The National Commercial Bank (NCB) officially opened its new integrated NCB/AGIC branch at Perth Road in Mandeville on Friday. The operation of the two entities - NCB and its subsidiary, Advantage General Insurance Company (AGIC) - from one location, is the manifestation of the bank’s overall mission to improve customer experience by upgrading its facilities and increasing convenience through branch integration. Speaking at the ceremony, Patrick Hylton, President and CEO, NCB Financial Group explained that the move was the result of an innate desire to improve efficiency, as well as elevate the bank’s standard of service and delivery. This he noted also includes the physical structures and resources. “Our decision to expand our offerings, under one roof, serves as only a small part of the big picture we have sketched for ourselves in line with our 2020 Strategy, NCB 2.0 Faster| Simpler| Stronger - Raising the B.A.R and setting the standard,” he said. “In keeping with this, we have embarked on a three-fold trajectory to: Build a world-class digital experience, Accelerate our regional penetration, and thirdly, to Reinvent our core business, by continuing to enhance sales and service excellence; increasing our focus on payments innovation; continuously improving the customer experience; optimising efficiency in all areas of our operation and; continuing to develop and engage our people. Today’s event is the third-prong of our strategy demonstrated,” he continued. AGIC opened its doors in Mandeville in 1995 at 30 Mandeville Plaza operating from this address for almost 23 years before its relocation last November. Meanwhile, the National Commercial Bank’s history in Mandeville dates back to more than a century when it started under the Barclay’s DCO brand. Later, an acquisition and merger with the Mutual Security Bank in the 1990s, and continuous development led to the bank operating from three locations in the town. After consolidating, the NCB Mandeville branch settled at its current Perth Road home at Perth in 2008. Stronger together, the entities now offer customers a one-stop financial services centre experience with easy access to solutions for all their financial needs in one location. “NCB in Mandeville is now able to a truly declare itself a financial mall offering retail banking, life Insurance, general insurance, card and point of sale services and motor vehicle insurance. This new branch is therefore our way of showing the people who depend on us that we have heard their cries for convenience and are ready to meet their need for an exceptional standard of banking,” Hylton said. Coupled with its new joint operations are modern amenities including iABMs which allow for electronic bill payment, money transfer, cheque deposit and loan at the ABM. The upgraded office also features a new open-concept layout providing more comfortable spacing, plus extra parking for added convenience. The opening ceremony was brought alive not only through the eager anticipation of executives and staff but also by the musical stylings of the Manchester High School Choir and master of ceremonies Owen “Blakka” Ellis, who ably guided the proceedings. The evening ended with a tour of the new state-of-the-art facility followed by cocktails.