an Intelligent Deposit ATM, which will give customers access to a suite of automated services, the bank said in the release announcing the opening.

“The multi-currency dispenser will allow customers to withdraw Jamaican, Canadian and United States currencies from their accounts and allows customers to execute cross currency transactions, conveniently buying the offered currencies at the daily exchange rate,” the bank said.

It was noted that the intelligent deposit ATM will recognise and validate inserted notes for immediate cash deposits, without use of a deposit slip or envelope.

Avia Collinder