Tag: GKCares

First Global Bank Using Technology For Banking Solutions

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Banking on the Go!  GraceKennedy Group CEO Don Wehby holds up a mobile phone to emphasise the ease of doing business on the go.  He was speaking at the official opening of First Global Bank’s Liguanea Branch on October 9, 2016.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kingston, Jamaica – Thursday, October 13, 2016: GraceKennedy Group CEO, Don Wehby has said relevant, cutting-edge technology is central to improving controls, drive operational standards and customer service across all subsidiaries.

According to Wehby, “Technology-based solutions are expected to reduce operating costs while providing convenience and value-added services to our customers.”

He was speaking on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at the official opening of First Global Bank Limited’s new Liguanea branch.

He highlighted some recent tech developments in several of the Group’s financial services companies including: multicurrency machines, interactive teller machines, a mobile banking app, internet-based solution at First Global; the roll out of GKGOnline at GK General Insurance Ltd; and the introduction of TeleSend and Deposit Direct at GraceKennedy Money Services. TeleSend makes money transfers via mobile phone and online functionalities possible, while Deposit Direct allows customers to receive remittances from overseas directly to their bank accounts.

Wehby believes one method through which GraceKennedy can continue to make worthwhile contributions to Jamaica’s growth, is through investing heavily in new technology.

“The Group has made significant investment in technology in all segments. This is expected to improve controls, drive operational efficiency and improve our customer service. We strongly believe that in addition to our hardworking staff members, we can continue to realise growth and success through using new technology as a business strategy that is in keeping with emerging trends and customer demands,” he affirms in an interview recently.

For years, the GraceKennedy Group has kept apace with new and advancing technology in all of its operations.

Wehby said within the GraceKennedy Group, First Global Bank boasts one of the major examples of how technology has totally revamped the operations of the entity.

He stated, “First Global Bank continues to be at the forefront of technology in the banking and financial services sector. Our hardware and software are continuously on the cutting edge and our human resources are second to none,” Wehby stated.

Wehby said the context of Jamaica’s social environment makes investment in technology essential as a way of reaching the unbanked, closing the digital divide and promoting financial inclusion.

“We note the steps being made by the Bank of Jamaica towards facilitating agency banking, with the latest element being the 2016 Banking Services Enforceable Code of Conduct. The sector is eager for all essential components to be put in place as, the convergence of both a sound structure to support and the technology to facilitate agency banking hold great potential for allowing more people to participate in regulated financial channels,” said Wehby.

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Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20161024/first-global-bank-using-technology-banking-solutions

GRACEKENNEDY SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP DAY 2016

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GraceKennedy Supports Clean Up of Kingston Harbour – Volunteers who turned out in support of International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 17, 2016 are jubilant after spending their morning removing garbage from a section of Kingston Harbour coastline.  The exercise, coordinated by GraceKennedy Foundation, included GraceKennedy employees, their family members and students attached to the Tourism Enhancement and Green Generation Clubs of Campion College.

 

Two hours and 130 pairs of hands led to the removal of over 2,000 lbs of waste from a small section of Kingston Harbour last Saturday.

A large group of GraceKennedy staff, their children, resident of Parade Gardens community and members of the Tourism Enhancement and Green Generation Clubs of Campion College went out in support of International Coastal Cleanup Day observed on Saturday, September 17, 2016.

They cleaned up the section of the Kingston Harbour between Hanover Street and the location of what used to be the prestigious Myrtle Bank Hotel between 7:30 and 9:30am. The yield was 521.2 lbs of plastics and 1,632.4 lbs of garbage.  Prominent among the pile were plastic bottles and bags, foam boxes and corks. There were also shoes, clothes, animal remains, discarded pieces of washtubs and even an old fridge and a toilet seat.

“We do this every year as part of our overall environmental programme – which includes public education and routine collection and recycling of plastics.  I’m glad that our contribution was effective as the area is in a better condition to what we found this morning. I estimate that we removed approximately 90% of the garbage and debris that was in that area. ” said Caroline Mahfood, Executive Director of the GraceKennedy Foundation, which led the initiative on behalf of the Group.  “I was particularly impressed with the Campion students and children who came out to help today.  This will no doubt increase their awareness of the impact that poor disposal of garbage can have on the environment,” she added.

“After today, I will be taking a totally new approach to how I can reduce my personal impact on the environment,” said one of the volunteers.  “I will buy in bulk as much as possible to minimise the amount of plastic bottles I use.  I will also be carrying my own bags whenever I go to the supermarket.”

Most of the plastic collected will be further sorted and exported to be recycled, a huge area of focus of the GraceKennedy Foundation which has as part of its mandate, to preserve and protect the environment.

Contact:           Dionne Rhoden

Corporate Communication Officer

Tel: 932-3178/809-0464

Kingston Harbour Cleanup –  These volunteers are hard at work at a section of Kingston Harbour on International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 17, 2016. Coordinated by GraceKennedy Foundation, the volunteers were successful in removing over 2000 lbs of plastic bottles and other waste.  The plastic bottles will be sorted, exported and recycled.  This is in keeping with the Foundation’s mandate to actively promote well-being, primarily by supporting educational and environmental programmes and processes.img_7556-coastal-cleanup-2016