DON Banks, the former managing director of the National Commercial Bank (NCB), who died a week ago, was yesterday remembered by one of his former colleagues and banking protégés as a brutally frank man who disliked pomp, pretence and puffed up egos.

Jeff Cobham, who worked for several years with Banks at NCB and recently retired in the post of deputy managing director, was among those who eulogised his mentor at a thanksgiving service at Christ Church, Vineyard Town, Kingston.

While saying that Banks was “brutally frank in expressing his opinions, even to those who considered themselves the mightiest of the land”, Cobham stressed that the former banker was never malicious, extolled personal humility and was always kind and approachable.

“Time and again he would remark on the wisdom which resides in the Jamaican people and on the gains which could be made if only the decision makers would listen,” Cobham said.

Banks, 69, who died last Sunday from heart failure, was, for decades, one of Jamaica’s most prominent bankers until he retired in 1994 as managing director of NCB Group.

He joined the staff of Barclays Bank in Jamaica at age 18 after graduating from Wolmer’s Boys School and worked his way up in the institution.

When Barclays left Jamaica in 1997 and NCB was created from its holdings here, Banks became managing director of the renamed bank. He oversaw NCB’s substantial expansion over the next decade-and-a-half, including its diversification into other financial and non-financial activities under the umbrella of NCB Group.

Yesterday, Cobham described Banks as a great family man who was a great singer. “It was through his interest and support that the National Chorale of Jamaica was able to perform year after year,” Cobham said.

In his tribute, Ian Banks, one of three sons, remembered his father as a tough and decisive businessman who had a stubborn nature.

“Dad was impatient and often gave the impression that he didn’t have much time for people, but he truly cared for others.

“(He was) punctual. If you made an appointment with him and you were five minutes late you would have to make another appointment,” Ian Banks said.

He said his father was tough and decisive in business and was a hard taskmaster. However, he was “as soft as they come when it came to close friends and family”. According to Ian Banks, the things that stood out about his father were his conviction to his principles, his sense of honesty and his undying integrity.

Sister, Norma Eaton, remembered her brother for his inquisitive, analytical and fantastic memory.

Describing him as a gentle man, she concurred with Ian that her brother was firm and “as stubborn as a mule”. However, she said that he “had a heart that was as soft as butter”.

She also described him as a humble man who had no airs and was not impressed by titles or ostentatious behaviour.