ScotiaBank (Bahamas) yesterday revealed to The Tribune that it planned to launch telephone and Internet banking operations by year-end, but it denied claims that its initiative to automate front-office positions would result in staff lay-offs.
Market sources had told The Tribune that efforts to generate increased efficiencies and customer benefits through utilising technology were set to result in some front-office positions being made redundant, with severance packages allegedly being offered to staff, but ScotiaBank yesterday said “nobody will be replaced.”
The bank added that there was “no truth to the cliam that any position within the teller line or retail banking section would be made redundant.
With a “no redundancy policy” in place, Anthony Allen, Scotiabank’s managing director, confirmed that regrdless of the introduction of automation in key areas, the bank would first seek to reposition staff members affected by the technology upgrade in alternative positions made available through the bank’s ongoing expansion efforts.
In a continuing effort to upgrade, modernise and improve its systems, Scotiabank expects to open a Telephone and Internet Banking Centre and an Internet Banking operation by the end of 2003.
Source: Yolanda Deleveaux, The Tribune
