KINGSTON, Jamaica—Chorvelle Johnson Cunningham of Sagicor Bank has been elected president of the Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA) for 2026/27, succeeding Scotiabank’s Audrey Tugwell Henry after nearly three years at the head of the organisation.

Johnson Cunningham was elected on July 16 as part of a new executive that will oversee the JBA’s governance and strategic direction over the next year.

Radcliffe Daley of First Global Bank was elected first vice-president, while Jerome Smalling of JMMB Bank will serve as second vice-president. Citibank’s Eva Lewis was elected treasurer and Paul Elliott of VM Building Society will serve as honorary secretary.

Johnson Cunningham brings experience spanning business growth, customer service, operational effectiveness and digital transformation. She said the industry had an important role in supporting households and businesses while maintaining confidence in the wider economy.

“I look forward to working with the Executive, our member institutions, regulators and other stakeholders to build on the progress made and advance practical, forward-looking priorities that support innovation, resilience, financial inclusion and the continued evolution of banking in Jamaica,” she said.

The association did not announce specific targets for the new executive but said its agenda would include innovation, financial inclusion, consumer confidence and the long-term resilience of the banking sector.

Tugwell Henry, who had served as president since October 2023, expressed confidence that Johnson Cunningham and the new executive could build on the work undertaken during her tenure.

The leadership change comes as the banking industry prepares to implement the first stage of Jamaica’s planned elimination of cheques.

In a separate announcement, the JBA formally confirmed that banks will stop accepting or processing Jamaican-dollar cheques valued at $1 million or more from September 1. The restriction will include manager’s cheques, with instruments at or above the threshold being rejected and returned to the customer presenting them.

The announcement follows notices previously issued by individual banks and building societies and confirms that the measure will be implemented across the industry.

Customers holding Jamaican-dollar cheques valued at $1 million or more have been advised to deposit them by August 31 and to stop issuing or accepting new cheques at or above the threshold.

Under the schedule previously communicated by financial institutions, the ceiling will fall to $500,000 on March 1, 2027 and $100,000 on September 1, 2027. Cheque issuance is scheduled to end completely on March 1, 2028.