Donation
will help countries purchase crucial testing kits

George
Town,
Cayman Islands
30 March 2020 – Regional bank CIBC FirstCaribbean is moving to
assist countries across the region to purchase much-needed COVID –
19 testing kits.

The
bank, through its charitable arm the FirstCaribbean International
ComTrust Foundation, will donate a total of USD$250,000 toward the
purchase of the kits in the countries across its regional footprint.
The bank will make the donation through its various operating
companies across the Caribbean.

Chief
Executive Officer of the bank and Chair of the foundation Ms. Colette
Delaney made the announcement noting: “testing was one of the main
weapons in the arsenal against the spread of the disease”.

She
added: “community spread is one of the main ways the virus is
transmitted and testing is key to identify, isolate and treat those
affected and limit its spread”.

Ms.
Delaney thanked the region’s “public health leadership, medical
professionals and frontline workers and others involved in the
essential work of keeping our communities safe and functioning during
this very difficult time”.

The
donation follows the bank’s recent announcements of a suite of
relief assistance to eligible clients including:

• 6-month
  payment moratoria on existing loans and mortgages.
  
• Temporary
  revolving or working capital financing options for our Corporate
  Banking and Business Banking clients.
  
• A
  special waiver of late payment fees and default interest to all
  eligible Retail, Business, Banking, Corporate Investment Banking and
  Wealth Management Clients effective for the 6 month moratorium
  period for existing loans and mortgages.
  
• Credit
  card holders automatically benefitting from a payment waiver for
  three (3) months based on their current account standing.
  
  

Ms.
Delaney noted: “Our response has been in the spirit of partnership
that has always existed between the bank and the people of the
region. This two-pronged approach has allowed us to not only
contribute to the national response in each of the countries in which
we operate, but to directly assist our clients who are affected”.

Ms.
Delaney also noted that many of the bank’s staff are choosing to
make personal donations to the various relief programmes in their
islands across the Caribbean and thanked them for their generosity.

“Our
employees are known for their calm and professional response,
particularly in a crisis. We thank them for their generosity and
commitment to continuing to provide service to our clients in these
most unusual of circumstances.”

CIBC
FirstCaribbean has a staff of approximately 3,000 across 16 Caribbean
countries.