THE NATIONAL Commercial Bank (NCB) is redeveloping the former Shell gas station at the top of Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston into a drive-through Automated Banking Machine (ABM) and additional parking.
While tight-lipped about the actual cost of the project, Wednesday Business was able to ascertain from a reliable real estate source that the unimproved lot would be valued at $25-$35 million.
This will be NCB's second drive-through ABM following the installation of one on Garelli Avenue and Trafalgar Road earlier this year. Overall, NCB has 116 walk up ABMs.
COMFORT
"In developing these drive-through ABMs, we are saying to our customers that you can do your day to day banking from the comfort of your car," said Sheree Martin, assistant general manager of corporate communications. There is no additional charge to use the drive through service. "Traffic is an issue in New Kingston," said Ms. Martin. "We placed two drive-through machines in New Kingston because it is a highly congested area with a large number of people working and doing business there." In addition to the drive-through, the new spot will accommodate parking for 36 cars. Explains Ms. Martin, "We knew we had to provide additional parking for our customers at 1-7 Knutsford Boulevard because it is really a problem." Customers who park at the new facility will be required to have their parking slip stamped in the 1-7 Knutsford Boulevard NCB branch.
VERY PLEASED
According to Ms. Martin, the Knutsford Boulevard drive-through is complementary to the Garelli Avenue locale. However, she was unable to provide statistics revealing the number of vehicles that access their Garelli Avenue drive-through, only saying, "We are very pleased with the performance of that drive-through."
Ms. Martin did reveal that NCB would be looking to develop more drive-through ABMs in the future.
- Dennise Williams
