Business
Republic Bank Introduces Exclusive Vertical Mastercard Black Credit Card
Republic Bank unveiled its latest offering, the prestigious vertical Mastercard Black credit card, solidifying its commitment to exceptional financial services. The announcement, made in partnership with Mastercard, marks a significant milestone for the pan-regional bank and sets a new standard for premium credit card experiences.
The Mastercard Black credit card represents the pinnacle of Republic Bank’s suite of credit card products, embodying Mastercard’s legacy of quality, reliability, security, and privacy in digital payments. With its sleek vertical design, the card stands as a symbol of sophistication and luxury, tailored to meet the needs of discerning clientele.
Marion Blyden, Managing Director of Republic Bank British Virgin Islands, expressed enthusiasm for the launch, stating, “As the Caribbean’s premier financial services institution, renowned for tailoring solutions to each of our customer segments, Republic Bank is thrilled to debut the Mastercard Black credit card. Offering a credit card of this status is a first for Republic Bank (BVI) and symbolizes our ongoing dedication to ensuring unparalleled service experiences for our clients.”
The Mastercard Black credit card offers a wealth of elite travel benefits designed to cater to the needs of worldly and sophisticated cardholders. In addition to standard credit card perks and quarterly cashback rewards, cardholders can enjoy exclusive advantages such as purchase protection, MasterRental car rental offers, trip inconvenience coverage, MasterAssist Black for comprehensive travel assistance, luggage protection, and more.
Dalton Fowles, Country Manager for Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Eastern Caribbean at Mastercard, emphasized the card’s focus on providing seamless payment experiences and impeccable services.
“Our customers expect and deserve seamless payment experiences and impeccable services at their fingertips, allowing them to do more of what they love,” said Fowles. “The launch of our new Black credit card with Republic Bank fulfills that goal, by providing our cardholders with a suite of exclusive benefits that will enhance their sophisticated lifestyles and guarantee them safe and secure transactions every time.”
The Republic Bank Mastercard Black credit card is now available, and eligible individuals can apply through the bank’s website or by contacting their Client Relationship Manager or Sales Officer for more information.
For more information or to apply for this card, interested persons can visit the website at www.republicbankbvi.com or contact their Client Relationship Manager or Sales Officer.
Business
BVI Financial Investigation Agency and Jersey Financial Services Commission Sign Agreement to Strengthen Cooperation in Tackling Financial Crimes
The Financial Investigation Agency (FIA) of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) has recently strengthened ties with the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 25 October. The agreement formalises a cooperative framework for consultation and information-sharing between the two regulatory bodies, enhancing their oversight in financial regulation.
The MoU signals a shared commitment by the BVI and Jersey to uphold rigorous financial standards and combat financial crimes. By sharing essential intelligence, the FIA and JFSC aim to bolster efforts to detect, prevent, and investigate crimes such as money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.
Errol George, Director of the FIA BVI, expressed the importance of the partnership, stating, “The signing of this MoU establishes a framework for information exchange between the FIA BVI and JFSC, supporting compliance with the laws, regulations, and rules relating to the functions of our Authorities. I am indeed pleased with the progress we are making in the Territory to tackle financial crime.”
Through this agreement, both agencies will, upon request, provide critical information that strengthens regulatory practices across the Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBP) sector. Shared data will include details on corporate structures, management standards, and organisational quality, all essential for effective supervision.
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Business
Virgin Islands Secures $100 Million Loan to Drive Infrastructure and Community Development
Business
FirstBank Customers Accounts Show Zero or Negative Balances Electronically
– Persons Accessing Cash In Bank
This morning account holders at 1FirstBank awoke to discover that their online account balances had disappeared. A widespread issue, affecting both personal and business accounts, has left customers unable to access their funds, with many reporting negative or zero balances on the bank’s digital platform.
The issue was discovered early Tuesday morning when users attempting to log in to their accounts were met with unsettling balances, with some even seeing their accounts marked as overdrawn despite no recent transactions. Several customers described seeing a balance of zero on their account’s home screen despite previously having substantial savings.
“I thought it was just me, but when I called a friend who banks with FirstBank, they had the same problem,” said the account holder. “It’s incredibly stressful, especially since there’s been no word from the bank yet.”
The problem, which seems to have affected customers across the territory, has prompted many to visit local branches in person. Several individuals reported being able to access their accounts once they arrived at the bank. However, the disruption has rendered ATM services and card transactions nonfunctional, leaving customers unable to withdraw cash or make payments.
JTV News reached out to 1FirstBank, where a representative confirmed that the electronic banking system is currently down and the matter is being addressed at the international level. Customers were advised that, for the time being, they would need to visit a branch to resolve any issues, as card swipes and ATM withdrawals were temporarily disabled.
While FirstBank has yet to release an official statement on the cause of the outage, customers are growing increasingly concerned about the safety of their funds. The nature of the problem—whether it is a technical glitch or something more serious like a security breach—remains unclear.
At this stage, it is unknown when the issue will be resolved or if all accounts will be restored to their proper balances.
The financial uncertainty has left both personal and business account holders on edge, with some businesses reporting disruptions in their daily operations due to the inability to access company funds.
JTV News will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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