The Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines (BOSVG) continues to demonstrate its commitment to the positive development of the country’s youth.{{more}}

The Bank — formerly the National Commercial Bank — has supported the national Coastguard Youth programme for the last 17 years, and this year, to mark this milestone, the Bank made a financial contribution of $10,000, doubling last year’s sponsorship.

According to a release from the Bank, the additional $5,000 will be used to open Smart Grower accounts for each of the participants.

In his presentation, at the opening of the second phase of the Coastguard Youth programme on July 30, Marketing Officer at BOSVG Omari France reiterated the Bank’s policy of supporting social causes that have a positive impact.

“Our bank has been here for over 30 years, supporting numerous activities and efforts in the community. We understand the leadership role we play in this regard and remain committed to it. This year, it is our pleasure to do something unique. We have created a special account for the Youth called the “Smart Grower” — and you will be hearing more about this product in the weeks to come — to help them on their way to cultivating good savings and investment habits. Half of the funds we are donating today will go towards opening these accounts for the participants of this year’s Coastguard Youth Development Programme’, noted France.

He added that some of the features of the Smart Grower account will involve an active youth club component and ongoing programmes such as life seminars and financial literacy, to help young people to map their success in life, both financially and in the broader scope of personal development.

The Coastguard Youth Development Program, which was introduced 19 years ago, exposes the nation’s youth to a variety of safety and leadership skills, including survival techniques at sea and at home.

The programme, which ran for six days, conducted in three batches, ends today.