39 Years of Impact: Shaping Legacy at The Jamaica National Group
On August 13, The Jamaica National Group celebrated 152 years of helping people build brighter futures. Behind that remarkable legacy are thousands of employees who have helped the organisation to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives every day.
One of those employees is Paulette Chambers-Salmon, who recently retired after 39 years of service. Her career spans more than a quarter of JN’s rich history, making her one of the many people who contributed to shaping it.
The former Business Relationship and Sales Manager with oversight of the JN Bank May Pen branch and Old Harbour MoneyShop has witnessed the organisation’s expansion beyond Jamaica, the introduction of insurance, money transfer services, financing for small businesses and an increasing emphasis on digital banking. Among all the changes, however, one milestone holds a special place.
“The one that stands out most was JNBS converting to JN Bank in 2017 to become the third-largest commercial bank in Jamaica,” she said.
Reflecting on JN’s anniversary, she pointed out the milestone carries deep personal significance.
“I celebrate the privilege of having worked alongside colleagues who embodied the spirit of ‘We’ll Help You Find a Way’. I am humbled to have been a part of this journey, knowing that in some small way I would have contributed to something enduring that has impacted the life and livelihood of thousands of Jamaicans at home and abroad. I have seen lives transformed and dreams made possible through financial opportunities JN has provided to members,” she said.
Her own journey began in 1985 as a HEART trainee. By the following year, she had secured a permanent position, embarking on a career that would see her serve in several capacities, including Accounts Clerk/Teller, Customer Service Clerk, Senior Customer Service Clerk, Accounts Supervisor, Mortgage Supervisor, Operations Manager and, finally, Business Relationship and Sales Manager.
She hastened to point out that when she joined JN, banking was very different. Computers were “the size of filing cabinets,” supervisors manually processed daily back-ups and interest credits, often working through the night, and tellers patiently waited their turn to use the branch’s single passbook printer.
“When I started, interest rates were as high as my blood pressure,” she quipped.
She vividly remembers one occasion when overnight processing meant she did not leave work until 7:00 o’clock the following morning. Those early years created special memories.
“The camaraderie throughout the JN network was great. At the branch level, no one left until all the tellers were balanced. If there was an overage or shortage, everyone stayed to help look for the error. Overall, the manual work was tedious, but we faced it as a team and had fun,” she recalled.
That culture of teamwork became one of the reasons for her long tenure, along with supportive colleagues, employee benefits and opportunities for career advancement.
For Mrs Chambers-Salmon, the true measure of JN’s legacy is found in the lives changed through meaningful relationships.
She recalled one customer, a single mother from Summerfield, Clarendon, who operated a small grocery shop and dreamed of purchasing the property where she lived.
As a Mortgage Supervisor, at the time, Mrs Chambers-Salmon guided her through every step of the process, from documenting her income using purchase receipts and bank deposits to conducting site visits that strengthened the application. When the mortgage was finally approved, the customer burst into tears.
“I had to figuratively hold her hands throughout the journey. As a single mom without formal education, she had become a proud homeowner. Needless to say, that loan was paid on time every month,” she related.
Until her passing, Ms Chambers-Salmon said the customer remained in contact with her and kept her informed of every milestone in both her life and that of her son, who was attending high school at the time. She added that she was invited to his graduation and was even asked to offer her opinion on which college or university he should attend and on his career choice.
“JN has shaped me as much as I have served the organisation, and I will always carry its values of integrity, service and community in my heart,” she said.
Now enjoying retirement, she is embracing the opportunity to devote more time to her health, hobbies and social responsibilities. She looks forward to the organisation she served for nearly four decades maintaining the qualities that has earned the confidence of Jamaicans for generations.
“JN should always maintain its commitment to community, its customer-first mindset, ease of access to service for people from all backgrounds, and excellent customer service,” she said.
