First Global Bank on Friday officially declared its fifth branch open for business in Liguanea, St Andrew, a $20-million investment.

First Global, part of the GraceKennedy Group and No. 5 of six in the commercial banking sector, joins market leaders Scotiabank Jamaica and National Commercial Bank in the busy and often congested shopping zone.

But dwarfed though it is by the size of its competitors, First Global's Assistant Vice-President of Marketing and Public Relations, Kerry-Ann Betton Stimpson, believes it has an edge in its non-traditional banking hours.

"People are very, very satisfied with our 6:00 p.m. closing and our Saturday opening," said Betton Stimpson.

The branch, which is snuggled inside the Liguanea Plaza, is to be managed by Calvin Hunter.

According to Betton Stimpson, Hunter has the right properties of interpersonal skill as well as financial experience that First Global was looking for to lead the operations.

He was formerly a personal banker at NCB.

"We thought Calvin had the right mix and the clients love him," she said.

Hunter said he was big on relationship banking.

"We call it the art of fine banking, so that is the kind of service in this environment that we really want to use to separate ourselves from the competition," he said.

The branch has been operational since January 2.

richard.deane@gleanerjm.com