The Bankers Association of St. Lucia Inc. (BASL) earlier this week announced its welcoming of a brand-new President: Mr. Samuel Agiste, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Management Studies and over two decades of experience in national, regional and international banking matters in local and regional commercial banks.
According to the BASL statement, the new President is the Acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the 1st National Bank (St. Lucia) Limited and he took office on Thursday, May 23.
Mr. Agiste is also a Registered Representative licensed by the Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission (ECSRC). The statement says he “brings a wealth of expertise to his new role.”
Tthe association’s statement further states that his “extensive knowledge of the industry, combined with his leadership skills and vision, will prove valuable as he assumes the esteemed position.”
The BASL statement disclosed the experienced banker will lead the association with the assistance and cooperation of a new Executive Team comprising “a cadre of banking professionals” from across the local banking and financial spectrum.
The new executive team includes: Vice President, Mrs Gezella Claxton, who’s the Senior Country Lead at Republic Bank (EC) Limited); Secretary is Ms. Joralee Preville, Corporate Secretary at Financial Investment and Consultancy Services (FICS) Limited; Public Relations Officer (PRO) is Mrs. Arleta Rate-Mitchel, the Senior Manager for Retail Banking at Bank of Saint Lucia Limited (BOSL); and the Treasurer is Ms. Leona Edward, the Finance Manager at Sagicor Finance Inc.
BASL indicated too, that President Agiste “brings over-20 years of experience within the Banking, Finance, Accounting and Investments sectors.”
Currently serving as 1st National Bank’s Chief Administrative Officer (Acting), Agiste’s daily professional corporate responsibilities include “Investments, Cards, Premises, Policies and Procedures, Operational Control and Projects.”
The new president previously served as the 1st National Bank’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Finance Manager, but before joining 1st National Bank, he was the Operations Manager at the First Citizens Investment Services’ (St. Lucia) office, as part of a team “offering brokerage and investment services throughout the Eastern Caribbean.”
Mr. Aggiste was also responsible for “overseeing investment trading, liquidity management, repo trading, client services and business development” at the First Citizens local branch.
According to the BASL statement, the Acting Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at the island’s first national commercial bank “is responsible for coordination and operationalization of all new initiatives set forth in the areas of investment, corporate banking and wealth management, therefore contributing to the expansion and achievement of its strategic goals and initiatives.”
A Registered Representative licensed by the Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission (ECSRC), the new BASL president says he “recognizes that integrity is not merely a buzzword, but a fundamental pillar for sustainable banking practices.”
He also “firmly believes that this is the bedrock upon which trust and reputation are built.”
As Mr Agiste sees it, “In the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU), where financial institutions play a critical role in the region’s economic stability, maintaining trust is paramount.”
He, therefore, “champions transparency, ethical conduct and accountability” as “essential components of banking integrity, with decisions reflecting not only financial acumen, but also unwavering adherence to moral principles.”
The new Bankers Association President encourages others to “prioritize integrity in their roles, fostering a culture of trust within the ECCU banking community.”