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Digital finance campaign comes to Grand Bahama

Grand Bahama residents are to be given the chance to explore digital finance with a community forum on Wednesday, October 22.

The Future of Pay Community Forum event will present solutions to islanders facing the ongoing challenge of living and working without convenient access to brick-and-mortar banking facilities.

Central Bank of The Bahamas governor John Rolle will be the keynote speaker, while there will be presentations from the Bank of The Bahamas, Fidelity Bank, Kanoo, the Teachers and Salaried Workers Credit Union, FCIB and Commonwealth Bank, including demonstrations of live online banking and digital wallets. There will also be giveaways and door prizes.

This is the latest in a series of events around islands of The Bahamas. Mr. Rolle said after an event in Andros in August: “Hearing directly from financial services firms with more understanding of products and platforms is extremely valuable.”

The forum will be held from 5pm-8pm at Christ The King Hall in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Admission is free.

The Master of Ceremonies will be Felix Bowe Jr, the Economic Development Committee Chair of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, and the welcome will be given by Carina Ferguson, Treasurer and Budget and Finance Committee Vice-Chair. Closing remarks will be given by Dillon Knowles, President of Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce.

The series of Family Island town halls has been spearheaded by Central Bank and the Clearing Banks Association as part of a Live Digital educational campaign designed to build awareness of practical solutions to what, for many, can be a frustrating experience with finding ways to pay or get paid.

Mr. Rolle said the events are an opportunity to explain in detail – and in person – a number of payment solutions that would eliminate anxiety over paying bills, depositing funds, arranging loans or even applying for credit.

The Pay Fast, Live Digital campaign is a two-year initiative designed to increase the public level of comfort with digital payments that include credit cards, digital wallets, money transfers, cash apps, online banking and peer-to-peer payments. The aim is to create a widespread understanding of how individuals can pay and receive payments digitally.