BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (SKNIS) — A steady stream of depositors, descendants and heirs of depositors of the defunct Bank of Commerce are daily filing into the main branch of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank in order to claim for the money deposited into the bank before its collapse 30 years ago.
One Bank of Commerce depositor, Bridget Esdaille of Newton Ground, said that receiving the check was unexpected.
“I did not think that I would have gotten it because it had gone way out of my mind; I forgot all about this,” Ms. Esdaille said. “I did not know that it would have come in useful.”
She also expressed gratitude.
“I am feeling grateful to know that I am the beneficiary of this cheque here and it’s very pleasing to me and I’m going to make good use of it,” she said. “For the moment I don’t have any plans but I’ll put it there and if anything comes up I will use it.”
While Ms. Esdaille’s case was straightforward and she received her cheque immediately, other depositors such as Arlene Isaac-Bernier of Verchilds had to get additional documentation.
“I had to get something clarified so that I can come back and get the cheque,” she explained, noting that the last time she deposited money on the account was in the early 1980s. I put on $400 because I get it from having a baby, so the money I get back from Social Security I put it there. I already had money on the account but that was the last time I know I went to the bank.”
Chief Retail Banking Officer of National Bank, Donald Thompson, had revealed that numerous persons had come earlier on January 12, but the amount had slowed down to a trickle by midmorning. Persons inquiring whether their names were on the list of possible recipients were among the people who continue to process into the bank.
The Bank of Commerce failed in 1982 but the legal process for liquidation took place over a 30 year period.