Giovanni Browne, a resident of Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, was all smiles on Sunday evening after he drove out of the Guyana National Stadium with a brand-new SUV, compliments of the Guyana Bank for Trade & Industry Limited (GBTI).
Browne, who is a customer at the Diamond Branch, was the grand prize winner of GBTI’s “Drive Home” promotion – a promotion specifically designed to reward persons applying for loans through the banking institution.
Excited Giovanni Browne in his new car (Jemima Holmes photo)
Browne entered the promotion after qualifying for a loan from the bank.
An excited Browne said that he is grateful for the GBTI staff who have helped him “tremendously” since he signed up as a customer.
“The staff there have worked with me tremendously, been through thick and thin with me, been helping me piece by piece and I’m very grateful [to] them,” he said.
Browne, who is a Logistics Coordinator, said that it is a dream come true for him.
“Right now, how I feel; I’m very speechless. This is a dream come true. God has been step by step with me. And I just want to say thank you. Thank you to GBTI.”
GBTI wrapped up its 6-week-long promotion at the International Building Expo on Sunday evening. The promotion began on June 17.
Public Relations and Marketing Manager of GBTI, Pamela Binda said that the “Drive Home” campaign was specifically designed to tie in with the International Building Expo so that they could work with the Government to make financing for homes more readily available for Guyanese.
“So it’s essentially our driver campaign was specifically made to tie into Building Expo so that we can work together with the Government in making financing for homes more available to Guyanese out there,” she said.
Persons had to be approved or preapproved between June 17 to July 24 to automatically enter the promotion.
Binda said that the bank received an overwhelming response from persons applying for loans to construct their homes. She said that over 100 persons were approved during the promotion period.
“So, we had an overwhelming response of entrance, both in branch as well as online. The amount of persons that we had that were actually approved, was over 100,” she noted.
She said that the bank continues to receive inquiries and applications from persons.
“We keep getting inquiries, we keep getting a lot of applications. And one of the things we noted is that you know what, Guyanese need to have access to finance their own home. And actually, GBTI saw that even before Building Expo we saw to even reduce our rates. So, we made it more competitive for persons who come to us and make us their first banker. So our interest rate is 3.99, the lowest in the market right now.”
A washer from innovations America, a bed and mattress from Comfort Sleep, and a mobile phone were also given to GBTI customers as consultation prizes.
The International Building Expo will come to an end this evening evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, EBD, after it was extended by the Ministry of Housing and Water on Saturday following positive reviews and overwhelming support from visitors and exhibitors.
The expo, which is being held under the theme “A New Frontier For Building a One Guyana” was slated to conclude on Sunday.
