1st National Bank Brings Joy to Children Island-Wide

In this season of good will and sharing, and well-ahead of the National Day and Christmas 2023 observances, 1st National Bank (Saint Lucia) Ltd. last Saturday scored yet another first: It distributed over 2,500 Christmas gifts to children island-wide.

The bank started the round-the-island ‘Travelling Santa’ ride from Gros Islet, the island’s largest and most populous constituency (and where its headquarters is also based) tending to children from the town, as well as surrounding communities like Cas-en-Bas, Beausejour, Monchy and Babonneau.

The 1st National Bank’s motorized cavalcade headed next to Derek Walcott Square in Castries, where more gifts were distributed to children in the city.

Next stops were along the West Coast: at the Anse-La-Raye  vendors market, the Canaries Primary School, the Soufriere Square, the Choiseul vendors market and the Philip Marcelin Ground in the southern town of Vieux Fort.

Darkness fell before the bank’s ‘Traveling Santa’ was able to get to the Patience Combined School in Micoud and the Dennery Multipurpose Facility, but the toys were dropped-off by Santa in both villages for distribution to the waiting children.

1st National’s Managing Director Fletcher St. Jean says, “The bank is extremely pleased to continue to fulfil our  ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ as the only truly indigenous bank, to bring joy to the children of Saint Lucia, around the island.”

He also noted that “With our focus on Community Banking and taking our services to people where they live, we also took the opportunity last weekend to show our appreciation for Saint Lucia’s support by bringing happiness to the island’s children in the city, its three towns and six villages that are located in the island’s ten districts.”

The MD also said he and the bank’s team “were happy to see the thankful smiles on the faces of the thousands of children we reached-out to and touched with our toy gifts for boys and girls… It was simply amazing!”

Meanwhile, during Business Month 2023 in November, the Ministry of Commerce paid special tribute to 11 local companies over 50-years-old, with Commerce Minister Emma Hippolyte also paying tribute to 1st National Bank, which has been around for 85 years.