CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
Calls for urgent reforms and new oversight body
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has criticised banks in Antigua and Barbuda for what he described as persistently poor customer service, calling for urgent improvements across the sector.
Speaking at the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) chairmanship handover ceremony, Mr Browne said some financial institutions operating in Antigua and Barbuda consistently fail to meet basic service standards.
He cited an incident where customers were left standing in the sun for hours, with no tents or shelter provided.
“It’s unacceptable,” he said. “Good service is good business.”
The Prime Minister, who also serves as Finance Minister, accused some banking staff of prioritising position over public service and announced plans to fast-track the creation of an Office of Financial Conduct and Inclusion to monitor behaviour in the financial sector.
In a strong message to the industry, Mr Browne said poor service undermines business activity and regional development, warning banks to reassess their operations amid growing global competition.
“Service is love,” he concluded. “Let’s show some love and serve our people graciously and efficiently.”
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
That is not the first time the PM has called them out. And things have since improved, but not yet to the point where the banks really put customers first. Sometimes you call the bank and no one ever answers the phone. And when you do get to speak to someone they tell you they will call you back. You will never get that call. And making an appointment to speak to someone to open an account, be it a savings or investment CD, it is still months away that they will schedule you.
But ANR the PM had much more to say then this. I’m awaitingn to see if you guys will publish what he charged the ECCB to do with regards to their investment portfolio. The governor could only shake his head and said he will not go to bed early tonight and warn his team to get ready for this chairman is not easy. We have a great leader in the person of Gaston Browne whether we like him or not. The outside world is recognizing him. But like alway, a king has no honor in his own country.
Gaston Browne is absolutely correct in regards to customer service care in thev Antiguan banking sector.
For instance, some time ago the bank that I use to use, had an online mobile banking system, and it crashed when I wanted to view it.
So here this!
So I went into the bank to get a statement and transaction details. After I explained that THEIR online system was down (which they also acknowledged), the teller wanted to charge me a fee of $20-$40 dollars. No way!!!
The bank teller couldn’t see the error of his ways, and wouldn’t waiver this exorbitant fee.
Suffice to say, shortly afterwards I closed down that particular account and moved to another bank.
Been saying this for a while, since covid19 the service have never been the same. Months to get an appointment. Weeks to get a bank card and days for a call back. BS..
These banks need to adjust their hours and open on weekends. I see ACB is now opened at one branch on Saturdays but that’s not enough. Other banks need to follow suit as many people are working during “banking hours” and their customer service phone lines are usually shit (though I have had good experiences with ECAB’s customer service phone lines. CIBC is the worse though.) On top of all that, they rarely have enough tellers working, so processes are painfully slow, and the online services they offer are the bare minimum.
Antigua Barbuda Development Bank have me wait months for a simple letter to say that a loan was paid off. I swear they are running a ponzi scheme with ppl money. Service is horrid and the GM hides in her office refusing to see you in person no matter how you ask and wait.
hahahahaha. I saw he and he ECAB manager hugging after the ceremony, so all is well with them, No hard feelings
@Brixtonian July 18, 2025 At 10:51 am
Brix I can’t believe that I lived to see the day that you would write these words, “Gaston Browne is absolutely correct in regards to customer service care in thev Antiguan banking sector.”. I won’t call you out on how you address our Prime Minister because after all it was hard for you to do so. But as the Bible says, With God All things are possible. Saul became Paul after being filled with the Holy Spirit. I pray for your transformation to leave the hatred behind you.
@Banking in Antigua Sucks! July 18, 2025 At 12:08 pm
Very sad isn’t it. I had the same experience once with my bank wanting a letter for a car loan that was paid off. It took the bank over a year to provide me with the letter. And that was something long ago. Nothing to do with the bad customer service these days
@Juju Bee July 18, 2025 At 12:49 pm
Just tells you the Prime Minister is not personal with he reprimand the banks. he only wants to see them do better. For the sake of the country. I hope they take heed. but some people just have egoes to feed. And when they are fired from the job they cannot keep their heads up high.
@JuJu .. Cool.. Michael is a good guy. My take is ECAB needs technical help. They need case management software and a proper team. They listen, try, but don’t solve most issues. Over 3 years now I still can’t use my ecab debit card online to pay Sagicor
While I agree with the Honourable Prime Minister about his concerns in terms of the banks, creating another bureaucracy that is hopeless and toothless is counter-productive. Fix the many instances of poor and substandard service at many existing government entities and Statutory Bodies, chief among them APUA. Antigua badly needs an independent regulator in order to oversee and protect the consumers in the all too familiar bad electricity, water, telephone and internet services. We often cry but our cries are in vain because as it now stands, government is both the service provider and the regulator. And even as I write this, someone is texting me and complaining about the horrible service at the Hospital.
