THE JN Group has recorded assets totalling $40 billion, while the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) has achieved $30 billion in assets as of October 2003.This was announced by Llewellyn Bailey, assistant general manager of the JNBS, while giving an update on the Society during a recent luncheon to honour members of the Jamaica National Pensioners' Association (JANPA) at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.
Mr. Bailey indicated that the growth in the Group's assets reflected an increase of over $5 billion since the end of March 2003 when the assets stood at $34.75 billion.
"The Group has moved closer to achieving its vision, recording positive results," he said, adding that this achievement could not have happened without the pensioners, and the foundation they helped to build.
With regard to overseas interests, Mr. Bailey said that the development programmes has been doing extremely well. The Society has opened offices in Florida, New York, Cayman Island, Canada and the United Kingdom These offices not only provide information on the Society's products and services but also assist in facilitating savings and mortgage applications.
Mr. Bailey also disclosed that the Building Society has increased its offering to customers by providing new products and services. There was the recent re-launch of the Utility Bill Payment, now called JN Bill Pay and new products such as the JN Baby Registry and an Intra-Island Money Transfer were introduced.
Mr. Bailey also noted that the Society is involved in activities at the local and international level, having co-sponsored a series of Crime forums in Florida, New York and UK in conjunction with the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and the Gleaner Company Limited. These forums are used as an opportunity to sensitise Jamaican interests overseas on the efforts being made to address crime locally.
He stated that the Society has undertaken several programmes with the PSOJ through its Corporate Crime Prevention Initiative, and has also sponsored the Police Courtesy Week held each month in a different parish across the island.
Mr. Bailey disclosed that since December 2000 JNBS has donated over $1 million to Cluster H at the Golden Age Home in Vineyard Town, and has helped to refurbish the Cluster, organised special treat and activities for the residents.
