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Banco Popular Opens New Sugar Estate Branch

May 28, 2007 — On Memorial Day, a day when most banks are closed, Banco Popular staged a grand opening of its new Sugar Estate Branch.
It is not often that one goes to the bank and has seasoned shrimp, fruit and champagne, but that was the case for the large crowd that assembled to witness the official ribbon cutting and to celebrate the opening. There was plenty of food, lots of music and no lines.
There was also the smell of fresh paint and new carpet in the bright, 5000-square-foot bank. Bank officials, local dignitaries and customers attended the festive opening.
The mistress of ceremonies for the late-afternoon event was Oran Bowry, vice president of operations, who greeted the public and introduced and thanked the bank's employees.
“They sometimes worked until two in the morning, and worked right up until the last minute putting on the final touches,” Bowry said. “We are very grateful to the entire team, which is led by branch manager Beverly Harvey Mercer.”
There was a rousing round of applause as Mercer introduced the entire staff of the bank.
After the Very Reverend Neil Scantlebury of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral delivered the invocation, Chief of Staff Raymond Williams spoke, representing Lt. Governor Gregory Francis. He congratulated the bank on its opening.
Valentino I. McBean, Banco Popular's senior vice president and regional manager, served as keynote speaker for the short ceremony. He told a bit of Banco Popular’s history and described how the banking industry has changed.
“I have been in banking for many moons and been in all areas of it,” McBean said. “There have been a myriad of changes, and the consumer has demanded an expansion of branches and services. If you don’t provide those services, you are out of business. We concentrate on service and on doing things better and just a little bit differently.”
The official ribbon cutting was performed by, McBean, Bowry, Williams and Mercer.
“I am just overjoyed,” Mercer said as she stood beaming with her honorary scissors in hand. “This is my very first ribbon cutting ever, and I hope it is not my last.”
Banco Popular currently has 240 employees within the V.I. region and is the largest FDIC-insured institution in the territory. It has 200 branches throughout the Caribbean and more than $43 billion in assets.
During the ceremony, music filled the parking lot and drew attention from passing motorists. It was supplied by the St. Thomas All Star Steel Orchestra, which is sponsored by Banco Popular.
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