President Dr. Irfaan Ali has commended the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) for incorporating national symbols and elements of Guyana’s cultural heritage into the design of its MasterCard Gold Card range, describing the initiative as a meaningful contribution to the promotion of Brand Guyana at home and abroad.
During an engagement with the Head of State on Wednesday, GBTI representatives outlined that the card series features iconic Guyanese imagery, including the leatherback turtle, the Harpy eagle, and Kaieteur Falls, as well as well-known national landmarks such as the Umana Yana, St George’s Cathedral, the Demerara Harbour Bridge, City Hall, and an aerial view of the Kingston Cricket Club.
According to the bank, the designs were developed to reflect a distinctly Guyanese identity, allowing customers to carry national imagery into regional and international spaces. The initiative is intended to serve both as a cultural expression and as a conversation point that highlights Guyana’s tourism, heritage, and national assets.
President Ali welcomed the initiative as consistent with the government’s broader strategy to strengthen Brand Guyana across sectors. He described the approach as necessary to an “all-in” national effort to promote tourism, cultural identity, and heritage through everyday products and services.
The President encouraged other institutions, particularly those involved in export-oriented, reserve-backed, and internationally exposed products, to similarly integrate Guyanese symbolism and messaging into their offerings.
He emphasised that embedding Brand Guyana across the market helps reinforce national identity while showcasing the country’s natural and cultural wealth globally.
In addition to the card launch, President Ali referenced GBTI’s recent introduction of private banking services, describing it as a significant step in the continued evolution of Guyana’s financial sector.
Speaking at the official launch of the service last week, the President noted that private banking does not seek to stratify customers, but rather to respond to changing client needs within a growing and increasingly sophisticated economy. He explained that modern investors often require more flexible and direct engagement with financial institutions.
President Ali highlighted that private banking extends beyond traditional transactional services, offering investment advice and personalised financial coordination. He noted that banks are therefore expected to strengthen their business development analytics better to align economic opportunities with clients’ financial portfolios.
While private banking represents a new service offering for GBTI, the President framed its introduction as part of a broader pattern of financial sector maturation.
