Array of banking services awaits at Bank of Saipan

The new Bank of Saipan headquarters located along Beach Road in Chalan Lau Lau. (BEA CABRERA)

For over 40 years, Bank of Saipan carried the reputation of being “CNMI’s local bank” because they have been investing and promoting economic development of people and businesses in the Marianas. On Monday, they launched their new branch along Beach Road with their impressive modern façade, spacious floor plans, and invigorating interiors that make banking transactions unintimidating, smooth and convenient.

At the launch, they announced three services that includes Teller Pods where tellers can actually leave their stations and greet the customers at the door, find out what they need help with, and then bring them over to their stations; the rebrand of its online banking now called EaSi Banking and Mobile; and lastly, EaSi Business where clients can do basically any kind of bank transaction that they would normally do in the bank or in the presence of a teller except getting cash.

Aside from these, there are more services that await clients, according to Bank of Saipan president/CEO John Z. Arroyo. “One thing new for the island is our 24-hour ATM vestibule. You’ve probably seen these elsewhere in the [United States] but primarily the ATM will be in that area and operational even after hours,” he said

“The unique thing about this is its security feature. The doors are locked but our debit card customers can use their card to swipe and unlock the door and inside, they’re in a secure place and do their business. When they’re ready to leave, they just push the button on the handle on the door. The lock releases and they’re gone,” he added.

For large business customers that come in with their cash sales, depositing them would be efficient. “This kind of transaction tends to take more time than a regular retail customer and in getting through those transactions. Now, there is no need to wait in line because we have one Teller Pod available just for that,” Arroyo said.

“We also do have a secure cash room in the back so if somebody does come in with an extra-large amount of cash and they want the additional security, we can bring them back into a private room where they could sit well, have a cup of coffee while we do their business for them,” he added.

Arroyo said that their services does not only extend to people who come to their bank. “A couple months ago, we launched our financial literacy program, an actual video on our YouTube page. It’s the first in a number of series of educational videos that we are planning to produce to help individuals, beginning with kids between 5 and 10 years old to understand money, know how difficult it is to get and why they should practice spending money wisely,” he said,

“The next video should be launched probably within the next 60 days or so and eventually, You know, we’ll be producing videos that are intended for high school, middle school, high school-aged kids, and then kids who are, getting out of high school, maybe getting into the workplace for the first time or off to college. It will include lessons about credit, opening up bank accounts, you know using responsibly a debit card and also about if they’re going into work about earning money,” he added.

Arroyo said that the community can expect these services and more specifically for the Marianas. “We are a bank just for the Marianas, not for Guam, not for Hawaii, not for anywhere else but just for the Marianas and that’s how Bank of Saipan was born and we have been doing that. We don’t do business anywhere but here.”

“All of our earnings are generated and invested here, all the deposits that we take all come from here and the use of those deposits the loans we make are just to the people who live here. So that that is the story of Bank of Saipan—a local bank exclusively for the people and businesses in the CNMI,” he added

Bank of Saipan has branches on Beach Road Chalan Lau Lau and Garapan. They are open from 9am to 4pm, Monday-Thursday; from 9am to 4pm on Friday; and from 10am to 12pm on Saturday. For more information, call (670) 6260.

Spacious, well lit and clean—the new look of Bank of Saipan. (BEA CABRERA)