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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (October 23, 2008) -
Rushing to the Finance Office during the height of lunchtime
traffic can only be described as hectic and chaotic; adding the
unique dynamic of money and the amount of people in line can only
add to the frustration for a service member whose time is precious
while deployed.
Luckily for that service member, the 9th Financial Management
Company from Fort Lewis, Wash., has broken through numerous
political and military road blocks to stand up the first host
nation bank on military soil in the Central Command Area of
Operations.
"We had to coordinate with the normal military levels; Central
Command and U.S. Army Central, navigate the Defense Cooperation
Agreement, Kuwaiti customs and legal framework, all the way to
negotiating and facilitating with the National Bank of Kuwait,"
said Maj. Brian Smith, the 9th FMCO Commander.
Though dealing with different levels of military and host nation
personnel was an obstacle to clear, it was not the biggest.
"The biggest hurdle that we overcame was getting the land for
the bank," said 2nd Lt. Suzette A. Pinnock, a disbursing officer
for the company and one of the chief mediators of this
accomplishment.
Through the semi-permanent building; service members,
contractors and civilians are afforded a new opportunity for
banking. All will be able to conduct basic banking needs to include
check cashing, wire transfers, foreign currency conversions and the
ability to open and close bank accounts, along with expanded ATM
service on the camp.
"Having a branch here on [Camp] Arifjan will allow contractors,
civilians, and [the Army] to conduct business face-to-face, and
will no longer have to go downtown to convert currency or resolve
customer issues," said Smith. "More services will be offered while
reducing the operating cost and high manpower requirements from the
Finance Community."
"The National Bank of Kuwait was eager and excited about this
business opportunity from the very beginning, this turned out to be
an easy transition," said Mr. John J. Argodale, the Deputy
Assistant Secretary of the Army, Financial Operations.
"We capitalized on NBK's relationship with the Army that
provides support, service and funding for 15 ATMs throughout
Kuwait[that serve our service members] and designated as a limited
depository account by the Department of U.S. Treasure, actually
links U.S. Banks directly to the Central Bank of Iraq," he
said.
"The National bank of Kuwait could assist and augment our
theater central funding mission," he said. "They can assist with
improving the banking system in Iraq by opening additional branches
in critical locations and partnering with other Iraqi businesses
and financial institutions."
Through the contract negotiated with NBK, the bank furnished the
final product and will provide service through the building at no
cost to the U.S. government.
"This means a lot, we have a very important relationship with
the United States, and as our client, we go all the way to meet
their needs to make them successful," said Ms. Shaikha K. Al Bahar,
the Deputy CEO for National Bank of Kuwait. "It is part of the
customer service that we provide to prime customers, not only
locally, but internationally."
"The bank right now, is a wonderful business opportunity for
both the U.S. and Kuwait and merges both of our strengths together
and builds on the friendship between both of our countries," said
Al Bahar.
"[Our unit] had no idea when we arrived in theater we would be
in the bank building business," he said. "We picked up the project
and ran with it; it became a personal challenge and goal to see if
we could get it done."
After nearly 14 months, the members of the 9th Financial
Management Company accomplished a task that seemed too far away to
grasp, yet with hard work, and coordination with different
organizations, the 9th will leave a piece of hard earned work
behind, for others to benefit.
"To leave a legacy that will impact the entire military
population in Kuwait for rotations to come is humbling and
immensely satisfying," said Smith.
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