GBTI launches private banking arm as wealth needs grow

The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Friday night officially launched a private banking service, targeting high-net-worth individuals and enterprises as the country’s rapid economic expansion drives demand for more sophisticated financial services.

The new offering, unveiled at GBTI’s corporate headquarters, will provide relationship-led banking with personalised credit, structured wealth advisory, global investment access and premium services.

President Dr Irfaan Ali said the launch of the service by GBTI signals confidence in Guyana’s economic trajectory and the growing sophistication of the country’s financial system.

“When banks begin to segment their offerings, it tells us that wealth creation, business complexity and professional demands are increasing,” he stated.

Shawn Gurcharran, Chief Executive Officer of GBTI, clients’ financial journeys require “personal attention, discretion and continuity”.

“GBTI Private Banking is not about exclusivity for its own sake. It is about alignment – with clients who value thoughtful advice, disciplined growth, and an institution that understands the responsibility that comes with success.

Gurcharran indicated that GBTI’s private banking clients will be supported by dedicated teams with experience in generational planning and complex financial needs, as Guyana attracts increased foreign investment and develops deeper links to global markets following recent oil discoveries.

Delivering the feature address at the launch, Ali described the initiative as a “quiet but significant marker on the road of progress,” adding that private banking is a natural evolution in a growing and more complex economy.

“Private banking is not about stratifying customers or exclusion, it is about meeting different demands in a more sophisticated economy,” he said.

Dr Ali said the introduction of segmented banking services reflects rising levels of wealth creation and business complexity.

“When banks begin to segment their offerings, it tells us that wealth creation, business complexity and professional demands are increasing,” he said.

He noted that today’s investors and entrepreneurs require financial solutions tailored to their needs, supported by investment advice and stronger, long-term relationships with their banks.

Private banking, he said, goes beyond transactional services by offering strategic guidance aligned with personal and business financial portfolios.

The President also sought to dispel the notion that private banking is inherently elitist, comparing it to modern healthcare systems where general and specialised services coexist.

“Sophistication is not exclusion. Diversity of services is not inequality; it is maturity,” he said.

GBTI Chairman Suresh Beharry said the launch marked a new chapter in the bank’s long history of supporting national development, describing the private banking service as one built on trust, personalisation and long-term relationships.

The private banking service will be supported by the wider GBTI Group, including GuyAmericas Merchant Bank.

“This launch is not a destination. It is a commitment – to deeper relationships, disciplined execution and financial partnerships that endure across generations,” the CEO said.