St. John’s Credit Union Breaks Ground for New Head Office
It has been around since 1946 and over the decades, has grown from strength to strength, opening offices in Belize City, Belmopan and Dangriga. Now, in its seventy-seventh year of existence, Saint John’s Credit Union Limited is looking to construct a new head office on the north side of Belize City. The building will be located on Buttonwood Bay Boulevard where a groundbreaking ceremony was held today for the new facility. Coupled with bigger, more spacious offices and additional teller booths, the credit union also plans to expand its automated teller machine services to more areas across the country. News Five’s Marion Ali was there for the ceremony and filed this report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The symbolic shoveling of dirt this morning at this location on Buttonwood Bay Boulevard marked the start of construction for a new headquarters for Saint John’s Credit Union. Now in its seventy-seventh year, the lending institution is about to transfer the bulk of its operations from the south side to the north side of the city.
Alvan Haynes
Alvan Haynes, President, Board of Directors, St. John’s Credit Union Ltd.
“We are looking to construct our brand new headquarters building, much larger, modern, ergonomic building to serve our growing membership. We’re now approaching thirty thousand members. This building will be multi-story and will house all the departments at headquarters and of course serve as an operating branch offering services to members. It’s actually sitting on three lots, L-shaped and the building is going to take up most of that. We’re hoping to have a drive-through facility as well as usual walk-in for customers.”
While Alvan Haynes, president of the credit union’s Board of Directors, spoke to the future of the institution future, General Manager Daisy Dawson was there almost four decades ago when its existing head office was constructed on Basra Street.
Daisy Dawson
Daisy Dawson, General Manager, St. John’s Credit Union
“It originally started at St. John’s Primary School on Albert Street, and then it transitioned in 1984 to Basra Street where the headquarters is now located. And so we have grown exponentially in the last seventy-seven years. In 1991, we opened our Belmopan branch, and then in 2011, we went to Dangriga and then 2018 on the north side of Belize City. When I came to St John’s it was in 1984, and we were less than one million dollars in assets. Today we’re over 100 million dollars in assets, so we have seen the growth over the years.”
With a new building now in the pipeline, St John’s Credit Union will be able to expand its services.
Alvan Haynes
“Other than looking at offering a drive-through service at the moment, we obviously continue with technology where we’re utilizing online platforms and offering services on a continuous basis. We’re looking at establishing more A.T.M’s, putting in our own A.T.M network. Right now we are on a shared network, which has some restrictions and therefore allowing members to do business wherever they are across the country, utilizing other credit unions, it, it and banks, if possible.”
The building is estimated to cost between four and six million dollars. Marion Ali for News Five.
