Photo Caption: Leesa Kow (left), managing director, JN Bank shares information with JN members Carmen and Richard Hedman at a JN Members’ Meeting in Morant Bay, St Thomas last February. The event was held at Morant Villas in St. Thomas parish capital. The event was the first in a series of meetings by the bank to provide its members and the public with practical information on ways to protect themselves from fraud, especially card skimming. Other meetings have been held in Manchester and St Ann to date.
JN Bank’s managing director, Leesa Kow and a law enforcement official are encouraging Jamaicans to get educated and practise safe banking rather than fear financial technology.
The bank, among the country’s top three, delivered the advice during a series of meetings organised and hosted for JN members in St Thomas, Manchester, and St Ann to educate them and residents of the parishes about safe banking practices. The meetings were held February through to March.
Encouraging Education and Safe Banking
“We appreciate you feeling the way you do,” managing director of JN Bank, Leesa Kow, gently responded to a St Thomas member who expressed concern about the universal transition to digital and electronic formats of banking at the meeting held at Morant Villas in Morant Bay in February.
She pointed out that all methods of banking involve their own risks, therefore, being aware and always practising safety is important for all consumers.
“I want to remind you that everything we do has its ups and downs, because if you were not to use an ATM card and you use only cash, then you’re also exposed… because you still have persons, whether it is a branch they go to or leaving an ATM, they get robbed,” she reasoned with the member.
“What we want you to do by providing you with the ATMs and online banking- and you still have access to your friendly team members at the branch- is to have choices. And as I said earlier, don’t be too predictable,” Ms Kow advised, pointing out that by not maintaining a regular routine when banking, reduces opportunities for criminals to observe one’s movements and plan attacks.
She continued: “Sometimes you may come to the branch, [other times] you can use an ATM. And get yourself online,” she advised, pointing to doing online banking, “because whenever you go online you can see what is happening in your account,” she said, highlighting that each channel is embedded with meticulous safety features to protect JN members.
Deputy Superintendent’s Perspective
The JN Bank managing director was supported by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Warren Williams, second in command at the Communication Forensics and Cybercrimes Division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, who also addressed members in St Thomas and Manchester. He reminded residents that no technology, method, or channel is flawless.
“Nothing is 100 per cent perfect,” he underscored. “While I understand how you feel, I want to tell you don’t be scared of it. Just be educated and be careful. Forums like these will help you to be aware of the dos and the don’ts,” he said, reiterating that technology will change, and to function, persons must adapt.
“I believe you must have choices and flexibility, but at some point, it (the old ways of doing things) is going to phase out and the world is going to transition to those methods that are most effective and easier to use,” he said.
Importance of Updated Information
In addition to education, Ms Kow told residents to also ensure that their financial institutions have current information about them, such as their cell phone and other contact numbers, email addresses and mailing address. She said this information is important so that institutions can protect their customers.
“If we don’t have information on you, we can’t verify that the person who used your account wasn’t you,” she said.
She added: “We also have an obligation as a bank to have certain information about you- it’s just a part of the law that we must have some information about you. We encourage you to ensure that information is always up to date, because when we do not, that also exposes you,” she urged.
The face-to-face series of JN Members’ Meeting were organised to provide practical information on how to bank safely and protect oneself from criminals. The meetings were held on February 1 in Morant Bay, March 13 in Mandeville and on March 27 in Ocho Rios.
Partnering for Protection
“You must be vigilant,” Ms Kow urged JN members. “You can’t rely on the agencies of the state and the institutions you’ve always relied on alone to protect you to do all the work. Your participation is also required,” she entreated JN members and residents attending the meetings.
She called for partnership with citizens.
“Your partnership with us is also critical to avoid or minimise the impact the attempts by criminals to fleece you of your hard-earned money or to cause you inconvenience may have,” she said.
“And how do we want you to partner with us? We want you to be aware of what’s happening. Stay on top of things happening in your parish. Digest the information that your JN provides in forums like these, and from the police, so that you know what’s happening.”
In addition to hosting fora, the JN Group also educates members through monthly Security eNewsletters that provide safety tips and trends on criminal activities. It also provides information through its network of JN Circle groups comprised of members. JN Circle networks are located in all parishes.
