NCB Chairman, Michael Lee Chin (left) and NCB Group Managing Director, Patrick Hylton, seen at a company function in March 2007. - Contributed

Michael Lee Chin, the billionaire owner of National Commercial Bank, has heaped high praise on Patrick Hylton, who has run the bank for four years to place it on top as asset leader.

"NCB's performance has been outstanding and Patrick Hylton's strategic leadership has ensured solid teamwork," said Lee Chin in a statement issued through the holding company for his worldwide businesses, Portland Holding Inc.

Hylton is in charge of about 2,000 staff spread across a network of some 47 branches.

Lee Chin's endorsement of Hylton followed a Financial Gleaner story noting the bank's advance against chief rival Bank of Nova Scotia in new industry data released by the central bank.

The Bank of Jamaica's quarterly release of commercial banking data placed NCB on top as the most heavily capitalised at $20.7 billion or 35 per cent of the market, vaulting over BNS for the first time since Lee Chin bought the bank back in 2002.

"NCB, as a member of the Portland Holdings group, is expected to compete globally, to provide a solid return on equity and to display long-term growth prospects," said Lee Chin. "Through the NCB Foundation and the Jamaica Education Initiative, the bank has also proven its willingness 'not only to do well, but to do good'," the mantra of the Portland group, said.

business@gleanerjm.com