Banks - FileDONALD ADDISON Banks OJ, CD, is remembered as a great leader by those who knew and worked with him, and as a man who built a bank, taking it almost from scratch to the position of market leader.
The former chairman and managing director of the National Commercial Bank Jamaica Ltd, and managing director of the NCB Group died Sunday, eight years after retirement, but he will also be remembered as 'Mr. NCB' as many referred to him.
Mr. Banks was a diabetic and complications from that illness led to his death, just weeks after his 69th birthday. He retired from the NCB Group and the National Commercial Bank in May 1994 because of illness.
He is survived by his widow, Marguerite, and three sons: Paul, Ian and Gordon.
"He was an extraordinary leader," said Monica Bucknor, retired assistant general manager of the NCB Credit Card Centre. "He took the bank to great heights."
Don Banks started his career in banking at 18 years old in January 1952 as a clerk, at the then Barclay's Bank DCO.
He rose quickly through the ranks, becoming district manager in 1964, and the Barclay's Bank East Caribbean director's assistant (Barbados) in 1968. In 1969, he became the director's assistant for the West Caribbean head office in Jamaica and just one year later was promoted to the position of senior manager of the 77 King Street branch.
In 1972, he assumed the post of director of the West Caribbean office of Barclay's Bank International.
When Barclays Bank decided to pull out of Jamaica in August 1977, Don Banks is generally regarded as the principal architect of the National Commercial Bank, which was formed in that same year. He became the bank's first managing director in 1977.
The bank thrived under his leadership, and the name Don Banks became synonymous with NCB, and the NCB Group, which was subsequently formed.
"He did what he thought was appropriate for the bank at the time," Mrs. Bucknor said. "NCB was the national bank operating in the national interest."
The bank prospered under his guidance, she said.
Mr. Banks served as NCB's managing director until 1994. He became managing director of the NCB Group in 1985, a post he held until 1990, when he assumed chairmanship of the Bank, and became the Group's managing director.
"He was a very decisive man," Mrs. Bucknor said. He had a sharp mind and "did not suffer fools gladly."
Still, Mr. Banks was a man of great humility, she said.
In total, Don Banks served NCB for a total of 42 years and four months. In that time, his influence on the bank was characterised by the establishment of long-term relationships with the bank's clients that won the institution respect and public pride.
His outstanding contribution to banking was recognised nationally, when he was conferred with Order of Commander of Distinction in 1975, and Jamaica's third highest honour, the Order of Jamaica in 1991.
"He made mistakes, like any other man," Mrs. Bucknor said. But, "History will be kind to him."
Funeral arrangements for Mr. Banks will be announced at a later date.
