St. Vincent and the Grenadines largest credit union continued its expansion thrust with the opening of a new branch office on Friday, August 24th.{{more}}

The General Employees Cooperative Credit Union’s (GECCU’s) new office, located in Bequia, will provide members and the general public with improved access to its services and benefits, with full-time operations from its new premises in Port Elizabeth.

The Bequia office is the 3rd of its kind for GECCU, with existing offices on mainland St. Vincent and Union Island.

Speaking at the official launch, GECCU’s General Manager, Lennox Bowman stated that GECCU continues to experience exceptional growth in its membership and financial assets. According to Bowman, Management is now faced with the challenge of developing the Credit Union in keeping with its rate of growth. He hinted that the expanding membership has forced GECCU to look at the creation of two additional offices to serve members and the public on the Windward and Leeward side of the island.

GECCU’s President, Angela Martin, while commenting on the creation of the new office, stressed that “What is more important is what takes place within the walls of the building.” According to Martin, what takes place behind those walls must provide opportunities for expanding the membership, maximizing members’ savings, generating income and cementing existing relationships, while at the same time offering all the available services and products to the members in the Grenadines.

In his remarks, Parliamentary Representative for the Northern Grenadines, Dr. Godwin Friday, said that the opening of new financial institutions in the Grenadines is an indication of the development on the islands. He, however, challenged that GECCU now has an obligation not only to collect funds from its members but also to reach out to the communities and educate them on financial management, planning and investing.

Also addressing the launch were Basil Chambers, Director of the St. Vincent Credit Union League, Neva Cordice of the Co-operative Department/Ministry of National Mobilization, and Marice Simmons, Chairperson of GECCU’s Education Committee in Bequia.