By Augustine B. Kollie
augustinekollie87@yahoo.com
augustinekollie87@yahoo.com
Accra-Chairman of the Board of Directors of South Side Chicago based ISF Bank, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has announced that the USA banking regulator, the Office of the Controller of the Currency (OCC), has approved the changing of the name of the ISF Bank started in 1934 by 13 black men to become GN Bank, USA.
Dr Nduom made the disclosure while addressing the annual Customer Appreciation Gala of the bank in Chicago on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.
Consequently, he disclosed: “our regulator, the Office of the Controller of the Currency has given us the approval to change the name of this bank to GN BANK.”
This, he said, will come to fruition in July this year.
“As part of this change, we are offering a new premium account that will pay 1.8% interest on new funds deposited for a minimum of 12 months (terms and conditions apply),” he added.
He explained that there was no American bank focusing on the African-Caribbean market, stating that it was their intention to turn the 84-year-old Chicago bank into a local and international powerhouse.
In 1934, thirteen black men started the Illinois Service Federal Savings & Loans Association.
“We know that it was black women who ran the bank and made it work. The ISF Bank as it has come to be known has supported many to acquire their first homes and start their own businesses. On April 29, 2016, the Nduom family Obtained Change of Control approval from the Office of the Controller of the Currency (OCC) on April 29, 2016 to acquire the bank,” Dr Nduom recounted.
According to him, “Since then, new capital, directors and management personnel have been added to diversify and strengthen corporate governance.
I am pleased to note that ISF Bank has become more stable, safe and ready and able to serve this community for several more decades unlimited to come.
I am pleased to note that ISF Bank has become more stable, safe and ready and able to serve this community for several more decades unlimited to come.
Tonight, I wish to inform you of some more positive changes to come.”
Dr Nduom, who is the President and Chairman of Groupe Nduom conglomerate, disclosed plans were far-advanced to grow this bank to become a $1 billion strong national financial institution headquartered in the south side of Chicago.
“Many of you know about mobile wallet products such as Zelle. In July, we intend to introduce our own mobile banking wallet product called PayGlobal. We plan to work hard to convince merchants in our community – the store around the corner, restaurants such as Peaches, Marianos and the rest to accept payments using this product so you do not have to carry cash with you,” he further disclosed.
According to Dr Nduom, his outfit was currently a federally regulated national thrift, noting, however, that “We will change this to become a federally regulated national bank with branches in Wisconsin, Virginia, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and Washington, DC to begin with.”
Again, the president & chairman of GN said the process to acquire trust powers will start soon.
“We have decided to give the ISF Bank a boost by rebranding it. First, a bit of history of Illinois-Service Federal Savings and Loan Association mergers and acquisitions: 1976-09-30Acquired Service Federal Savings and Loan Association in CHICAGO, IL1982-03-31Acquired Morgan Park Savings and Loan Association in CHICAGO, IL2011-07-21Changed primary regulatory agency from OFFICE OF THRIFT SUPERVISION to COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY2014-06-25Changed organisation type to MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK2016-04-28Changed organization type to STOCK SAVINGS BANK.”
…Our bank is about to change to serve you better. Our family has developed an internationally known banking brand called GN Bank, which started off as a savings and loans company and has grown to become an international bank with more than 300 branches. We believe the time has come to bring that brand here to give assurance that this bank is here to stay and will remain African-American owned.”
ISF Bank, (which will soon become GN Bank), Dr Nduom intimated, will invest in technology, noting that “our people and sow our ideas bountifully.”