First Citizens Bank

First Citizens Bank is the largest bank in Trinidad and Tobago. First Citizens has assets of T$12.7 billion, 20 branches in Trinidad and one on Tobago.

History

On September 13, 1993 the government of Trinidad and Tobago merged three government-owned entitities, National Commercial Bank (NCB), the Trinidad Co-operative Bank (TCB), and the Workers' Bank to form First Citizens Bank. TCB was founded in 1914 as a co-operative savings and loans institution, pioneering the provision of consumer finance and home mortgages for the then working-class of Port of Spain. NCB formally commenced business in 1970. Bank of Montreal sold its branch and operations in Trinidad and Tobago, which it had acquired from Bank of London and Montreal, to the government, which used the acquisition as the foundation for National Commercial Bank. National Commercial Bank was the first truly locally owned, controlled and operated commercial bank in Trinidad and Tobago. It eventually grew its branch network to cover the entire country. The predecessor of Workers Bank, which also commenced operations in 1970, had its roots in the trade union and credit union movements, and helped develop the home mortgage market.