Republic Bank must do better for senior citizens

Aug 19, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

I am writing this letter to express my recent disappointment with Republic Bank (Guyana). I am a senior citizen who has been a loyal customer of Republic Bank from its inception. I was a customer of the Royal Bank of Canada and the National Bank of Industry and Commerce Limited, prior to the Bank’s re-branding as Republic Bank (Guyana) Ltd. I never took my business elsewhere because I have always been satisfied with the excellent service Republic Bank has provided over the years, with a few exceptions. What happened on June 7, 2023, is one of those exceptions and has caused my wife and me, who is also a pensioner, much distress.

My wife went to the bank (Robb Street Branch) on the aforementioned day to withdraw some cash. She arrived at approximately 11:00 a.m. and no one attended to her for approximately 4 hours. She left the bank around 3:15 p.m. I was appalled to discover when I called her at approximately 3:00 p.m., that she was only then at the counter. To make matters worse, my wife suffers from a knee ailment that causes her to walk with a limp and she has difficulty standing for long periods. As a result, she walks with a cane. I too have problems standing for long periods and no longer visits the bank as frequently as my wife does, especially since the bank no longer extends any special courtesies to pensioners or longstanding loyal customers.

Something is seriously wrong here and I am not prepared to subject myself or my wife to such treatment. This is not the first time that this has occurred. A few years ago, I was with my wife at the bank and as long-standing loyal customers, we had the privilege of conducting our business on the first floor, away from the crowds and in a comfortable space. However, we were informed that the new management had changed company policies and that we were required to conduct our business on the ground floor going forward.

What is unsettling is that the bank’s Robb Street Branch seems to have no system in place to accommodate senior citizens, even though the ground floor is usually filled to capacity with customers every day. I had written a letter about this issue when it occurred and had it published in the newspapers, which resulted in the bank extending the courtesy of assigning a bank officer to attend to us whenever we visited the bank. However, this facility only lasted for approximately two months.

Through this medium, I am appealing to the management of Republic Bank to provide a more caring service to the senior citizens of this nation, especially those who are long-standing loyal customers. If they do not, I will have no choice but to take my business elsewhere, even though it would be emotionally difficult for me to do so, because I feel as if I am a part of that bank. I have brought many other customers to Republic Bank because I was very comfortable with the service they provide and advocated for my friends and family to do business with them, especially when Mr. Alves was the head of the bank.

I humbly suggest that the bank’s Robb Street Branch reinstate the previous intervention and have a particular bank officer attend to my wife and I when we visit the bank or have a special line for pensioners. Unfortunately, if nothing can be done to remedy the situation, this will be the end of my long relationship with Republic Bank.

Yours sincerely,

Arthur Taylor

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National Bank of Industry and Commerce Limited, Republic Bank, Robb Street Branc, senior, senior citizens

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Republic Bank must do better for senior citizens

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