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Beyond the Bottom Line

11.16.2021

Håfa Adai and welcome to this quarter’s Beyond the Bottom Line! At the start of the year, we launched The Start of Something New, kicking off a huge transformative period for the Bank, our customers and the communities we serve. And as promised, there’s no shortage of exciting news…so here we go!

It’s November and the Holiday Season is upon us! Like you, I had my heart set on a more festive season of celebrations to close out the year. But much like all things COVID, all plans are subject to change. Nevertheless, our resiliency and the spirit of our communities continue to be the source of hope and inspiration that will be at the center of all our 2021 celebrations and top the lists of all things we have to be grateful for.

In September, we saw the rise in cases force the closure of our schools and the return of gathering restrictions. Like many in our business community, we stepped up and self-imposed even deeper restrictions. While unmandated, the continual practice of social distancing and reduced occupancy levels helped bring peace of mind to both our employees and customers and because of that, we knew it was the right thing to do.

We saw increased traffic at our branches as thousands of checks for Guam’s All-RISE Program and advanced child tax credit were printed and mailed. While the number of recipients who opted for electronic payments was small compared the majority, we applaud the efforts of our local government to push forward with long-awaited technological upgrades that are paving the way for faster, more efficient payment methods. This was a win, bringing greater ease and convenience to our local communities. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, you know we love seeing you, but it doesn’t have to be when you need to make a deposit or cash a check.

As government services continue to evolve and adopt more modernized solutions, we must all be ready. Going digital goes far beyond opting into eStatements – it’s changing the way you receive and send money, from your regular paychecks, tax refunds to government stimulus or even paying bills. Prepare yourself now by knowing your banking information to get your funds faster and avoid any unnecessary delays.

In October, we were honored to receive not one but five nominations for Pika’s Best, a community choice awards program celebrating Guam’s favorite businesses and organizations, and we thank you so much for choosing us!

"We’re in this Together, Stronger than Ever."

October was also Cybersecurity Awareness Month and we joined the national effort to help raise awareness through the campaign “Do Your Part, #BeCyberSmart” that encouraged everyone to actively step up their online safety game to stop cyber-crimes, online thefts and scams. If you missed it, visit our social media platforms to learn more.

In our CNMI region, we announced that we will be closing our Chalan Piao location on December 31, 2021, after nearly 10 years of serving Saipan’s southern region with our Garapan Branch. Streamlining operations
in Saipan means continuing our efforts to integrate our legacy of personalized services with leading-edge technologies to deliver safe, secure, and even more convenient ways to bank wherever and whenever you choose to do so. While closing our doors is bittersweet, we remain committed to our Saipan community and
want you all to know we’re not going anywhere. Last, but certainly not least, a HUGE congratulations to our Bank of Guam Familia for being awarded not one, but two American Bankers Association (ABA) Brand Slam Awards for Crisis Communications and Social Media campaigns for Stop COVID, Spread LOVE. As
an essential industry, during such a pivotal time, the campaign was created to support worldwide efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 and featured our employees, front-liners, executive decision-makers and our very own COVID-19 survivors. Some were emotional, each courageous and all optimistic, inspiring action from behind the mask while reinforcing a message that still holds true today – We’re in this Together, Stronger than Ever. We continue to be honored to be part of your Familia and to serve as your local trusted advisors. As we continue this journey and get closer to our 50th Anniversary, we are so excited to have you with us every step of the way. So, buckle up because we’re just getting started and stay tuned for more on what we’re doing to deliver only the best banking experience for all of you.


Adios until next time,

Joaquin