The customer service itself needs improvement in the banks. The attitude by alot of the staff members is awful, rude to say the least. Maybe classes needs to be offered in the customer service field.
@tenman July 18, 2025 At 1:26 pm
Tenman, just like the Cricket West Indies, ECAB needs a new Chairman and a new General Manager. Spencer cannot handle things. And when the top slack the middle and bottom will drop off. When you go into ECAB whether at Coolidge or the other branches, you will not see the management staff and supervisors. They are in the back sitting behind their lovely desks enjoying the quietness of the job. Not hearing or seeing the customers. When I go to the Coolidge branch my favorite I’m sometime lucky to catch Spencer leaving to go for lunch. He doesn’t even spend a minute to great his customers to show his appreciation for their business. He is not a people’s person and that while he is a Rotarian. Which stands for Service above self. Very strange.
Me no really back you politically, but now you a mek frigging sense, all the banks in Antigua are guilty, they do not give a crap about their customers and with us they wouldn’t exist
I would not praise GB for someone’s else cry..there are many regular citizens who have cried about the woefully bad service all across the board in Antigua, but when we call it out, hypocrites like @Tenman and @less we forget are quick to claim that we hate our island and don’t want to see it move forward.
I will continue to say that Antigua should have been 10-15 years ahead of where it is today given the hand that was dealt to this current administration.
I don’t want to hear crap from this leader, he has too long ignored the cry of his very own people.. and for the record, he’s not originator of this argument for better service in all sectors in Antigua, but here comes the hypocrites jumping to praise him.
Well I won’t, because in my book, this man is a ” Monday morning quarter back’
Bout hate..no one hates GB, they just love their island and are passionate about it.
@gaston brown: I warn you from been fake and seeking attention making mockery of empathy for bank customers you know, you destroyed banking in Antigua by killing the options that would have been there to create a competitive market, that’s when you yap your mouth in Scotia sales to republic bank, in that case ecab would be competing instead of punishing the customers. Now you are coming as savior now to rescue your victims that you created.
That should be (without us) they wouldn’t exist
It is Antigua guys, these incompetence are the custom. Even a PM will outright provide the worst customer service. The chief of the staff for the PM horrible. The PM will tell you he will not waste time assisting you from the unreasonable, and unfair delays of government agencies. I have never in my life heard a politician refuse to help anyone until I went to ABLP, and they all did. Everyone of my city council member, mayor, US senator and representative helped me by simply requesting the applications submitted in the US to be expedited. But the Antigua and Barbuda ABLP government, everyone of them ignore my request for assistance, the worst customer service I have ever had in my life. And I am a customer of all those banks, and they are horrible but nothing near the customer service of ABLP that I have gotten.
This is all BS.
There are numerous tech companies (startups) that can turn this around in 120 days.
It would result in 50 percent of the staffing being made redundant.
The local politics not ready for this.
Last time The Governor of The ECCB
visited Antigua for consultations he spent his time planting a tree at Novelle Richards and flew over to Barbuda to have lunch at Nobu.
Everyone has forgotten his $22 million house under construction and no report.
When you folks allow the politicians to play you day after day year a bunch of simplistic promises while they talk about Ai which they absolutely knows nothing about.
If Ai were to be most private and Government operations, half of Antigua would be out of work.
The high bank fees is necessary to cover the unproductive staff cost.
Nice try @ Less We Forget, I won’t take your IRRELIGIOUS bait. The banking system in Antigua leaves a lot to be desired (and has been like this for many a year now); and when Browne has highlighted their shortcomings in the past many agreed.
So your talk about hating on him was always off.
HE’S JUST NOT FIT TO RUN THE COUNTRY!!!
You utter lunatic.
While you fixing the bank’s customer service, fix the service in the government offices as well please. Just this week I had two bad experiences in Inland Revenue and Social Security. The pot calling the kettle black smh
Gaston play you folks day after day time after time.
Hate to use the word idiocy; but the facts and history are there to prove it.
There is a mountain of evidence. It’s mind boggling when Gaston’s supporters sugar coat it a positive step. It’s an empty gesture.
Go back and look at the BS meeting with Permanent Secretaries after the teachers strike. The entire cadre of Permanent Secretaries were to under go training in efficiency.
With these Empty promises has anyone noticed any difference between the past and current level of response or more efficient Government operations.
Comments are closed.