**Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)** was the first international bank to set up operations in The Bahamas, arriving in 1908 and for the next 30 years was the only non-government provider of banking services to Bahamians. This year, the financial institution celebrates 100 Years. Congratulations!
Speaking at a recent “Service of Thanksgiving” to recognise the anniversary, the Hon. Tommy Turnquest, Minister of National Security, brought greetings from the Prime Minister and the Government. He noted that RBC became the Government’s bank in its early years and, today, remains the primary banking institution for the Government. He noted that the history of RBC reflects the changing course in history and development of The Bahamas as banking became a requirement for more than the small, wealthy business elite. The impressive number of “firsts in The Bahamas” for RBC includes computerized banking, computer customized financing for students and professionals, multi-user client cards, automated banking machines and Internet Banking. The Minister spoke to the important role RBC has played as a good corporate citizen, noting that in addition to serving tens of thousands of Bahamian clients, the bank supports numerous charities and contributes more than $10 million annually to the economy.
RBC’s Head of Banking for the Caribbean, Ross McDonald, points out that RBC’s commitment to The Bahamas is due to its close ties to the people. *”We are a part of local history,”* he said, continuing *”Our growth has been driven by the need to deliver more services and accessibility to the people of The Bahamas.”*
RBC considers corporate responsibility to include ethical business practices, having a positive economic impact, operating with integrity in the marketplace, providing a supportive workplace, being environmentally sustainable and contributing to communities. RBC was named one of the world’s top 100 sustainable companies, according to the fourth annual “Global 100” ranking unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week. This is the fourth consecutive year that RBC has been named to the Global 100 list. Last year, RBC was named the top large company in the world at effectively managing environmental risks and opportunities by Newsweek magazine.